c1980 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet Junior

• ½ scale model of the real 911 cabriolet

• Only 224 ever made

• Followed the immense success of the full-sized cabriolet.

This is one of the rarest Porsches ever, with only 224 examples built. This go kart was made so that kids could have the same car as their dad. It was made to be simple so kids could have the thrill of driving a Porsche, while it is just a small go kart.

Porsche took a gamble on the re-introduction of  911 cabriolets in the 1980s. Their inspiration for this? None other than motor city. In the early 1980’s, it seemed that for every roof panel sacrificed, the sun would shine brighter overtop of them. Perhaps this was difficult for Porsche to understand, as in their corner of West Germany, Zuffenhausen, the sun was not always so shiny.

In March 1982, Porsche released the first 911 cabriolet since the 356 was discontinued in the 1960s, and it found immediate success. In the first year, Porsche sold 4,214 units, despite being more expensive than the open-top Targa that had been around for some time then. The Cabriolet was quite popular in the United States especially, having outsold the Targa.

The Cabriolet was something that customers had been requesting for a long time. Its pressed sheet metal provided improved stability at high speeds, and better crash protection as well. And, beginning in 1987, the electric hydraulic roof drive system was introduced, making the roof easier to open and close, adding to the great appeal. The Cabriolet was heavier than the coupe, however it still produced exciting performance. There were 2 versions of the 3.2L, one offering 218Hp and the other offering 231Hp. These vast positives solidified the cabriolet’s position in the 911 lineup and continued and ongoing success as one of the most desirable models.

The Cabriolet was Porsches attempt at appealing to customers asks while also keeping their performance up to par. Porsche always had performance in mind with their cars. This came from the roots of Rennsport. They had become known for their great performance and were not going to let the cabriolet change that.

The success of the Cabriolet was so vast that even the Children of the owners wanted in on the action. Therefore, Porsche made the go-Kart for them. However, this was a different type of toy, as it had an engine and was driven. The Cabriolet junior was incredibly rare and has become more and more sought after by collectors.

Specifications:

Engine: 83 cc Honda 4-stroke one- cylinder

Power: 2.5 hp

Transmission: 2 forward, 1 reverse

Top Speed: 18.6 mph

Weight: 242.5 lbs