One of the nicest Porsche sports cars from that era is the 1973 911 S coupe used in Top Gun: Maverick, especially since Porsche abandoned its elegant, extended bumper in favor of American safety versions starting in 1974. Even now, the pre-impact bumper is still incredibly coveted, as is anything that offers less protection but more fashion. Having said that, the safety bumpier appeared chunkier and gave the Porsche a slightly forced appearance.
The HiPo 1973 Porsche 911 S had a 2.4-liter, 190-horsepower engine at the time. All of this power was coupled with a new “Type 915” transmission that was adapted from Porsche race cars for easier, quicker shifting, making it faster. It also got a revised front chin spoiler with lessened front-end lift, as well as six-spoke Fuchs wheels with the recognizable design. It was so successful that it was installed in all 911 vehicles.
The 1973 Porsche 911 S cost over $10,000 stock at retail because of all of this. You also paid more if you added more options.
In This Article...
More than you might think, the movie car is significant.
Top Gun: Maverick and Porsche might seem like an unusual mix to those who somehow missed the original. If you saw Top Gun when film debuted in theaters in 1986, you were pleased not only by the incredible airborne stunts but also by the fact that Kelly McGillis’ character, astrophysicist Charlie Blackwood, was driving a black 1958 Porsche 356 Speedster. The 1973 Porsche 911 S driven by Penny Benjamin, portrayed by Jennifer Connelly, continued this tradition. We’re here to delve into its history and the tale of the Porsche in the first Top Gun movie since many people who have seen the new film only know that it’s a Porsche.
That 1958 Porsche 356 Speeder was not an original; it was a replica. This frequently occurs in movies for a variety of reasons, such as when the production team was unable to obtain the exact vehicle required for a particular appearance. In this instance, they consulted Intermeccanica, a well-known Canadian replica Speedster constructor. The end product is convincing enough to make the majority of people think the vintage sports automobile is real without the use of any special effects.
The 1973 Porsche 911 S, on the other hand, is a numbers-matching automobile, not a replica, and is therefore a pretty amazing movie star. Instead of a stunt double, Connelly drove the vehicle that San Diego resident Nick Psyllos lent to the production team while it was being filmed. For Psyllos, allowing the automobile to star in a movie that will definitely be adored by many people increased the car’s worth.
The 911 S, or Porsche’s sporting version of the grand tourer, was produced from 1967 to 1973 and set several 911 lineup firsts. It was the first engine derivative, with a robust 160 horsepower when it first debuted with the 2.0-liter flat-six for 1967 and 1968. With the 2.4-liter engine, output was increased to 190 horsepower. It was the 911 of choice for people who desired to drive hard because to its tighter handling and lighter curb weight. Its Fuchs wheels were the first to be used on it, and many enthusiasts rapidly adopted this preference, which is still strong among the fan base today. The movie automobile displays its Fuchs with pride.
The Top Gun: Maverick Porsche 911 detail that auto enthusiasts like
Kelly McGillis’s “Charlie” raced through San Diego in a black 1958 Porsche 356 in the 1986 adaptation of “Top Gun.” The small Speedster, however, was actually a copy of the real Speedster, which today, in the best of condition, is worth more than $200,000.
Intermeccanica, a renowned producer of Speedster replicas, constructed Charlie’s vehicle in its Canadian headquarters.
No similar stand-in was required for the “Top Gun: Maverick” hero vehicle. The 1973 Porsche 911 S that Jennifer Connelly drives as “Penny” is indeed a genuine, numbers-matching automobile. That goes for the 1973 Porsche 911 E that filmmaker Joseph Kosinski employed as a back-up vehicle on camera.
Kosinski wrote in an email, “Penny sails fast boats, so I liked the concept that she drove a classic Porsche as well. “The 1973 911 S model is one of their most classic designs,” I believe.
Connelly personally operated the factory-authorized Silver Metallic 911 S coupe, not a stunt duplicate. Nick Psyllos, a resident of San Diego, loaned it to the movie. Psyllos, a veteran collector, has owned over ten Porsches, including a tangerine-orange 1972 911 ST tribute vehicle.
The Special Features of the Porsche in “Top Gun: Maverick”
The top of the line vehicle is the silver 1973 Porsche 911 S driven by Penny, played by Jennifer Connelly, in the record-breaking blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick.
Although Tom Cruise’s love interest frequently displays her passion for German sports cars (see the video below), this Porsche is something special that makes vintage car enthusiasts weak in the knees.
According to Robb Report, enthusiasts adore it for its long snout and small, pre-impact bumper. It’s a model variant that has been made more tiny over time as a result of laxer safety regulations in America.
The 1973 911 S model is one of Porsche’s most classic designs, according to Top Gun director Joseph Kosinski, who also loved the concept of Penny driving a vintage Porsche because it related to the fact that she drove fast boats.
The movie was fortunate to obtain the factory-authorized Silver Metallic 911 S coupe (not a replica). Connelly had the opportunity to drive it herself thanks to the kind loan from San Diego resident Nick Psyllos (not a stunt double).
Psyllos is a seasoned collector who has owned more Porsches than he can count, including a tangerine-orange tribute car to the 1972 911 ST.
