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Porsche History
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Porsche Automuseum Pfeifhofer

Gmünd, Carinthia, Austria

Porsche Automuseum Pfeifhofer in Gmünd, Carinthia, Austria

Porsche Near Gmünd in 1944-1949

As the Porsche construction office had to move away from Stuttgart’s bombing raids, in 1944 a new location was set up near Gmünd in Carinthia (Gmünd in Kärnten), Austria. It was 320 miles/515 km from Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. The Porsche construction office started to work in wooden sheds of a former sawmill. During the difficult period, many projects not related to cars (tractors, cable pull for mountain skiers, mining winch etc.) were also carried out. In addition to different machinery, Gmünd is the birthplace of the Porsche type 360 Cisitalia Formula 1 car drawings, the 1948 Porsche 356/1 roadster prototype and the 356/2 coupes and convertibles.

Design office. © Porsche
Houses quickly built on Gries an der Lieser street in Gmünd
Houses quickly built on Gries an der Lieser street in Gmünd using Heraklith wood-wool panels. Ferdinand Porsche, head designer Karl Rabe and others lived in these houses. © Porsche
The workshop and the auto body shop were housed here. Around 300 people worked for Porsche in Gmünd
The workshop and the auto body shop were housed here. Around 300 people worked for Porsche in Gmünd. © Porsche
1948 Gmünd. Exterior designer Erwin Komenda, Ferry Porsche, Ferdinand Porsche, 356 no.1
1948 Gmünd. Exterior designer Erwin Komenda, Ferry Porsche, Ferdinand Porsche, 356 no.1. © Porsche
1948 Porsche 356/2 Gmünd coupé with aluminium body
1948 Porsche 356/2 Gmünd coupé with aluminium body. © Porsche
Porsche shed outside of Gmünd, here in 2004
Porsche shed outside of Gmünd, here in 2004
In 2004 there was a wall with drawing showing what was here in the 1940s
In 2004 there was a wall with drawing showing what was here in the 1940s

Porsche shed outside of Gmünd, here in 2004© Stuttcars.com

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