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.
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One Of The Coolest Classic Sports Cars
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.
The Porsches from Top Gun stood out more than the Darkstar because of this.
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.
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.
In Top Gun, what happened to the Porsche?
Hot classic vehicles are frequently featured in Hollywood motion pictures and television programs. Producers and insurers are also notoriously risk-averse, choosing to employ replicas whenever possible rather than the extremely expensive real thing. Here are some of our preferred fakes from large and small screens:
- The San Francisco cop sitcom “Nash Bridges,” which debuted in 1971 in a Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda, helped Don Johnson’s career by partnering him with Cheech Marin (half of the stoner comedy team of Cheech and Chong). The yellow vehicle that seemed to be an extremely rare Hemi ‘Cuda convertible was actually a “clone,” or a lower-end vehicle that had been rebuilt to look like a top-tier ‘Cuda. The price discrepancy is astounding; the actual item costs more than $1 million, compared to the fake’s $50k pricing.
- The movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder from 1960: The most well-known big screen fake is arguably the Ferris Bueller Ferrari. Although it seems quite accurate from a distance, Ferrari enthusiasts can easily identify the discrepancies, including the Triumph-sourced instruments and the MGB taillights. Avoid bringing up the fake Italian Borrani wire wheels with them either. Today, a genuine California Spyder costs $12 million.
- 1972 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona from “Miami Vice”: Don Johnson seems to be a bit of a fake car magnet. Few Ferrari aficionados wept when the black Daytona Spyder owned by Johnson’s character, Sonny Crockett, and his pet alligator, Elvis, was destroyed in front of them because it was actually a fake that had been constructed on a Corvette chassis. After that, Crockett started using a white Ferrari Testarossa that was actually for sale.
- In the iconic 1980s film “Top Gun,” Kelly McGillis’ character drove a 1958 Porsche Speedster around San Diego. Porsche Speedsters are among the most imitated vehicles ever; the majority of them include impressive fiberglass bodywork that have been attached to a VW Beetle chassis. Longtime Speedster replica manufacturer Intermeccanica looks to have produced the best reproduction for the movie “Top Gun.” They continue to operate in British Columbia, Canada, producing incredibly high-quality reproductions of old Porsche cars.
- The 1935 film “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” Its partner is the Auburn 851 Boattail Speedster. For the most entertaining car pursuit involving a pre-teen driver, Short Round continues to hold the record. Short Round takes Jones and a lounge singer on a wild excursion through pre-war Shanghai while holding blocks to the pedals. Of fact, the car was a total fabrication, and an inadequate one at that.
Porsche, did you sponsor Top Gun?
In the 1986 version of “Top Gun,” Kelly McGillis’s character “Charlie” raced around San Diego in a black 1958 Porsche 356, which, according to Hannah Elliott’s Bloomberg investigation, was a fake. For the movie, it was constructed in Canada. When in the best condition, a 356 is today worth more than $200,000.
However, the 1973 Porsche 911S that serves as the film’s hero does not require a substitute; it is the real deal. The stunning Jennifer Connelly, who plays “Penny,” is once again a key part in the new Navy film “Top Gun: Maverick” driving a Porsche.
The 1973 Porsche 911 S that Jennifer Connelly drives as “Penny” is indeed a genuine, numbers-matching automobile. Also shown in the film is a second 1973 911 E that director Joseph Kosinski used as a backup vehicle on camera. Kosinski remarked, “Penny sails fast boats, so I liked the concept that she also drove a classic Porsche.” “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 high-performance 1973 “S” arrived from the factory with a 2.4-liter, 190-horsepower engine and the then-novel “Type 915” transmission, together with vintage “Fuchs” wheels. The 1973 Porsche 911 S coupe stands alone as the pinnacle of Porsche’s lightweight sports cars from the early ’70s, with the exception of the top-tier Porsche 911 Carrera RS.