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Porsche History
In the rolling fields of post-war Germany, a visionary project took shape—not on racetracks or autobahns, but on farmlands. Years before Porsche became a household name in sleek sports cars, it left its mark in agriculture with the Porsche-Diesel tractor. Manufactured in Friedrichshafen-Manzell, Germany, these tractors embodied engineering precision tailored...
Images by: Virtual Motorpix/Glen Smale and Corporate Archives Porsche AG The Porsche 917 was the culmination of a line of race cars produced by the Stuttgart manufacturer during possibly the busiest decade, from 1964 to 1973, of its (by then) short existence. Just 21 short years after Porsche opened its...
The first experiment As in many parts of the world, the German police system is decentralized, with each state responsible for administering its own civil-military security force. This organization, which allows a certain degree of freedom in structuring forces according to the needs of each German federal unit, would prove...
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Porsche’s 917 was, by most measures, the best endurance racing car in the world by 1970. It had taken the factory years of difficult development to get there, and on the right circuit, it was close to unbeatable. The problem was that two of the most important races on the...
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1987 model 911 Carrera 3.2 Club Sport Coupé The 911 Carrera Club Sport was Porsche’s attempt at rolling back the years and once again, stoking the fires of high performance, lightweight motoring. Porsche Road & Race pulls back the covers to reveal the origins of the 911 Carrera CS. Originally...
It’s always the same with sports cars from Zuffenhausen: they’re easy to start and well-suited for comfortable travel. However, with this driving style, what a Porsche is capable of in terms of driving dynamics is often left unexplored. True appreciation of the engineering expertise can be felt more intensely during...
Between 1987 and 1990, Porsche forged a remarkable path in American motorsports, with one of its most memorable moments being the team’s short-lived, yet intense, stint in CART/IndyCar. Join us in the second part about the story of this epic, as the Zuffenhausen-based company faced growing challenges to establish itself...
Ferdinand Porsche (1875 – 1951) Ferdinand Porsche was an Austrian-German automotive engineer and founder of the Porsche car company. He is best known for creating the first gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle, the Volkswagen Beetle, the Auto Union racing car, the Mercedes-Benz SS/SSK and several other important automobiles and technologies. Most importantly...
The Porsche 907 has probably received the least amount of coverage of all Porsche’s 1960s ‘plastic prototypes’. But this lack of attention is unjustified, as the 907 played just as important a role in Porsche’s rise to motorsport stardom as any of the other successful Porsche racers of the time....
Few cars can rival the Porsche 911’s ability to stir the soul. The German sports car evokes images of a timeless design, power and unparalleled driving exhilaration. A lineup of Porsche 911 Generations © Porsche Ferdinand ‘Ferry’ Porsche always harboured dreams of a true sports car. This vision materialized in...
The Search for an Open 911 Did the phasing out of the Type 356 and its cabriolet model mean that in its new 911 coupe regime Porsche lacked an open car of any kind? Technically it didn’t but actually it did. In September of 1965, at the Frankfurt Show, Porsche...
Evolution, not Revolution Since its debut in 1964, the Porsche 911 has epitomized engineering evolution. Conceived by Ferdinand “Butzi” Porsche, this iconic vehicle has undergone continuous refinement, while preserving its distinctive rear-engine layout and silhouette. Each stage represents a chapter in Porsche’s heritage, from air-cooled engines of the yesteryears to...
We return to the year 1980 and the ill-fated Typ 940 program. By 1979, Porsche had become ubiquitous in the American car market. Offering products that mixed economy, performance, and, more importantly, an identity blended with a unique lifestyle, the Zuffenhausen brand knew it had struck gold. It is no...
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...
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The ‘white, red and blue’ 956 LHs line up at Weissach ready for their onslaught at the Le Mans 24-Hour 1982 The decline of Group 6 and the growth of Group C saw the emergence of what is today widely regarded as the most entertaining and successful era in modern...
906: Born to Race Considered one of the most distinctive designs of the 1960s, the Porsche Carrera 6, more popularly known as the 906, was certainly also one of the most remarkable pieces of German engineering. As is already well known, the origins of the model can be traced back...
