The mighty 911 Turbo reaches its golden anniversary
Celebrating anniversaries seems to be a full-time task for marketing departments of luxury car companies. Heck, some even celebrate the anniversary of movies their cars appeared in. (Looking at you, Aston Martin DBS OMHHS.)
We can cut Porsche some slack for marking a milestone not only for the marque, but also for car enthusiasts in general. The 911 Turbo model will turn 50 in 2025, and Porsche is marking the occasion with, you guessed it, a special model. Porsche will build 1,974 of its 2025 911 Turbo 50 Years model, with the production number reflecting the year the car was unveiled. Production started in spring 1975, and the 911 Turbo came to the U.S. in 1976.
Before cutting into that anniversary cake, let’s look at the car.
1974 Was Better Than You Might Have Thought
The performance car scene appeared to be fading in the early and mid-1970s, as automakers began facing the harsh realities of meeting emission-control and safety regulations. While Porsche still offered a solid 911 series, including the 911S, the view was not as sunny elsewhere. Model-year 1974 in the U.S. would see the last big-block Corvettes and final V-12 Jaguar E-Type. Ferrari dealers could offer American buyers only the beloved 246 Dino, which was in its last year.
Porsche was not taking the malaise sitting down. At the Paris Auto Show in October 1974, the company unveiled its first-ever turbocharged production car, the 930, a.k.a. 911 Turbo. The Turbo would go into production the following spring and reach U.S. Porsche dealers for 1976.
Porsche is focusing on the official start of production and European sales for the car’s 50th anniversary while nodding to the car’s 1974 debut with a production run limited to 1,974 cars for customers worldwide.
Happy Golden Anniversary
Any 2025 Porsche 911 model is a bona fide thrill machine. And every one of them, save for the GT3 RS and 911 S/T, has a turbocharged engine. But there’s only one called “911 Turbo,” plus the 911 Turbo S. They earn those badges by virtue of having 3.7-liter twin-turbo flat sixes with the most power in the 911 fleet: 572 horsepower for the 911 Turbo and 640 hp for the Turbo S. Along with massive power come a standard eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, and a slew of advanced chassis systems.
Just as a reminder, media road tests show the Porsche 911 Turbo S will do 0-60 in 2.2 seconds and burn up the quarter mile in 10.1 seconds at 137 mph. Times have certainly changed. Looking back to that first 911 Turbo, there was nothing in any other U.S. showroom that could touch it: 0-60 in 4.9 seconds, the quarter-mile in 13.5 seconds at 102 mph, and a 156-mph top track speed. Sure, that’s about what today’s base-model turbo four-cylinder Ford Mustang will do; 50 years of progress has touched all auto segments.
911 Turbo S, Plus More
The 911 Turbo 50 Years model builds on the Turbo S, lowering the car on its suspension by 0.4-inch and adding a sport exhaust system with black tailpipes. Other differentiators are cosmetic but still special. The special anniversary model comes in an exclusive color called Turbonite, which is also used for various inlays and badges around the car. And, what could be more 1970s than huge “Turbo” script hugging the curvature of the wide rear fenders? The graphic style mimics the decals on the original model.
More fun are the LED puddle lights that project a turbocharger icon onto the ground when the doors are opened. The 911 Turbo S Exclusive Design are also painted in Turbonite. A curious badge on the rear decklid grille displays the years “1974-2024.” Here again, Porsche is covering those 1974 and 1975 bases with this special model.
That Classic 911 Style
The 911 Turbo 50 Years interior will ring nostalgia bells for some Porsche buffs. If those fun turbo puddle lights aren’t enough, the brushed aluminum door sill guards have an illuminated “turbo 50” script. The “MacKenzie” tartan upholstery for the seat centers and inner door panels is a direct homage to early Porsche 911 Turbo models. Perforated Race-Tex covers the A-pillars, sun visors and headliner. That’s Porsche’s label for microfiber partly made from recycled polyester. A “turbo 50” badge above the glovebox door features the car’s individual number in this limited series.
For diehards wanting the most nostalgia-flavored 911 Turbo 50 Years, the optional Heritage Design Package starts with Aventurine Green Metallic paint, with the hood and center caps of the Sport Classic Wheels painted in Brilliant Silver and featuring the Porsche crest design from 1964. The buyer can take or delete the white silk matte decals that spell out “50 Years turbo” and “Porsche” and any number from 0-99 for the door gumballs (race numbers).
Going the Heritage Design route adds extended leather surfaces and more tartan elements, including dashboard trim, the glovebox door, and inlays on the seat backs. The instrument cluster gauges and Sport Chrono clock get green faces.
Dancing Shoes
If you’re fortunate enough to acquire a 2025 Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years anniversary model, you’ll probably need new shoes to drive it. Porsche has you covered with 50th anniversary Porsche 911 Turbo sneakers, made by Puma and available in three different limited editions for $199 a pair. There’s no guarantee they’ll make you run faster, though.
