Porsche 911 (964)
1989–1994 · Porsche 911 (964) — Sports Car, Flat-6, designed by Benjamin Dimson.
The Story
The 964 was the great modernisation — the 911 dragged into the 1990s while keeping its soul. Launched in 1989 and famously ‘85% new’ over the outgoing 3.2 Carrera, it kept the classic air-cooled flat-six (now 3.6 litres, 250 PS) and the unmistakable silhouette, but added coil-spring suspension, power steering, ABS, and — for the first time in a production 911 — all-wheel drive in the Carrera 4. For years the 964 was the overlooked middle child, caught between classic and modern; today it’s recognised as a sweet spot, offering air-cooled character with everyday usability and reliability. It’s also the basis for some of the most coveted 911s ever — the 964 RS and the 3.6 Turbo.
The Numbers
Benchmarked against its class
Each dial ranks this car within its Sports Car class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.
Signature Colors
The Designer
Benjamin Dimson
A Filipino designer (Adamson University, Manila; ArtCenter, Pasadena), Dimson became exterior lead on the 964 under Style Porsche before moving to Mercedes-Benz, where he rose to chief designer of its California advanced studio.
Studio Motors POV
The underrated air-cooled sweet spot — classic 911 character with modern usability, finally getting its due. A clean, sorted manual Carrera is a smart air-cooled buy before values fully catch the 993.
The Engine
Air-cooled flat-six
Lineage
Where it sits in the bloodline
Market & Value
Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.
What Reviewers Said About 911 (964)
Worth Knowing About the 911 (964)
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- 1) Porsche called the 964 '85% new' over the 3.2 Carrera — coil springs, power steering, ABS, AWD — yet it looks like a gently smoothed classic 911. 2) The Carrera 4 was the first production 911 with all-wheel drive, the tech trickled down from the 959. 3) The 964 also introduced the Tiptronic automatic and, in 1993, the Speedster — and it was long the cheapest air-cooled 911 before the market caught on.
5 Fast Facts
- • 1989–1994; '85% new' over the 3.2 Carrera. • 3.6L air-cooled flat-six, 250 PS; Carrera 2 (RWD) and Carrera 4 (AWD). • The FIRST production 911 with all-wheel drive (Carrera 4). • Introduced coil springs, power steering, ABS, Tiptronic. • Now a recognised sweet spot (~$60k–$110k+); RS / Turbo far higher.
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
No documented/citable celebrity owner verified.
Studio Buyer’s Brief
Manual Carrera 2 coupes are the enthusiast pick; the AWD Carrera 4 is more secure in poor weather. Watch the known 964 issues — engine oil leaks (case/through-bolt seals), the DME relay, and rust; a documented, sorted car is worth the premium. The 30 Jahre and Speedster are the special variants. Originality and history drive value as the 964 appreciates.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- Porsche 911 (964)
- Class
- Sports Car
- Production years
- 1989–1994
- Units built
- ~62,000 total 964 (all variants; Carrera 2 ~19,484, Carrera 4 ~20,395)
- Variants
- Carrera 2, Carrera 4, Targa, Cabriolet, Speedster (1993), 30 Jahre
- Engine layout
- Rear
- Engine
- Flat-6
- Engine family
- Air-cooled flat-six
- Displacement
- 3.6L / 3600 cc
- Power
- 247 hp
- Torque
- 229 lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- 5.5 s
- Top speed
- 162 mph
- Power-to-weight
- 180 hp/tonne · 12.3 lb/hp
- Transmission
- 5-speed manual (G50) / 4-speed Tiptronic
- Drivetrain
- RWD (Carrera 2); AWD (Carrera 4) · Petrol
- Curb weight
- 3031 lb
Questions
911 (964) FAQ
What was new about the Porsche 964 generation 911?
The 964 (1989-1994) was the first major redesign of the 911 in 15 years, sharing only 14% of its parts with the G-Series it replaced. It introduced coil-spring suspension in place of torsion bars, standard power steering, ABS, and the first 911 all-wheel-drive system in the Carrera 4. The Tiptronic automatic gearbox also debuted on the 964, making the 911 accessible to a broader audience.
What engine does the Porsche 964 Carrera 2 use?
The 964 Carrera 2 uses an M64/01 3.6-litre naturally aspirated flat-six producing 247 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque through a 5-speed G50 manual or 4-speed Tiptronic, driving the rear wheels. The engine retained the air-cooled architecture of the G-Series but with a new cylinder-head design offering improved breathing and reliability.
What is a Porsche 964 Carrera 2 worth today?
The 964 Carrera 2 has appreciated steadily as part of the penultimate air-cooled 911 generation, and the format matters: desirable manual coupes lead the market, with Targas, Cabriolets, and Tiptronic cars trading below. Roughly 19,500 Carrera 2s were built, so condition and history separate ordinary cars from exceptional ones. Studio Motors will price your exact spec against live data.
How does the 964 differ from the G-Series 911 it replaced?
The 964 moved the 911 from torsion-bar to coil-spring suspension for a more controlled ride and better handling consistency, added power steering and ABS as standard, and introduced AWD. It is considered more accessible and safer to drive quickly than the G-Series but slightly less raw in character. The G-Series 3.2 Carrera G50 remains the more affordable entry to air-cooled 911 ownership; the 964 commands a premium for its refinement.
Can I buy or finance a Porsche 964 through Studio Motors?
Yes. Specialist lenders can structure financing on these air-cooled classic 911s.
The Porsche Lineup
Explore every Porsche
911 (Original) ’64904 Carrera GTS ’64914 ’69
911 Carrera RS 2.7 ’72911 (G-Series) ’74911 Carrera RS 3.0 ’74911 Turbo (930) ’75924 ’76928 ’77
911 Turbo (964) ’90911 Carrera RS (964) ’91968 ’92911 (993) ’94911 Carrera RS (993) ’95911 Turbo (993) ’95911 GT2 (993) ’95Boxster (986) ’96911 (996) ’97911 GT3 (996) ’99
911 Turbo (996) ’00911 GT2 (996) ’01Cayenne (955) ’02911 (997) ’04Boxster / Cayman (987) ’04Carrera GT ’04911 Turbo (997) ’06911 GT3 (997) ’06911 GT3 RS (997) ’06911 GT2 (997) ’07911 Sport Classic (997) ’09Panamera (970) ’09
911 GT2 RS (997) ’10911 Speedster (997) ’10Cayenne (958) ’10911 (991.1) ’11Boxster / Cayman (981) ’12911 Turbo (991) ’13911 GT3 (991) ’13918 Spyder ’13Macan (95B) ’14911 GT3 RS (991) ’15Cayman GT4 / Boxster Spyder (981) ’15911 (991.2) ’16911 R (991) ’16718 Cayman / Boxster (982) ’16911 GT2 RS (991) ’17Panamera (971) ’17Cayenne (9Y0) ’17911 Speedster (991) ’19911 (992.1) ’19718 Cayman GT4 / Spyder (982) ’19Taycan ’19
911 Turbo (992) ’20911 GT3 (992) ’21Cayenne Turbo GT (9Y0) ’21911 Dakar (992) ’22911 GT3 RS (992) ’22911 Sport Classic (992) ’22718 Cayman GT4 RS / Spyder RS (982) ’22911 S/T (992) ’23911 (992.2) ’24911 Carrera GTS T-Hybrid (992.2) ’24Panamera (972) ’24Macan Electric ’24
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