2025 Porsche 911 GTS T-Hybrid vs. 1965 Porsche 911

As the Porsche 911 celebrates its 60th anniversary with a new hybrid gasoline-electric powertrain for 2025, it seems like the right time to revisit its humble origins as the successor to the beloved yet limited Porsche 356 way back in the early 1960s.

It's a tale of sheer perseverance and dedication to a formula that, despite major changes in the industry, largely remains faithful to its groundbreaking original.

The original 911: a giant step beyond the 356C

The Porsche 911 made its debut at the 1963 Frankfurt International Auto Show. Production began a year later, in September of 1964, with the 911 rolling off the production line as a 1965 model.

Compared to its immediate predecessor, the 356C, the 911 was a completely new version of the tried-and-true rear-engine formula. Instead of the flat-four that the 356 had always carried, the 911 had an all-new 2.0-liter flat-six with an output of 128 horsepower, an increase of 54 hp over the previous model. 

The 911 was also a larger vehicle, with a wheelbase over four inches longer that added six inches of overall length. Top speed was up from 107 mph to 131 mph, using a five-speed manual transmission in place of the 356C’s four-speed.

The 911’s design set a trend that continues today

Designed by F.A. “Butzi” Porsche, founder Ferry Porsche’s son, the 911 continues today with the same essential design elements that it was born with back in 1963. Compare the slope of the fastback roof, the iconic shape of the side windows, and the line of the front fenders that flank the low, sloping hood; the lineage is apparent and faithful to the original.

All eight generations of the 911, from the original up to the current 992.2, have taken this basic design and evolved it through time. It is as fresh and distinctive today as when it was first unveiled in Frankfurt.

Today’s 911 is much larger than the original version

Thanks to various factors, such as crash safety, emissions regulations, and tire technology, the Porsche 911 has evolved and grown to meet its mission and the needs of its customers. The current 2025 911 GTS T-Hybrid has a wheelbase over nine inches longer, is nearly 17 inches wider, over 15 inches longer, and 1,155 pounds heavier than the original 1965 911. 

The original 911’s 165 HR 15 tires on 4.5” wide rims have given way to the 2025 GGTS’s245/35 ZR 20 front tires on 8.5” wide rims and massive 315/30 ZR 21 rear tires on 11.5” wide rims.

The 911’s performance has kept up with the times

To maintain its performance as its size increases, the original 2.0-liter air-cooled engine has grown to 3.6 water-cooled liters with an electrified boost in the current 911 GTS T-Hybrid, increasing power output to 532 total system horsepower (478 hp from the gasoline engine plus 54 hp from the electric motors in the gearbox and turbocharger). Zero-to-60 mph times have dropped from 7.0 seconds for the 1965 911 to 2.9 seconds for the 2025 911 GTS.

The 911 may be larger, but it is better in many important ways

The original 1965 Porsche 911 was well-known for its rearward weight bias, which could surprise drivers unfamiliar with the slow-in, fast-out cornering approach required to maintain stability in these early Porsche vehicles. Snap oversteer could send a 911 backward off the road if you got overly aggressive entering a turn or were experiencing slippery conditions.

Newer 911s have tuned this tendency out of their systems, largely thanks to the addition of wider rear tires and stability control. As the 911 has become a luxury car as well as a sports car (with prices to match), it has become quieter and more comfortable for its occupants, still limited to two.

Final thoughts

The Porsche 911 is pretty much the only car from 1965 that has survived to the present day and is still recognizable compared to its original version. It endures with a diverse and dedicated following for both its classic and current vehicles. The 2025 911 GTS T-Hybrid continues to build on and expand the marque’s core competencies while confidently moving it into the future, showing Porsche's dedication to the fanbase it has built over the past six decades.