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Somewhere at Weissach in the 1980s, an engine ran on a test bench until its cylinder head melted. It was an air-cooled flat six with four valves per cylinder, and it belonged to the development work for the 964, the 911 that would reach showrooms in 1989 looking much as...
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‘Ludique’ – a French word which has no exact translation in English. ‘Playful but with an underlying serious intent’ is one interpretation, and in 2005, this was very much how testers and owners found the new Porsche Cayman. Few cars then, and certainly not its most obvious rivals, could match...
The Porsche 962, following in the footsteps of the already massively successful 956, was introduced in 1984 in response to specific regulatory requirements as laid down by the American IMSA GTP Championship. IMSA’s refusal to allow the 956 to race in the US championship was based on the rule that...
“It’s a dream,” says Head of Design Michael Mauer, when asked about developing the next potential hypercar. “And a whole lot of stress.” He’s the picture of relaxation at the moment. The Mission X was just unveiled at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen – just in time for the sports...
A 911 Turbo Sonderwunsch and the new Panamera were among the highlights of Dubai’s annual Icons of Porsche festival. Fans of classic cars, arts, and culture were on hand to commemorate 75 years of Porsche sports cars, as well as 60 years of the 911. The gathering at the Dubai...
Porsche, as we all know, is a name that is synonymous with clean, simple lines that highlight the peak of German engineering. Even from a mile away, you could pick out a 911 from a Cayman from a Taycan, each very similar in design language but completely different in shape...
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Proven through competition Engineering, design, innovation; while the list is long for what describes the Porsche name, it can be distilled into one word; racing. Even before the days of cars that would bare his name, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche believed competition was the ultimate test for proving excellence in design...
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Over a hundred years ago, Ferdinand Porsche designed an extraordinary race car, the Austro-Daimler ADS-R, in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. Today, Christophorus and 9:11 Magazine brings the former Targa Florio class champion, whose nickname is Sascha, back home. Following a vigorous turn of the crank, the gas pedal is applied ever...
The Le Mans 24-Hour race is arguably the greatest motor race in the world. It started in 1923 on some public roads at Le Mans, France and continues to this day. While there maybe a few older races, notably the Indianapolis 500 and the Isle of Man TT, Le Mans...
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FISA published the definitive version of the Group C rulebook in October 1981. The first season opened a few months later. Porsche had given the 956 project its official green light on 1 August 1981, which left Norbert Singer and a motorsport department that had not existed the previous summer...
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Le Mans 24 Hours, 20/21 June 1964: Porsche 904/8 of Edgar Barth/Herbert Linge before the start of the race The introduction of the Type 904 heralded a new direction for Porsche’s race cars. Gone were the aluminium-bodied racers, as the 904 spearheaded a generation of GRP-bodied Porsches that culminated in...
The Flair’s story begins with Fletcher Aviation, founded in 1941 in Pasadena by three Fletcher brothers: Wendell, Frank, and Maurice. They initially formed the company to build a basic trainer for the US Army, and in 1953, Fletcher Aviation again attempted to secure a government contract, this time for an...
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Porsche Museum Stuttgart Overview & Guide The new 100 million euro Porsche museum was built a 1 minute walking distance away from the old tiny museum that was located on the factory plot. The new museum project was announced in 2004 and the museum was opened on January 31, 2009....
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A land record from 1910 described the ground between Weissach and Flacht as remarkably mountainous and rocky, not very fertile and very difficult to cultivate. That description is a large part of why Porsche bought it. Ferry Porsche did not want to take good farmland for a test track, and...
Porsche Celebrates 75 Years It’s a big year for Porsche as the famed manufacturer celebrates 75 years of engineering excellence and constantly pushing boundaries. To kick off the celebrations, the marque has released a short video to highlight what makes the brand so successful – the desire to follow dreams...
80 of the Coolest Porsche Print Ads Ever Porsche has always had some awesome marketing folks and some hilarious ads over the years. This week we decided to go back in time and find as many of the best Porsche ads we could find throughout the years. Don’t worry, we...
