The Porsche Panamericana is a concept car designed by the Dutchman Harm Lagaay with Steve Murkett and technical director Ulrich Bez to preview the design of the coming 993 generation of the 911. It was also built as a gift for Ferry Porsche for his 80th birthday, and it took its name from the Carrera Panamericana race of the 1950s.
Porsche Panamericana at a glance
| Maker | Porsche, one-off concept |
|---|---|
| Shown | Frankfurt Motor Show, 1989 |
| Development time | six months |
| Designers | Harm Lagaay and Steve Murkett |
| Technical director | Ulrich Bez |
| Chassis | 911 (964) Carrera 4 cabriolet |
| Body | plastic and carbon fibre panels |
| Roof | removable waterproof fabric top, pink zip |
| Wheels | three-part Speedline rims made only for this car |
| Drag coefficient | 0.30 |
| Purpose | gift for Ferry Porsche’s 80th birthday |
History of the Porsche Panamericana
The Panamericana was meant only as a concept, a way of showing the design language of the forthcoming 993. It was put together in six months and presented at the 1989 Frankfurt Motor Show.
It was built on the chassis of a 911 (964) Carrera 4 cabriolet, with bodywork in plastic and carbon fibre panels. Its wheel covers, large enough to take various sizes of rim and tyre, were intended to allow off-road driving, and the three-part Speedline rims were made exclusively for this car.
The roof line was streamlined and sloped gently towards the rear engine deck, and it carried a removable waterproof fabric top that fastened with a pink zip. Several roof configurations were possible, so the car was in effect a hybrid of a Targa, a convertible, a coupé and an off-roader.
Lagaay hoped the design would be built at least in a small series in 1992, but the growing financial crisis at Porsche put an end to the idea. Even so, the Panamericana influenced the development of the 993 911 Targa and of the Boxster, and seen from the front it resembles the 996 and the Boxster. Despite its unstreamlined wheels, its drag coefficient was only 0.30.
Design and features
- Preview of the 993: the concept showed where the next 911 would go.
- Mixed body styles: part Targa, part convertible, part coupé and part off-roader.
- Fabric roof with a pink zip: removable and waterproof, with several configurations.
- Low drag: a coefficient of 0.30 despite the broad off-road wheel covers.
Porsche Panamericana versions
- Panamericana (1989): the single concept car, shown at Frankfurt.
- 993 Targa: the production model that took ideas from the concept.
- Boxster: the roadster that followed its front-end language.
The Panamericana was built on the Porsche 964 and pointed forward to the Porsche 993 and the Porsche Boxster. More cars are in the Porsche collection.
Sources
- Porsche Panamericana, English Wikipedia: design, chassis, roof, influence
