Porsche 911 through the years

Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, grandson of the founder of the company, designed the now-iconic Porsche 911 in the 1960s. F.A. Porsche died Thursday in Salzburg, Austria at age 76.

The 911 rolled out in 1963 and has gone through dozens of iterations since. The instantly recognizable curves of the 911 are the same today as they were nearly 50 years ago, but much has changed as well. The car he envisioned lives on.

Take a tour through the history of Porche's best-known driving machine.

1963

The Porche 911 rolled out for the first time in 1963. It wasn't until 1965 that the car made it to U.S. shores, with a price tag of $6,500.

1967

The sweeping lines of the 911 were styled by Ferdinand Alexander Porche. In the 911, he created a larger, less cramped replacement for the company's first model, the four-cylinder Porsche 356. The new car, with a rear-mounted, six-cylinder engine, was originally designated the 901, but the number was changed because French competitor Peugeot claimed a patent on car names formed with a zero in the middle.

1973

1973 was the last year of the "first generation" 911's. Later models would come with increasingly powerful engines, as well as safety additions to comply with changing safety laws over the world.

1980

Porsche revamped the 911 in the late 70's. The new version was known as the 911SC. The automaker originally planned to phase out the car, but the 911 proved so popular that the company continued rolling out models.

1982

The "Targa" model 911 was the company's attempt at convertible compromise. At one point, Porsche feared that U.S. safety regulations would eventually outlaw fully-open convertibles.

1987

The Club Sport model, seen here, was designed for club racing. The vehicle featured a reduced weight for more speed, but at a cost of comfort. CS 911s came without a radio, rear seat, or air conditioning, among other amenities.