Porsche In Focus: 991 50th Anniversary

First introduced in 2014, with an original price of £92,257, the Porsche 991 50th Anniversary is a rather special limited edition 911. Created to celebrate five decades of the Porsche 911, production was limited to just 1,963 examples worldwide, a nod to the year the original 911 made its debut.

Far more than simply a Carrera S with a commemorative badge, the 50th Anniversary combines several unique design features inspired by Porsche’s past, bespoke chassis settings and some carefully considered references to the 911s heritage. The result is a numbered special edition that manages to feel both distinctly modern and wonderfully nostalgic. It’s fair to say we have a particular soft spot for these cars!

What makes the 991 50th Anniversary special?

Underneath its distinctive bodywork, the 50th Anniversary uses the familiar powertrain from the 991.1 Carrera S. However, Porsche paired this with the 44mm wider body and chassis normally reserved for the four-wheel-drive 911 models, giving the car a noticeably more muscular stance with prominent ‘hips’ that really stand out when your checking your side mirror.

It’s a configuration with some historical significance, too. The concept pays homage to earlier models such as the 1984 3.2 Supersport, which similarly combined a Turbo-width body with a rear-wheel-drive Carrera drivetrain. In fact, the 991 50th Anniversary was the only factory 991.1 offered with this particular combination of widebody styling and rear-wheel drive.

The wider track and bodywork also called for a bespoke chassis setup. As a result, every 50th Anniversary was fitted with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), featuring suspension settings specifically developed for the model.

A nod to Porsche’s heritage

One of the most recognisable features of the 50th Anniversary is its wheel design. Every car left the factory on 20-inch, five-spoke Fuchs-inspired alloys, a modern interpretation of the iconic Fuchs design first introduced on the 911 in 1966. Few wheel designs are quite so closely associated with Porsche, and in this modern guise they suit the 50th Anniversary particularly well.

The interior is just as distinctive. All examples feature a leather and Pepita cloth combination, with the familiar houndstooth pattern first offered by Porsche on the 356 in the early 1960s. Available in either Black or Agate Grey, it provides a lovely, classic feeling contrast to the otherwise familiar 991 cabin.

There are plenty of smaller details to look out for, too. The front headrests feature 911 50th Anniversary embroidery, while a numbered plaque on the dashboard identifies each individual car. The instrument dials are another particularly nice touch, featuring green lettering, white needles and silver pivot pins. These details reference the classic Porsche instruments used before the switch to high-contrast white-on-black dials in 1968.

A number of desirable features were also included as standard on all examples, making the 50th Anniversary a particularly well-equipped package:

• Sports exhaust system
• Chrome exterior trim details
• Porsche Dynamic Lighting System (PDLS)
• Porsche Exclusive gear selector

Specification and factory options

Although the majority of 991 50th Anniversary models were specified with Porsche’s PDK automatic transmission, the car was also available with a seven-speed manual gearbox. Manual examples are particularly rare and, unsurprisingly, highly sought after.

Porsche kept the exterior colour palette deliberately limited to just three timeless choices: Geyser Grey, Graphite Grey and Black. Both Geyser and Graphite were exclusive to the 50th Anniversary, adding another layer of distinction to an already unusual model. Every colour option adds a varied aesthetic appeal, black offering high contrast against the chrome trims whilst Geyser Grey pairs very nicely with the Agate Grey leather interior and Graphite acts as a perfect in-between.

Inside, buyers could choose between Black or Agate Grey leather and Pepita upholstery, alongside a choice of 14-way or 18-way electrically adjustable sports seats.

For those wanting a little more performance from their 50th Anniversary, one particularly interesting factory option was the X51 Powerkit. Costing around £8,000 when new, this particularly rare option increased engine output from the Carrera S’s standard 400hp to 430hp, bringing it in line with the later 991.1 Carrera GTS.

Importantly, the X51 was considerably more involved than a simple ECU remap. The package included revised cylinder heads with modified intake ports, unique intake camshafts, a dedicated resonance intake system and an additional centrally mounted third radiator to provide improved engine cooling. It’s a substantial collection of mechanical upgrades and one that makes an already special 911 that little bit more interesting. Given the original cost of the option, relatively few cars were specified with it, making X51-equipped examples particularly desirable today.

A modern 911 with a classic influence

The 991 50th Anniversary occupies an interesting position in the 911 lineage. It combines the everyday usability and performance of the Carrera S with the wider stance, bespoke details and carefully considered heritage references that make it considerably more than a standard production model. With just 1,963 examples produced and an estimated 200 examples in the UK, these have become a great Porsche for someone looking for a 911 that’s perfectly usable but still rare and carries strong desirability for collectors whilst holding value far better than comparable non-edition 911s of the era.

It’s a fitting celebration of 50 years of the 911, and a model that manages to look back at Porsche’s history while remaining thoroughly enjoyable as a modern 911.

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