Sunday, December 20, 2009

BEGINNING OF THE PORSCHE DYNASTY - 1950 PORSCHE 356


Dr. Ferdinand Porsche is the legendary engineer who is best remembered today but it was his son Ferry who gets the credit for the development of the Porsche 356. While his father was serving a 2-year jail term for the crime of developing the VW Beetle for Hitler, Ferry decided to build a sports car using the Beetle's engine, suspension and transmission. The first 356, the number came from it being the 356th design project for Porsche since its start in 1930, was made in Austria in 1947. In 1950 Porsche opened up its first German factory in Zuffenhausen. This also marked the first steel-bodied 356.

Although production in 1950 was only 410, this was the start of the Porsche dynasty. In 1951 the Carrera followed and the rest is history. The 356 was not easy to drive as it put a lot of pressure on parts that were built for the slower moving Beetle, but it was from these humble beginnings that a sports car dynasty was built. Buy it now

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