FROM THE FIRST 356 in 1948 to the current twin-turboed monsters in the 911 GT2, many a Hong Kong schoolboy has fantasised about driving a Porsche.
You see them all over town: the Boxster, the Cayenne and the evergreen 911. The 911 first started as a bug-eyed, sloped-back relative of the Volkswagen Beetle in 1963, with a flat-six engine slung over the rear wheels. It's kept this form throughout its 41-year history, even when Porsche tried to broaden its image by introducing front- and mid-engined cars into its lineup.
The most radical development in the 911's production history was the use of a water-cooled engine in 1997. This variant also incorporated the largest departure from the original 911 silhouette, with major surgery to every body panel. This 911 model (coded 996) was quieter and more civilised, while still maintaining most of its sporty character and high performance. The 996 launched the high-performance sports car into the more mature grand-tourer territory.
But back in 1973, when the 911 was still a rarity on Hong Kong roads, it was startling other road users from a distance with the loud, baritone bark from its exhausts. And as it drew up closer, the bug-eyes, the perfectly formed rear end and the 'Porsche' script would erase all doubt that this was a thoroughbred sports car that could outperform nearly anything else on the road.
Thirty-one years later, I pick up the keys to a pristine example owned by David Chan. His dark silver 911E Targa has a wide stainless steel loop behind the driver and the wrap-around rear window that confirm this is a very special car indeed.
Settling in, I notice how Porsche believes in the 'if something works, don't fix it' theory. The dashboard is identical to the last air-cooled cars in 1997, as is the driving position, from the vertical steering wheel to the off-set, floor-hinged pedals. The seats and the wing mirror on the driver's side only have to be manually adjusted, but since this car is so compact, everything is less than an arm's length away. The rear seats are small but adequate over short distances here. The narrow A-pillars and expansive rear-window give near-cabriolet levels of visibility, making this compact car feel a snug fit - but not claustrophobic.