The design of the Porsche 911 is from a simpler time, when cars were not
designed on the computer and in the wind tunnel by engineering students with
pimpled pizza faces and a “GAHARR HARR” nervous laugh should they gaze upon a
female ankle. While they had a rudimentary understanding of aerodynamics back
then, the practical implication was often this: “If it looks good, it probably
is”.
And there’s no doubt that Ferdinand Alexander “Butzi” Porsche’s design was
easy on the eye with its characteristic Fliessheck.
Trouble is that Butzi’s lines
have the aerodynamic properties of an American football. So the front and rear
will lift at high speeds. Anyone who has driven a classic 911 past 150 km/h can
testify to this.
The solution is simple and
will appeal to anyone who ever slowly caressed the pages of any of the world’s
car magazines. Put on a spoiler. Front and back. They won’t create down force
as if your 911 suddenly becomes a Formula One car, but they will provide a
better aerodynamic flow which decreases lift:
Unfortunately most spoilers
are uglier than Michelle Bachmann’s soul. As a matter of fact there’s only
one that you can put on your Porsche without suffering eternal damnation: The
classic duck tail from the most coveted classic 911 of them all: The 2.7 RS
1973 model.
So your car needs one of
those. But that’s another story for another day, since there are so many
different aftermarket parts to choose from in a wide range of prices and
qualities.
Labels: 911, aerodynamics, duck tail, RS
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