For Sale: 1984 Porsche 911 in Anaheim, California

This tough act to follow is located mostly under the rear deck lid, which carries the inspirational Carrera nameplate, earlier versions also having possessed well-deserved reputations for rocketry. Porsche offers no fewer than three choices of shell configurations for the 911 Carrera: coupe, Targa, and Cabriolet. In response to the growing hue and cry among its customers for greater individuality, the fully enclosed shell is available not only with the same relatively subdued lower bodywork worn by its airier brothers (which share a new front spoiler housing the fog lamps), but also with a larger air dam and the most instantly recognizable passenger-car aerodynamic device of all time, the Stuttgart whale tail. And, finally, the killer European Turbo treatment, meaning full-house bodywork and running gear, is available for everything but the engine. Given the Carrera's rousing performance, the current lack of a turbocharged offering is not really very disappointing, particularly in light of the accompanying fuel-economy boost. Newly stuffed into the 911's rump are two additional tenths of a liter of displacement, bumping the single-overhead-cam flat six to 3.2 liters. At 95.0 millimeters, its bore remains the same, but its stroke has been elongated from 70.4 to 74.4 millimeters, matching the Turbo engine's. Although Porsche is perpetually searching for improved mechanical efficiency, it is nonetheless a surprise that the Carrera's engine is 80 percent new. 1984 Porsche 911 Carrera VEHICLE TYPE rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2+2 passenger, 2-door coupe PRICE AS TESTED $37,075 ENGINE TYPE flat-6, aluminum block and heads Displacement 193 in 3, 3164 cm 3Power 200 hp @ 5900 rpm Torque 185 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm TRANSMISSION 5-speed manual DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 89.4 in Length: 168.9 in Width: 65.0 in Height: 52.0 in Curb weight: 2760 lb C/D TEST RESULTS 60 mph: 5.3 sec 100 mph: 13.9 sec 130 mph: 29.7 sec -mile: 13.9 sec @ 100 mph Top speed (redline limited): 149 mph Braking, 700 mph: 184 ft Roadholding, 282-ft-dia skidpad: 0.80 g C/D FUEL ECONOMY Observed: 17 mpg EPA FUEL ECONOMY City/highway: 20/32 mpg