Buying a reliable Porsche for under $2000 was a challenge Jeremy and the boys took on with joy. Looks like a challenge that could be fun for us to take on too.

American consumers’ worries about the housing market and the economy apparently aren’t stopping them from buying hot wheels.

Porsche Cars North America Inc. said it broke a new sales record last year. The Atlanta-based importer and distributor of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne SUVs in the United States and Canada today announced December 2007 sales of 2,891 units in the United States. With December’s results, total 2007 U.S. sales reached 34,693, exceeding 2006 record-breaking sales of 34,227, and marking the fourth year in a row Porsche has enjoyed record sales.

“We realized a significant milestone in 2007, reaching another consecutive record in the United States,” said Peter Schwarzenbauer, Porsche North America’s president and CEO.

Porsche’s Cayenne SUV posted sales of 1,254 units, representing an increase of 34 percent over last December sales of 938 units. Total 2007 Cayenne sales reached 12,547, up 19 percent over total 2006 sales of 10,569.

The Porsche 911 also experienced another record in 2007, with 12,493 units sold vs. 12,045 units sold in 2006.

Via: Atlanta Business Chronicle 

The Rinspeed LM 600 based on the Porsche 997 is just about the hottest and fastest tuned Porsche 997 Turbo available to the public. The “LM 600″ front skirt with integrated Carbon splitters appears eye-catching and produces a higher aerodynamic down force at the front axle. This increase results in a better road handling. The bigger and re-shaped air intakes for the radiators and the brakes improve the cooling of them considerably. Additional headlights with day light driving lights and the inboard moved fog lights guarantee a sporty yet elegant appearance. The newly - especially for the Turbo developed - side skirts connect optically the front and rear fenders in a maximal way. It follows the new body lines harmonically. Further appearance improvement is achieved by the Carbon covers for the rear view mirrors. The “LM 600″ rear skirt with integrated exhaust tips also increases the down force on the rear axle and esthetically supports the high performance exhaust system with integrated metal catalytic converters. Eye-catching yet not separable element is the rear wing which sits tightly above the rear hatch. The wing profile is also available in a Carbon finish. Read the rest of this entry »

The 356 was the first production sports car bearing the Porsche name.However, before the war designer Ferdinand Porsche also created the Type 64 as well as a mid-engine prototype called “Number 1″, which has led to some debate as to the “first” Porsche automobile.

The 356 was created by Ferdinand “Ferry” Porsche (son of Dr. Ing. Ferdinand Porsche, founder of the company). Like its ancestor, the Volkswagen Beetle (which Ferdinand Porsche senior had designed), the 356 was a four-cylinder, air-cooled, rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive car. While the 356’s body was an original design by Porsche employee Erwin Komenda, its mechanicals (including engine, suspension and chassis) were all derived from the Volkswagen. Early 356 prototypes were bodied in aluminum, but this proved impractical for production, and all subsequent 356’s were steel-bodied.

The first 356, debuted on June 8, 1948, used many Volkswagen parts for manufacturing economy. However, Porsche quickly re-engineered and refined the car with a focus on performance, so that by the late 50’s few parts were shared in common between the two marques. Little noticed at its inception in 1948, by the early 1950s the 356 had gained some renown among enthusiasts on both sides of the Atlantic for its exceptional aerodynamics and handling, as well as excellent build quality. It was common for owners to race 356s as well as drive them on the street.