22-05-2025
Is Porsche About to Revive the 911 Slantnose?
There's no car currently on sale today that's as instantly recognizable as the Porsche 911. The brand's designers have done an incredible job maintaining the form of the icon over the decades, gradually evolving the shape as time goes on.
That said, there have been the occasional deviations from the pattern — and while many might consider the 996 generation to be the odd man out, that honor truly belongs to the Flachbau. And, according to recent European Trademark filings, it appears that Porsche might be gearing up to bring the ugly duckling back once again.
The Flachbau, or 'slantnose' as it's known colloquially, was a product of Porsche Motorsports in the 1980s. The look was first seen on the brand's 935 racers, with Kremer Racing developing body kits that mirrored the look in 1981. A year later, Tag Heuer owner Mansour Ojjeh tasked Porsche with building him a road-legal 935. The resulting project was based on a 930 Turbo, and featured a ton of bespoke hardware. That car proved to be so popular with enthusiasts that Porsche would start offering the flat fender look under the Sonderwunsch program in 1986.
The package wasn't cheap, adding as much as 60% to the price of a standard 930. Still, according to 911Flachbau, 948 cars were ultimately converted to the slantnose spec, although only 160 found their way to the United States. A great many more were built in the aftermarket, but genuine cars carry significantly more value in today's market.
The decades since have seen the 911 stick by its traditional face we all know and love. But earlier this May, as brought to broader attention by Autoblog, the European Union Intellectual Property Office received request for trademarks on the terms 'Porsche Flachbau' and 'Flachbau RS.'
It'd be easy to assume that the brand plans to use the nameplate on a special edition 911 — particularly a Turbo given the history. That said, the 'RS' moniker throws a bit of a wrench into the mix. Perhaps Porsche is looking back at the 935 heritage behind the Flachbau name, with plans to bring a more genuine motorsports connection.
Either way, we'd love to see what Porsche's modern team of designers is able to do with a slantnose design. Their recent take on the 935 itself remains one of our favorite modern Porsches.
You Might Also Like
You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox
Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners
The Man Who Signs Every Car
