Movie Cars: 5 Things About the Porsches of “Top Gun”

Movie Cars: 5 Things About the Porsches of Top Gun

Both "Top Gun" and "Top Gun: Maverick" feature superstar cars

BY: PETER JUREW

A lot has changed since 1986, the year Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis starred in the original Top Gun. But some things never change – one of them is the box office magic of Tom Cruise as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Another is the stunning beauty and raw power of classic Porsches. Since Porsches co-star in both Top Gun films, and since Top Gun: Maverick is up for six Oscars, including “Best Picture,” at this year’s Academy Awards, we think it’s the perfect time to shine a spotlight on these super cars.

Here are five things about the Porsches used in Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick.

1. In 1986’s Top Gun, the 1958 Porsche 356 Speedster driven by Kelly McGillis was a replica, not an original. The production crew turned to Intermeccanica, a shop based in Canada to handle the build.

2. In the original Top Gun, when Maverick and Charlie drive up in her Porsche, there are no windshield wipers on the car, but in the close-up shots, they are there.

3. In Top Gun: Maverick, the 1973 911 S coupe is notable as that year marked the last of the so-called long-hood, thin-bumper 911s prior to design changes required by American safety regulations.

4. Top Gun: Maverick’s 1973 911 S comes with an air-cooled, rear-mounted 2.4-liter flat-six engine that made around 195 horsepower

5. Jennifer Connelly herself—not a stunt double drove the numbers-matching Silver Metallic 911 S coupe in Top Gun: Maverick. It was loaned to the film by San Diego resident Nick Psyllos.