In a garage full of legendary vehicles, one in particular stands out: the Porsche 935. The Porsche 935 was the first rear-engine race car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. On the occasion of the classic car’s centennial, we visited the 1979 winning vehicle in its current owner’s...
When I’m not helping to sell the occasional old race car, or visiting old race car meetings, I’ve usually got my head down, researching various projects for clients, usually to do with Porsches—although Lola T70s and the like often pass my way too. Probably the most interesting project that I’ve...
Story by Glen Smale. All images © as stated in the book & on the DVD Brilliant…just brilliant!! I don’t often start a book review in this manner, in fact I can’t remember when I last did so, but this book and DVD set certainly deserve such a response. No...
Start your engines… Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) has proudly unveiled an exhilarating schedule of on-track activities for the highly anticipated Porsche Rennsport Reunion 7. A momentous occasion that brings together the world’s largest assembly of fervent Porsche enthusiasts, the event promises an awe-inspiring showcase of eight distinctive classes, featuring...
Porsche dealers can now compete in one of three categories: Preservation, Restoration, or Individualization, putting the emphasis on creativity, the Classic community is growing and thriving in Porsche’s 75th year and as part of the festivities, the Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge is inviting U.S. Porsche dealerships to prove their classic...
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Setting the Scene The 1960s represented for Porsche, the busiest decade in the company’s history to date, with ten new road and race cars being introduced during the decade. And since those heady days, the Stuttgart manufacturer has not seen another decade in which so many different race cars were...
1974 Porsche 911 Turbo #1 chassis no. 911 560 0042. First owned by the late Louise Piëch (older sister of Ferry Porsche), the car is now on display in the Porsche Museum In 1973, the Porsche 911, by now a decade old, was ready for a make-over. The 3-litre engine...
Revered as one of the most important companies in the Porsche segment in the 80s and 90s, Fabcar left an impressive legacy on the racetrack, with its products being synonymous with reliability, novelty and speed. With these attributes in mind, we take a look back at the history of this...
Porsche Terms The world of Porsche is filled with all kinds of names, terms and abbreviations and it’s hard for even a passionate enthusiast to remember them all. That’s why we’ve put together the following. If you find anything amiss or have anything to add, don’t hesitate to give us...
Incredibly successful in Le Mans Porsche was incredibly successful with the 917 in Le Mans and in the World Championship for Makes in 1970 and 1971. However, the governing body’s decision to only accept engines with a maximum displacement of three liters meant Porsche could not compete in the following...
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Before Porsche Was a Name on a Sports Car Long before Porsche became a household name associated with rear-engine sports cars, Le Mans victories, flat-six engines, and the enduring silhouette of the 911, it was something much less polished and far more elemental. It was the name of a young...
In the fragile postwar years, the team behind the first Porsche was driven by two forces: stubborn ambition and harsh reality. They had the vision for a true sports car, but building one was another matter entirely. The sleek shape of the Porsche 356 came together relatively quickly, but under...
Vic Elford, Porsche motorsport legend, passed away at his home in Plantation Florida on March 13. In the last few years, the 86-year-old battled cancer with the same courage, will, and determination that he had on track. These same values made him one of only four drivers to have six...
Although a relatively late starter compared to others in the 20th century, what Porsche has accomplished over its 75-year history is quite remarkable. Few other manufacturers can match Porsche’s success in the showroom or on the racetrack over the past 75 years. Author Randy Leffingwell has written a new book...
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Porsche’s Forrest Gump—the irrepressible Herbert Linge—pops up everywhere in Porsche history even after his retirement almost thirty years ago. The amazingly varied Porsche career of Herbert Linge would be unimaginable today—from wartime apprentice to manager of Weissach via workshop, development testing, race track, Porsche in the US, and Formula 1....
Type 964 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 retained much of its original 1963 styling (1989MY) Last month we looked at some of Porsche’s milestones around the time of the company’s 50th anniversary in 1998. This month we track back a further ten years to 1988, and we look back 30 years...
