The Porsche 901 is the internal designation for the original Porsche 911, which was first introduced in 1963. It was first presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1963, however it was later changed to 911 due to Peugeot claiming to have the rights to car model names with 3 digits and a 0 in the middle.
The 901 featured a rear-mounted flat-six engine, and a distinctive design that featured a long hood and a short rear deck. It was initially available in coupe and cabriolet body styles, and it was equipped with a 2.0-liter engine that produced 130 horsepower. It featured a five-speed manual transmission and a four-wheel independent suspension.
The 901 was well received by the public and automotive press, and it quickly established itself as a premier sports car. However, due to the name conflict with Peugeot, Porsche was forced to change the name of the car to 911, which is still in production today.
The 901 prototype and early production models are highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts, due to their rarity and historical significance as the first generation of the 911.
Porsche built a total of 82 901s, but only a few has survived, making it now a valuable collector car and a piece of Porsche history.