9781422270356

were first found on the company’s racing machinery. As time has progressed, the concept of what constitutes the ultimate Porsche driving experience has been refined. Dr. Porsche It all began with the genius of Ferdinand Porsche (1875–1951). He was the son of a tinsmith, born into a world built upon centuries of respect for cra " smanship. At the time of his death, only the first few production examples of the 356 had rolled o ! the assembly line, but by then he had established himself as a true visionary, one of the few great designers who were able to visualize and create a car in its entirety. The Porsche surname first appeared on a vehicle that

Dr. Ferdinand Porsche in 1940.

created a sensation at the Paris Exposition of 1900. The Lohner Porsche was a battery-powered two-seater, with electric motors driving its front hubs. Porsche had designed those motors, as well as the car’s lightweight chassis. Even then, his designs had a sporting purpose, and there were plans for a racing version of the car, targeted for a then-incredible 37-miles-per-hour top speed. By 1906, the thirty-one-year-old designer moved on to Daimler Motor Co., where he served as technical director. Thus began an association that lasted for two decades. He designed several

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