The Philippines, in fact, which was the birthplace of Benjamin Dimson, the trailblazing designer of the Porsche 964, as the relaunched 911 was first known. And it wasn’t only the 964 on which Dimson was the lead exterior designer.

Buyer or Seller Questions? Let’s Talk! 310-975-0272

He also worked on the 928 S-4, the 944 Turbo, and even the 959, Porsche’s first supercar. (After Porsche, Ben Dimson oversaw the design of the Mercedes W124 E-Class convertible and the M-Class SUV, plus much more. And then there was that spell at Audi, as well as the design of the cockpit of the Airbus A320 airliner.)

Dimson studied Industrial Engineering at Manila’s Adamson University. But when he wanted to add a design degree, he was obliged to cross the Pacific to Pasadena in California, where he studied Transportation Design at the Art Center College.

Only on the completion of that course did he move to Germany where a job awaited him at the Style Porsche studio.

Although work there was ferociously competitive, Ben Dimson soon won out: ‘I chose to pursue a design direction that was, to my mind, an evolution of Porsche’s design DNA derived from the 356 series rather than rely on current design trends prevalent in the eighties. This proved to be the appropriate direction to take when the board of directors including Dr. Porsche unanimously preferred my full-size model direction for the next generation 928. The car became and looked more homogenous and natural in its formal execution; the success and its acceptance secured my stature within Style Porsche.’

Then a potential poisoned chalice awaited Dimson: to head up the design for the 964, the first fully new generation of the 911 since the model’s 1963 debut.

His task was to attract new customers to the Porsche brand, whilst simultaneously avoiding alienating the purist aficionados – a cult following – of the original model.

And at both these divergent tasks Ben Dimson succeeded admirably: the Porsche 964 was manufactured and sold between 1989 and 1994. Designed by Benjamin Dimson through January 1986, it featured significant styling revisions over previous 911 models, most prominently the more integrated bumpers. It was the first car to be offered with Porsche’s Tiptronic automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive as options.

But the car emerged after a professional struggle for Ben Dimson.

‘When I suggested using an evolutionary approach,’ he said, ‘many scoffed and waited to exercise schadenfreude because I was going against the current and hottest design trends pursued by Porsche’s competitors. I was perhaps fortunate in being given the chance to fall on my own sword, the risk was worth it to go against the herd. What made it even more ironic was I was merely using the principles of the Bauhaus to create an even purer Porsche.

This is probably the most evident in the 964 Carrera’s design and explains its popular acceptance amongst 911 aficionados.’

You can judge for yourself with the gorgeous 1990 Porsche 964 Coupe we presently have at Beverly Hills Car Club, finished in its factory color Guards Red (80K) and complemented by a Cashmere Beige interior. This vehicle is a true testament to Porsche’s timeless design and engineering excellence, making it a coveted classic among automotive enthusiasts.

This 964 is equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission and a powerful 3.6-Liter flat-six engine. Mechanical features include four-wheel disc brakes, power steering, a single exhaust outlet, a 4-spoke steering wheel, Bosch-branded headlights, front fog lights, Bridgestone Potenza tires, and distinctive 16-inch ‘Design 90’ (D90) style alloy wheels.

Convenience features include air conditioning, a sunroof, power-adjustable front seats, power-operated windows, dual-side rearview mirrors, an analog clock, a center console, a glove box, and door pockets.

Included with this Porsche is an owner’s manual, a maintenance book, and service receipt copies that total up to $41,302.61. The color code and options sticker are both still in place under the hood.

If you’re in the market for a German classic that combines timeless design and heritage, look no further than this 964 Carrera Coupe that is mechanically sound.

And a tribute to the journey made across the world to Stuttgart from the Philippines by Benjamin Dimson.

-Alex Manos, Owner