Doug DeMuro
👤 PersonAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
It was a complete disaster. I mean, Porsche's never named cars well, even now. But yeah, at the time, again, you had to speak the language. And by the way, the 911s all said Carrera on the back. So everybody's like, what the hell is a 911? You know, is this a 911? Why does it say Carrera? It never made any sense.
It was a complete disaster. I mean, Porsche's never named cars well, even now. But yeah, at the time, again, you had to speak the language. And by the way, the 911s all said Carrera on the back. So everybody's like, what the hell is a 911? You know, is this a 911? Why does it say Carrera? It never made any sense.
That has changed over the years. Then there was a trim level of the 924 called the Carrera. It was actually called the Carrera GT, which they later named this car. None of it, it was all confusing. No, you had to be like a German who was into this stuff to like figure out the precision level with which it made sense.
That has changed over the years. Then there was a trim level of the 924 called the Carrera. It was actually called the Carrera GT, which they later named this car. None of it, it was all confusing. No, you had to be like a German who was into this stuff to like figure out the precision level with which it made sense.
It was an unbelievably difficult time. And it's kind of funny to think about because now people think of Porsche as Porsche. Like, this crazy company. It's one of the hottest brands, like you said, probably one of the most valuable brands. And it's only 30 years later. Only 30 years later. It was dire straits. I pulled up the U.S. sales figures for Porsche from this era, which is so insane to me.
It was an unbelievably difficult time. And it's kind of funny to think about because now people think of Porsche as Porsche. Like, this crazy company. It's one of the hottest brands, like you said, probably one of the most valuable brands. And it's only 30 years later. Only 30 years later. It was dire straits. I pulled up the U.S. sales figures for Porsche from this era, which is so insane to me.
They dipped in 91, 92 to 4,100 units. That was worse than 1965 sales. They had routinely sold between 13 and 30,000 cars a year throughout the 60s, 70s, 80s. 13 and 30,000. And in the U.S. at 92, they dipped to 4,100 cars. That was the level that we were talking about. It was complete dire straits.
They dipped in 91, 92 to 4,100 units. That was worse than 1965 sales. They had routinely sold between 13 and 30,000 cars a year throughout the 60s, 70s, 80s. 13 and 30,000. And in the U.S. at 92, they dipped to 4,100 cars. That was the level that we were talking about. It was complete dire straits.
And it actually wasn't commercially successful, sort of in keeping with Porsche's world at the time. But it was kind of a testbed for some new technology, including four-wheel drive in a supercar, which has now pretty much become standard fare. The 959 was really the first car that had that.
And it actually wasn't commercially successful, sort of in keeping with Porsche's world at the time. But it was kind of a testbed for some new technology, including four-wheel drive in a supercar, which has now pretty much become standard fare. The 959 was really the first car that had that.
After the 959, Porsche was so desperate, though, that they started taking on projects for other manufacturers. And so it's known in the car world, but not as much in the general world. Porsche built a Mercedes-Benz, which was called the 500E. It was a midsize sedan. Mercedes didn't have the capacity or didn't really want to do it. Oh, so they built a sedan for Mercedes.
After the 959, Porsche was so desperate, though, that they started taking on projects for other manufacturers. And so it's known in the car world, but not as much in the general world. Porsche built a Mercedes-Benz, which was called the 500E. It was a midsize sedan. Mercedes didn't have the capacity or didn't really want to do it. Oh, so they built a sedan for Mercedes.
That's in the Porsche factory in Zuffenhausen, in Stuttgart.
That's in the Porsche factory in Zuffenhausen, in Stuttgart.
It was a Mercedes car. So it was a Mercedes E-Class, like a regular Mercedes sedan, but with a larger engine. And Mercedes felt that having Porsche involved would give it some sports car credibility. Porsche literally produced the car. And then Audi did the exact same thing. Audi needed more credibility because they were still kind of a fledgling luxury car brand.
It was a Mercedes car. So it was a Mercedes E-Class, like a regular Mercedes sedan, but with a larger engine. And Mercedes felt that having Porsche involved would give it some sports car credibility. Porsche literally produced the car. And then Audi did the exact same thing. Audi needed more credibility because they were still kind of a fledgling luxury car brand.