F.A. “Butzi” Porsche (1935 – 2012) Better known to Porsche enthusiasts as F.A. “Butzi” Porsche, he was the son of Dr.-Ing. Ferdinand “Ferry” and Dorothea...
Porsche History
Important and Influencial Porsche figures, historical moments and epic road automobiles and racecars stories.
Your ultimate destination for exploring the rich legacy of Porsche. From the visionaries who shaped the brand, like Ferdinand and Ferry Porsche, to the engineers and designers behind its most iconic models, we cover it all. Dive into the defining moments that cemented Porsche’s place in automotive history, from groundbreaking innovations to legendary motorsport victories at Le Mans and beyond. Whether you’re an enthusiast, a collector, or passionate about heritage, this hub for Porsche history.
The Key People / Porsche Glossary / Yesteryear Moments / The Crest & Brand / The People
Ultimate Porsche History Hub
From its inception, the Porsche brand name was one associated with luxury and racecars, a tradition that has stood the test of time over the ages. The founder, Ferdinand Porsche, was once the chief engineer at Mercedes-Benz, and he even spent time working on Volkswagen vehicles. Porsche began his own company in 1931, naming the company after himself when it was incorporated. After that, Porsche began producing vehicles that would go on to become legendary for their performance and quality.
The very first Porsche nameplate was designed based on the same platform as the VW Beetle. Named the ‘Porsche 64’ and released in 1938, the model’s unique design and upscale vibe immediately caught on with buyers. Of course, the company’s growth was impeded when the war began, forcing Porsche to develop tanks instead of automobiles. However, the company bounced back as early as 1947, when the Grand Prix racing car made its debut. Shortly after, in ‘48, Ferdinand’s son Ferry Porsche created the company’s first-ever sports car – the 356.
By the 60s, the Porsche family was designing and producing popular sports cars that debuted with much anticipation at the Frankfurt International Auto Show every year. Then, in 1964, a legend was born when the first-ever Porsche 911 made its first splash in the industry. Over the next few decades, Porsche continued to expand and innovate in its lineup, until the Porsche 911 Turbo released in 1995 was the first vehicle to ever have onboard computer diagnosis, something that would revolutionize the auto service industry.
Still to this day, Porsche has maintained its status in the industry as a producer of unparalleled supercars and racing innovations. While it has many nameplates besides just the Porsche 911, the 911 is perhaps the most iconic and versatile model under the brand’s name, with over twenty-one different models and seven trim levels.
Porsche History - The Key People
The people who shaped Porsche
Ferdinand Piëch (1937 – 2019) Named car executive of the century in 1999, Ferdinand Piëch transformed Volkswagen into the world’s largest carmaker by revenue. Piëch...
Ferry Porsche 1909 – 1998 Born on September 19, 1909, of Austrian descent, Ferry Porsche kept the Porsche flame alive when his father was imprisoned...
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...
Yesteryear & Historical Porsche Moments
The mythology of Porsche goes beyond just the people. Conversations, profiles, the cars and moments.
On November 3, 1999, Allan McNish took a black open-top prototype around the test track at Weissach and reached 302 km/h (188 mph) despite running...
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...
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....
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...
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...
Half a century ago… Porsche engineers embraced the idea of balance more than 50 years ago while developing a new sports car layout at the...
Mention the word “Targa” to any automotive enthusiast, and it instantly conjures a very specific silhouette. You likely picture the iconic brushed stainless steel roll...
In 1986, Porsche sold more than 50,000 cars. By 1993, that number had collapsed to around 14,000. A strong Deutsche Mark had gutted the American...
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...
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...
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...
In early October 1964, Porsche’s management team received an unexpected letter from France. Peugeot claimed trademark rights to all three-digit car names with a zero...
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...
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,...
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...
At the dawn of the 20th century, engineer Ferdinand Porsche laid down a technological and entrepreneurial blueprint that continues to guide the company bearing his...
‘Ludique’ – a French word which has no exact translation in English. ‘Playful but with an underlying serious intent’ is one interpretation, and in 2005,...
The unsung hero of the range, the standard 911, was also the mainstay of the Porsche line-up during the troubled 1970s. It wasn’t long after...
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,...
As early as their drive home from Le Mans in 1997 Porsche racing chief Norbert Singer and racing engineer Herbert Ampferer started scheming their plans...
Delfosse: The Man Behind The Idea Before discussing the car itself, special mention must be made of the creator of this strange machine, and that...
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...
Launching the Firehawk Series For the 1985 Sports Car Racing scene in the USA, IMSA had decided to start a new series. This would be...
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...
Porsche People Profiles
Porsche has a rich history of amazing personalities, whether it be designers, managers, engineers or race car drivers.
