[TheCondor]

The Jag XK platform had 45+ year run. I'd bet that as long as the 911 is made, it'll have an inline 6 and to someone's thinking it will be the same platform as the air-cooled version from 1964.

Engine architectures tend to last unless they are bad. They can do a lot on one also, the Toyota GR platform started out as a fairly vanilla V-6 but it has variations with GDI and variations with turbochargers and has been used a lot of different vehicles. A lot of different variations with different levels of compressions and such. It's basically the block and cylinders configuration.

I'll shout out the K-series though, it's a shockingly good platform. Lots of little details have been thought through, it's relatively simple, inexpensive and reliable and maybe one of the easiest engines to work on. If you were new to cars and wanted to start wrenching, the K-series is a pretty good place to start. It can take boost and make power and has lots of aftermarket support. I know civics aren't everyones cup of tea and it's not a big V-8, but I've yet to meet an engineer that isn't at least slightly impressed by the k-series.

[heelix]

Ah man, I owned a Jag XJS with the V12. Nothing on that car was what I'd consider 'normal'. Want to change the brake pads - down the rabbit hole I went. That car was why I own a voltmeter. I was a lot more knowledgeable after that car - smart enough to run, not walk from an XKE opportunity.

[EugenioPerea]

The 911 is a flat-six, but I agree with your point wholeheartedly.

[TacticalCoder]

> 45+ year run... I'd bet that as long as the 911 is made...

Hardly. The first Porsche 901 came out in 1963 (and was renamed 911 for Peugeot had the right to "901" for car models even though they never used it).

That's 62 years that the 911 exists now.

Heck my 911 Carrera is now 38 years old and it's a late 80s one.

[Aloha]

Indeed, long lived engines are not unusual

Chrysler LA - 1964-2003

Ford Windsor 1961-2000

Ford Inline 6 1960-2016

Modular V8 1990-2014

[zombielinux]

The BMC A Series is another exceptionally long lived one. 1951-2000 in original form, and then licenced by Nissan until 2009.

[bluedino]

> Modular V8 1990-2014

Still lives to this day. The 5.0/5.2 engines are modular.

[cgh]

Nissan VQ series, 1994-today

[relaxing]

There is zero commonality between a ‘64 911 and a modern 992.