But given that it co-stars in Top Gun: Maverick, this 911 S is probably the most significant and expensive vehicle in his collection:
Sports cars of the Concours-caliber have been known to sell for more over $200,000. This one could be worth a lot more when you consider that it was used in a movie.
After all, the 1979 Porsche 928 that Cruise sat behind the wheel of in Risky Business sold last autumn for $1.9 million.
Here is a list of every Porsche that appeared in Top Gun: Maverick
If you’re itching for a Porsche, we performed some research on regional auto sale websites.
Who drives the Porsche in Maverick from Top Gun?
Top Gun: Maverick, the sequel to the 1986 film Top Gun, has a lot of variations from its predecessor. The performers’ ages, the plots’ complexity, the advanced technology, and obviously the hero automobiles all differ from one another.
Kelly McGillis’ “Charlie” drove a 1958 Porsche 356, or rather, a duplicate of the actual thing constructed on a VW Beetle chassis, in the first film. Intermeccanica, a Canadian replica manufacturer, constructed it at the time for the film.
That being said, Maverick, the movie’s hero vehicle, didn’t require a replica. This 1973 Porsche 911 S is a numbers-matching original that San Diego resident Nick Psyllos has loaned to the producing company. Psyllos is a dedicated Porsche collector who owns or has owned more than 10 Porsches, including a tangerine-orange tribute car to the 1972 911 ST.
Psyllos not only made some sweet money from the Porsche but now has a real Top Gun Porsche to make even more money off in the future. Jennifer Connelly actually drove it in the movie. This brings up the most crucial query. How much does a vintage Porsche 911 S from the 1970s or 1960s cost? Let’s investigate.
In Top Gun, what vehicle did Maverick pilot?
Yes, that is a 1956 Aston Martin DBR1 in the corner of the hero’s hangar. Mav doesn’t drive it in the movie; it is simply covertly inserted in the background of a scene with the P-51. One of only five vehicles made, and this one has a history at Le Mans. It really is that exclusive. In fact, the most recent DBR1 auction sale at RM Sotheby’s in 2017 netted $22,550,000. We’re beginning to wonder if Pete Mitchell is truly engaged in any Risky Business while pulling off All the Right Moves because even DBR1 reproductions cost millions.
What model of Porsche does Top Gun feature?
Although the cars in the newest Top Gun: Maverick movie are gorgeous, the Porsches stick out the most, and here’s why.
While Tom Cruise’s first billion-dollar film, Top Gun: Maverick, is on a winning streak at the box office, let’s not forget about the other big winners—the Porsche vehicles that appear in both films. Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, played by Tom Cruise, enjoys performing aerial feats while piloting fighter jets and riding his Kawasaki motorcycles. On the highway, the Porsches driven by the Top Gun women, however, were what really stole the show.
All of these vehicles share the common trait that everyone adores a Porsche, especially a vintage one. The icing on the cake would be if they arrived in vehicles driven by fiercely attractive ladies. Kelly McGillis’ character Charlie Blackwood operates a black 1958 Porsche 356 Speedster in the 1986 version of Top Gun. However, Jennifer Connelly’s character Penny Benjamin, who plays Maverick’s new love interest, drives a 1973 Porsche 911 S in the 2022 Top Gun: Maverick. We adore both of them. Additionally, we think the Porsches are more distinctive than the Darkstar, and we’ll explain why.
Which Porsche 356 is the most coveted?
Ferdinand “Ferry” Porsche, the company’s founder and son of Dr. Ing. Ferdinand Porsche, invented the 356. The 356 was produced in four unique series, starting with the first (“pre-A”) and continuing with the 356 A, 356 B, and 356 C. Erwin Komenda, a Porsche employee, created the 356’s unique exterior, although Volkswagen served as a base for its technical design, including the engine casings and suspension parts. On June 8, 1948, the first 356 received its Austrian driving permit. To increase manufacturing efficiency, various Volkswagen components were employed. However, Porsche quickly re-engineered and improved the vehicle with an emphasis on performance. It’s interesting to note that in late 1954, they created their own, non-VW pushrod engine case before introducing the 4-cam racing “Carrera” engine (a design wholly exclusive to Porsche sports vehicles). As the 1950s went on, Volkswagen and Porsche began to share fewer and fewer parts. Early 356 automobile bodywork were made by hand in aluminum at Gmund, but in 1950, production was shifted to Zuffenhausen, Germany, where models had steel bodies.
The first 356 was mostly sold in Austria and Germany and received little attention when it was first released, mostly from a tiny group of motor racing fans. Porsche produced the first 50 cars over the course of two years, starting in 1948 with the initial prototype. For its aerodynamics, handling, and exceptional build quality, the 356 earned some notoriety among enthusiasts on both sides of the Atlantic by the early 1950s. Obviously, the class victory at Le Mans in 1951 played a role. It was always normal for owners to race their cars in addition to using them for daily transportation.
The “Speedster,” which was released in late 1954 after Max Hoffman, the sole US importer of Porsches, told the company that a less expensive, rather spartan open-top variant may sell well in the American market, became the most sought-after collector model of the 356 series. The Speedster was an instant hit, especially in Southern California, because to its low, slanted windscreen (which could be removed for weekend racing), bucket seats, and simple folding top. Only 1,171 Speedsters were produced at its peak in 1957.