The name Porsche is synonymous with the world’s toughest endurance race, the 24-Hours of Le Mans, boasting an unbroken run of 65 years. During this time, they have amassed 18 victories. This is Part I of their story… The Veuillet/Mouche 356 SL proved reliable on its Le Mans debut in...
Turn Left or go home At 15:00, on a bitterly cold afternoon in December 2023, Porsche werks driver Romain Dumas had a decision to make: turn left or turn for home. But there are two catches. Turning around would mean failing to complete a mission four years in the making,...
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...
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With relationships between Porsche and Volkswagen fructifying in many ways over the years, even decades, this one was inevitable. Its basis was the third generation of the sainted van, sold worldwide under various nameplates including Transporter, Caravelle, Microbus, and Vanagon. Introduced in 1979 as the latest T3 VW, it was...
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Factory recommissions the famous Porsche 959 Paris-Dakar The recommissioning has been carried out over the past few months by the Porsche Heritage and Museum team together with their colleagues from Porsche Classic. A car that can survive 8,700 miles in the deserts and savannahs of Africa can go anywhere in...
There’s hardly a brand more connected to sports cars than Porsche. To this very day, the iconic Porsche 911 remains a benchmark sports car with nothing but a few formidable competitors in the vast and ever expanding industry. While only a handful of cars came to rival it, many more...
A-zug, Austro Daimler, B-zug, C-zug, Ferdinand Porsche, M17-80hp, Rabe, Zugwagen M12 In July 1906, 30-year-old Ferdinand Porsche, who had previously worked for the small Austrian company Lohner, joined Austro-Daimler as chief engineer. He brought with him his development of the so-called “mixed or hybrid drive”—the Mixte: an internal combustion engine...
Icons of Porsche – Taken seriously! Icons of Porsche is not just the theme for Rennsport Reunion 7, but represents the talented people who have pushed the limits, taken risks and bravely driven Porsche to success over the past 75 years as a sports car marque. Porsche Cars North America...
The adventure begins Organized by the Petersen Automotive Museum, the Rennsport Reunion 7 Rally began September 27th at an amazing private collection in Southern California. Porsche enthusiasts ventured through some of the most exciting canyons, and gorgeous vineyard roads, and cruised along California’s most famous highways. Day 1 ended in...
Sit in the 944 Turbo that Porsche used to develop its dual-clutch gearbox and the oddest thing in the cabin is the lever in the center console. There is a minus sign ahead of it and a plus sign behind it. Push forward for a lower gear, pull back for...
Celebrations for the #55 Porsche 550 Spyder after finishing third in the 1954 La Carrera Panamericana. Sitting on the #55 car is Herbert Linge (left and Hans Herrmann (right). Sitting on the #56 car is driver Jaroslav Juhan with Porsche PR supremo Baron Huschke von Hanstein standing between the drivers...
A New Opportunity for Porsche For Porsche’s Michael Hölscher this was his first major project. It was his opportunity to set up fabrication and assembly of a complete automobile at a time when Porsche was suffering from the major fall in the value of the dollar that had supported it...
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The Story of The Porsche Crest As Germany underwent a revolution in 1918, a German state of Kingdom of Württemberg was transformed from a monarchy to a democratic republic and called Free People’s State of Württemberg. It’s capital was Stuttgart. In 1922 a new coat of arms was introduced that...
9:11 Podcast In the current episode of the 9:11 Porsche Podcast, Dr. Wolfgang Porsche talks about the company’s history, the current anniversary year, and his 80th birthday. Dr. Wolfgang Porsche embodies ‘75 years of Porsche sports cars in a very special way. He has witnessed the entire history of the...
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Le Mans 24 Hour, 6/7 June 1998: Allan McNish, Stephane Ortelli and Laurent Aiello took the works #26 Porsche 911 GT1 to victory in the 1998 Le Mans 24 Hours This year, 2018, Porsche will celebrate its 70th anniversary. Although the official date for the registration of the first car, 356-001,...
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No matter who you are or where you’re from, there are three things that connect everyone that is reading this opening line of this article. The first is that we are all enthusiasts of mechanical things with wheels, be them quad bikes, motorcycles, cars, or any variation thereof. Secondly, we...
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