If you can’t find what you want, then you might as well make it yourself. This winning attitude from Ferdinand Porsche, who made one of, if not the biggest impact in the history of automobiles, sport cars and the racing world in general, should be your new life motto. A little bit of hustle, a lot of bustle and a need for speed is what makes Porsche one of the highest earning car manufacturers in the world. Strap yourself in and get ready to discover the fascinating world of Porsche!
‘In the beginning, I looked around and could not find the car I’d been dreaming of: a small, lightweight sports car that uses energy efficiently. So I decided to build it myself.’
- Ferdinand Porsche
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The Founding Father: Ferdinand Porsche
How did it all begin? Well, after some highflying experience working for Daimler-Benz, of Mercedes Benz, Ferdinand Porsche decided to drive his career forward by setting up his own independent design and engineering firm in 1931 when he designed the first ever Volkswagen Beetle. In the meantime, Ferdinand’s son, Ferry, took the realms of his father’s company and drove it to the next level by designing the first ever Porsche sports car, the 365. This first Porsche redefined the sports car as they knew it by aligning comfort and reliability along with speed, style and sophistication. Porsche rapidly became a name to know in the industry. Building more and more legendary vehicles as time went by, the rest is pretty much history, I challenge you to find anyone in this world who hasn’t had of a Porsche!
Ferdinand Porsche, source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Porsche
Call 911, I need a Porsche 911!
Following the 365 came the 911 which certainly caused some sirens in the automobile industry. These famous first digits heralded the start of a production and line of cars that has surpassed six decades. The first, produced in 1963, was a larger and more practical version of the 365 with added seats, a higher performance and a two-litre engine. Since then every version of the 911 has been followed by a letter of the alphabet. A significant change in the game was when the 911G came rolling along in 1973 when Porsche introduced turbocharging with a mighty 260bph power. Fun fact, the iconic Porsche 911 was firstly named the 901 however their competitor Peugeot had a trademark protection on three number combinations with 0 in the middle, so the change had to be made. No worries for Porsche though as they are selling over 30,000 in the 911 series every year! Unlucky Peugeot.
Porsche and Motorsports: Two Peas in a Pod
Porsche and motorsports are virtually the same thing. Its history in racing can be tracked all the way back to 1948. The Porsche Chassis car was driven by Ferdinand’s nephew, Herbert Kaes, in the first race held in Austria after the war and to great success he drove it all the way to victory. Porsche however is most famously known for its success at the 24 Hours Le Mans, the world’s oldest sports car race in endurance racing that began in 1923, beside the town of Le Mans, France. Porsche’s shining victories began in 1951 and since then holds more than 50 class wins at the race. Rally on, rally off, Porsche does it all and does it all well. From the French Grand Prix to the 12 hours of Sebring and the 24 hours of Daytona in North America, Porsche can endure anything at any time. As it stands, Porsche is currently the largest race car manufacturer in the world and has won more races worldwide than any of its competitors.
Drive Your Own Way to Victory
What makes Porsche stand out from the crowd is its underlying passion for creating the well-balanced automobile. Since its founding, Porsche has developed a range of innovative and ground-breaking technologies that have advanced vehicle performance, safety and even environmental factors. If you would like a piece of the Porsche pie, then head to auction online. Porsche Carrera’s, turbo, convertibles and many more vintage classics are all patiently waiting for their new owner on catawiki.com, so make sure your next journey is in a Porsche, you won’t regret it!