PORSCHE BOXSTER ‘986’ (1996-2004)
Given the brand’s immense strength and kudos today, it’s hard to believe that Porsche was on the verge of bankruptcy by the early 1990s. The 944-based 968 was seen for the revised but aged model it was, and the 928 was down to selling in indifferently small numbers. Even the 911’s sales weren’t quite what they’d been because of the financial crash.
Stuttgart needed a new, profitable model to get things back on track, and duly presented a new concept at the 1993 Detroit Motor Show. An overwhelmingly positive reception saw the Boxster (a portmanteau of references to its ‘boxer’ engine, ‘roadster’ layout) finally launched to an eager market in 1996.
After some consultation with Toyota, Porsche opted for a mid-engined layout to produce a sports car with as close to perfect balance as possible. Gone were the air-cooled engines of old in
