In Switzerland Ernst and Fritz Beutler made a good living from special bodies on both Volkswagen and Porsche chassis. Ultimately Porsche took a close interest in what the brothers were doing because it had 2+2 ambitions of its own.
The Swiss brothers Beutler stepped on the stage of Porsche-car history at the beginning of the first act, when Gmünd-built 356s were being sent to Switzerland, some as completed coupes and some as chassis. Importer Bernhard Blank arranged to have the chassis bodied as cabriolets by panel-beater Fritz Beutler and designer Ernst Beutler at their workshops on Gwattstrasse in Thun’s southerly Dürrenast district, not far from Thun Lake.
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