As amazing as it was (and is), the 911 created a problem for Porsche. Killing off the venerable 356 would leave it with just one model, and a pricey one at that. Worried about shrinking sales and declining appeal, company brass decided to combine the sophisticated platform of the . The company cut costs in other areas as well, mostly in the interiorfitting the car with a plastic, not wood, steering wheel; ditching the teak trim of the 911; and deleting the clock and oil pressure gauge.