The Porsche Panamera debuted more than 16 years ago, marking the brand's first foray into the production sports sedan segment. Offering between 400 and 500 horsepower between its naturally aspirated and turbocharged 4.8-liter V8 engine options, it showed that this legendary brand was capable of stretching out its signature 911 aesthetic, throwing in four doors, and offering fun driving dynamics in something that could comfortably fit four adults.
This wasn't the brand's first go at sedans. The 1990 Mercedes 500E may have been badged by its Stuttgart neighbor, but Porsche had a major hand in its development and construction. Then, there was the 1994 Audi RS2 Avant — okay, this technically was a five-door hatch, but so too is the Panamera — with Porsche DNA throughout its construction.
But there's a one-of-one Porsche that clearly predates all of the above. Back in 1967, the Panamera recipe was already in place, with the 911 shape stretched out to accommodate four doors. Admittedly, this OG four-door Porsche sports sedan wasn't technically even built by Porsche, but its history is far more fascinating as a result.
The 1960s were a thick chapter of American history. One year before recording artist Tiny Tim released his debut album God Bless Tiny Tim in 1968, a Texas-based Porsche dealer by the name of William Dick concocted one heck of an idea.
He wanted the two-door-favoring firm that he so proudly marketed to build him a four-door 911 S. Not just as a gift to his wife at Christmas, but as a proof-of-concept showing the versatility of a four-door performance sports sedan. In conventional form, the 2.0-liter flat-six in the S produced 180 horsepower, a five-speed manual gearbox was standard, and thanks in-part to lightweight magnesium wheels, it tipped the scales at just 2,271 pounds.
Porsche refused to elongate the 911, though, so he instead enlisted the help of California-based fabricators Troutman and Barnes. They cut a 911 S in half, welded in sheet metal to stretch it out, then integrated factory 911 doors behind the existing pair.
The rears were 'suicide-style', so they hinged at the back, and revealed a spacious rear cabin. Or at least, more spacious than a standard 911. As explained by The Petersen Automotive Museum , the interior leather was dye-matched to a pair of shoes owned by Dick, at the hand of the factory, and then crafted by well-known upholsterer Tony Nancy.
It's definitely odd-looking, especially considering the slender 911 body shape was now more egg-like. But still quite cool, and considering a 911's entire engine sits behind the rear wheels, it seems like it was a generally straightforward project besides the massive amount of body and interior work.
The unusual project showcases Porsche's willingness to experiment with its iconic design language, even if it meant working outside of its traditional boundaries. This one-off creation highlights the brand's ability to adapt to changing market demands while maintaining its core identity.
