I drove 70 years of sports cars back to back to see how far we’ve come

Ah, the not-so-humble sports car. The very idea of a car designed for little other than driving thrills may be one of the most selfish concepts ever dreamed up by mankind, but when you’re behind the wheel of a sports car on the right road, on a good day, it just makes sense.

Though, funnily enough, the very best sports cars on sale aren’t always fanciful things. Porsche has been consistently churning out some of the best examples on sale since the 1950s, with their USP being their inherent practicality.

But how have they changed since the very first Porsche model, the 356, was launched all the way back in 1948? Well, after spending a day with a selection of Porsche’s back catalogue, the answer is a lot – yet very little, at the same time.

1955 Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster

This is it. Genesis. The base of the Porsche sports car family tree (yes, the Volkswagen Beetle makes up the roots), and it is unquestionably one of the best cars I’ve ever driven. It is also, however, the worst car of the day – by a country mile.

Seeing as the 356 was created before standardised controls layouts, the handbrake hidden underneath the dashboard and totally unmarked switches required explaining before I knew what did what.

The 1.6-litre flat-four engine thrums into life, and even with no roof to contain the fumes I could taste fuel and oil in the air. Just manoeuvring the vague, un-sprung gear lever into first and releasing the heavy clutch takes more mental capacity than the entire process of driving a new EV.

There are no seatbelts to keep me still on the slippery, vinyl-clad seat and an enormous, wood-rimmed steering wheel to hold onto. It’s an alien experience at first, yet it’s easy to find a rhythm – and it’s a delight.

With the engine singing away behind me – and with the ambiguous, unassisted brake pedal sussed – I could confidently carry speed into bends – and hold it there. If you haven’t driven a car of this vintage, give it a go, because it serves as a yardstick by which to measure all modern cars against.

1968 Porsche 911L

You may think that there’s little difference between the 356 and an early 911, as they’re both ‘just old cars’ at a glance. The truth that these two cars feel even further apart than their 13-year age gap might suggest.

The 911 is far more refined, with soft, padded seats, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and a real, upholstered dashboard in front of you. It’s also a more familiar shape, after all, it’s endured for over 60 years at this point.

Fire up the flat-six engine and it’s far smoother than the 356, while the clutch is lighter and aside from the race-inspired gear order (first is where second usually lives), the controls are easier to operate.

It’s agile, quick and fun to drive – much like the 911 of today.

1981 Porsche 924 Carrera GT

A few words for this 924 Carrera GT, which has been one of my dream cars since I was a child. Sadly, this fragile race car for the road was a little poorly on the day, but even with a gentle drive you could feel that this is a raucous car from a period where Porsche was still learning how to make best use of the turbocharger.

Yet for its brutish charm, the seating position is awful, the unassisted steering is heavy and the engine sounds like it’s being run on spanners. I love it, but it’s a very raw experience.

1996 Porsche Boxster S

Considering the first generation Boxster is often regarded as one of the best affordable sports cars of all time, it felt rude not to have a go. It may look modern, but there’s an analogue charm to the way it drives.

The steering isn’t overly light, the gearshift isn’t all that precise and it doesn’t dart from side to side like you might expect, but you can feel just how refined it is – a trait shared with its 911 counterpart of the era. The Boxster flows through corners with plenty of grip and balance.

2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Welcome to the best car I’ve ever driven, joint with the 2004 BMW M3 CSL. I am, at heart, an idiot who loves a hard-edged performance car, so this is about as perfect as it gets. I was sweating profusely on a 36-degree day in a dark car with no air conditioning, enjoying the GT3 RS’s sonorous 3.8-litre engine all the way to 9000RPM, with no care in the world.

The uber-precise gear lever, sharp brakes and responsive engine are all sublime in this track special, making it one of the most memorable vehicles I’ve ever been behind the wheel of, and the ultimate expression of what a high-performance 911 should be.

2026 Porsche 911 Carrera T

Which brings me neatly to the 911 Carrera T, which in truth is the best all-rounder on this list, and thinking objectively might be the best sports car you can buy. It’s comfortable, spacious inside and surprisingly fuel efficient, but that’s not what matters to me.

No, this car combines the best traits of all its predecessors into an intoxicating package. The engine sings to red line and barely feels turbocharged, and the manual gearbox is slick and easy to use while still feeling heavy and purposeful.

It’s the culmination of decades of development, and it’s utterly bewitching. Good job Porsche, keep them coming. Please.

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*Savings are made up of the maximum dealer discount off RRP – subject to dealership, location and trim. Prices correct at the time of writing.