Some Icons withstand the test of time. Others overtake it.

An ultra-modern car with historic details. Do they go hand-in-hand? Can the attitude to life of bygone times experience a revival as we head to the future? And can we bring iconic Porsche classics back to the road? All questions to which we wanted to find answers. And ultimately did so.

The result? Porsche Heritage Design.

Four cars, inspired by four epic eras, with a single vision: to reawaken the emotions of that time in brand-new vehicles. Reshaping the spirit of the times.

The starting flag comes down with the first model, the 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition. This reinterprets the classic design features of the 1950s – and also takes a look at the 60s. Because good ideas are simply timeless. So it’s no surprise that the 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition invokes not only one, but two special style icons: the legendary Porsche 356 and the first generation of the 911.

Their sources of inspiration? Old original colour charts, design elements from the 1950s and 60s, historic cars and of course the lifestyle of that time. What was trendy back then. What made people laugh, dance the swing and cheer.

Reduced to the maximum.

“Pure. That was the working title we came up with for the limited edition. And which we still find extremely apt,” explains Ivo van Hulten. Scream and shout? Others do that. Porsche is honest, puristic. As shown by the tear drop shape of the iconic 356.

Back to the future.

A complete work of art. Numerous details. There’s much to discover and experience. And much that points to the origins of the 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition. One thing that the models have in common is the key themes that can be found in all four cars. And continue to be developed. From vehicle to vehicle. From decade to decade.

Key theme: fabric.
A feature that has played an important role for Porsche from the outset.

“Corduroy, Pepita, Pascha and Tartan. All textiles and patterns from our history that we are reviving in the interior,” reports Volker Müller.

“It was particularly exciting to study and test the old fabrics and patterns – to reinterpret these according to current standards of safety and comfort, and return them to the road,” explains Stéphanie Kleiböhmer. “Because fabric and surfaces are something very special that evoke memories. Maybe of childhood. Of bygone times. Of a Porsche from back then,” adds Volker Müller. Corduroy in Atacama Beige is used as a style-defining feature on the seats and door panels of the 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition. “However, the extremely high wool content of the original cloth no longer meets today’s standards,” says Volker Müller. Other fibres have therefore been used. The result: a firmer look.

The same. Yet different.

In the 1950s, red cars took to the road in greater numbers. Earthy, puristic and with a light brown tinge. This is how Porsche Red was described back then. A typical colour combination was often Ivory and Strawberry Red. And the Porsche literature of the 1950s – user manuals and books – were also dark red and white. Just like the signage in workshops, Porsche Centres and car showrooms, which were also bright red.

So it’s no surprise that the 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition reflects this typical colour scheme. Just as with corduroy, this basic feature – the colour red – has been modified and updated. “So we opted for Cherry Metallic,” explains Ivo van Hulten. Intense and high quality, it’s in perfect harmony with the silver-coloured Targa bar and gold-coloured logo. Another detail that’s very important to the designers which you may only notice at second glance.

In short: everything in the 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition has a story. Everything has its purpose and equivalence. It’s almost like meeting your first love again. And finding that they’re just as attractive as they were on day one.