Porsche: It’s In The Name

History Behind Porsche’s Names

Porsche drivers enjoy the sporty design and top speeds reached by their vehicles. Even the SUVs are beloved by their owners. Porsche owners are familiar with most Porsche models; they know the 911 and the 918 Spyder. Yet, do you wonder why Porsche has so many numbered models? There is a good explanation for it. Our technicians here at Reggie’s Motorworks have solved the mystery of Porsche for you.

Porsche was founded in 1931 by Ferdinand Porsche, Adolf Rosenberger, and Anton Piëch. The first model car for the Porsche brand was the Porsche 356. The engineer for Porsche, Ferdinand Porsche, designated each project and an order number. Those codes were placed on 355 different models for carmakers like Volkswagen before the Porsche was released. The 364 evolved with designed changes, and Porsche added letters to the name. The company decided to continue using this system. Whether it was a sports car or a family car, each one was assigned a number. Porsche came out with its legendary 550 Spyder in 1953.

The Porsche coding system underwent a major change with its 911 model. When making the 900 series of cars, they learned a French automaker had rights to three-digit numbers like 902 and 906. Porsche had to make a decision, so they changed the model name to 911. Switching to 911 allowed Porsche to keep using the number system. As a result, it has come up with famous model numbers such as the 718 Cayman, 911 Turbo, and the 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet. The 911 and 718 are the longest-lasting number lines designed by Porsche.

Porsche owners enjoy the history behind their cars. The name Porsche is famous internationally, and drivers get excited when they see a 911 fly by. Knowing the name’s history adds prestige to the brand. Beyond just the names, the ASE-certified technicians at Reggie’s Motorworks in Noblesville, IN, know all about Porsche repair and maintenance. We know what it takes to your model running in top condition. Your Porsche is in good hands, and we hope our shop name is just as famous one day.