Automotive

Porsche celebrates 60 years

Porsche celebrates 60 years
Ferry Porsche (centre), his father Ferdinand Porsche (right) and Erwin Komenda (left), 1948, in front of the 356 No. 1 in GmündPhoto: Porsche
Ferry Porsche (centre), his father Ferdinand Porsche (right) and Erwin Komenda (left), 1948, in front of the 356 No. 1 in GmündPhoto: Porsche
View 10 Images
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche (1963) in front of a Porsche 901Photo: Porsche
1/10
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche (1963) in front of a Porsche 901Photo: Porsche
Ferry Porsche (centre), his father Ferdinand Porsche (right) and Erwin Komenda (left), 1948, in front of the 356 No. 1 in GmündPhoto: Porsche
2/10
Ferry Porsche (centre), his father Ferdinand Porsche (right) and Erwin Komenda (left), 1948, in front of the 356 No. 1 in GmündPhoto: Porsche
Ferry Porsche (1968) with 911 2,0 Coupé Photo: Porsche
3/10
Ferry Porsche (1968) with 911 2,0 Coupé Photo: Porsche
Aerial view of Stuttgart Zuffenhausen factory with Museum sitePhoto: Porsche
4/10
Aerial view of Stuttgart Zuffenhausen factory with Museum sitePhoto: Porsche
The 911 Turbo Cabriolet, the Cayman S, the Boxster and the Cayenne GTS (2008) Photo: Porsche
5/10
The 911 Turbo Cabriolet, the Cayman S, the Boxster and the Cayenne GTS (2008) Photo: Porsche
Cayenne Hybrid Photo: Porsche
6/10
Cayenne Hybrid Photo: Porsche
Porsche 928Photo: Porsche
7/10
Porsche 928Photo: Porsche
Carrera GTPhoto: Porsche
8/10
Carrera GTPhoto: Porsche
Boxster Concept shown in 1993 at the Detroit and Geneva Photo: Porsche
9/10
Boxster Concept shown in 1993 at the Detroit and Geneva Photo: Porsche
Building the engine into a Porsche 356 B (1960) Photo: Porsche
10/10
Building the engine into a Porsche 356 B (1960) Photo: Porsche
View gallery - 10 images

June 6, 2008 One of the world's best-known sportscar marques is turning 60. Created by Ferdinand Alexander “Ferry” Porsche, in a small workshop in the Austrian Alps, the first Porsche prototype identified as 356-001 received official approval for road service on June 8, 1948.

“It all started when I began looking around and just could not find my dream car. So I decided to build it myself,” said Ferry Porsche, who is the son of Volkswagen Beetle designer Ferdinand Porsche. "To this day, this genius and pioneering spirit has shaped the philosophy of the company".

The 356, which is still immediately recognizable as the predecessor to the the 911, 914, 944, 928 and Boxster series, attracted immediate attention by virtue of its aerodynamic teardrop body shape, placement of the engine behind the driver and the resulting handling and acceleration characteristics. Two years later the company set up production at a facility that's still used today in Zuffenhausen, Germany.

Porsche has survived its share of turmoil over six decades, in particular rising from an economic crisis in the early 90's when it was in danger of take-over. The company now has a majority holding in Volkswagen AG and continues to pursue development, not just in terms of performance but also in environmental sustainability as seen in the last year's Cayenne Hybrid prototype.

View gallery - 10 images
No comments
0 comments
There are no comments. Be the first!