World’s first Porsche celebrates 67 years
It was 67 years ago today that the first official Porsche car was assembled.
According to History.com, a “hand-built aluminum prototype labeled ‘No. 1’ [became] the first vehicle to bear the name of one of the world’s leading luxury car manufacturers: Porsche.’’
The Porsche was developed by and named for Austrian automotive engineer Ferdinand Porsche, who unveiled his first design, a hybrid vehicle that used electricity and petrol, at the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris. This car, touted by Porsche as the first car to use all-wheel drive, set several land speed records, exceeding speeds of 35 miles per hour.
After several decades, Porsche’s original design was discovered in an old shed in Austria in 2014.
Porsche became general director for Austro-Daimler Company, the company that preceded Mercedes-Benz, in 1916. Daimler later merged with the Benz company in the 1920s. During his time with the company, Porsche was responsible for designing some of the most powerful Mercedes racing cars.
He left Daimler in 1931 to start his own company. Shortly thereafter, Porsche was asked by the German government to help produce a car for the general populace. Porsche and his son developed the prototype for the original Volkswagen in 1936. The Porsches were also involved in the design of several military vehicles, including the Tiger tank.
Following World War II, Ferdinand Porsche was accused by France of war crimes for his involvement with the Third Reich and spent more than a year in prison, according to History.com. During his time in incarceration, Porsche’s son (also named Ferdinand but called Ferry) struggled to keep the family business alive.
After Porsche was released from prison, Ferdinand and Ferry worked on a new automotive project: A sports car that would become the first to bear the “Porsche’’ name. The car, an all-aluminum prototype known as Type 356, went into production during the winter of 1947. It was completed on June 8, 1948.
More than 78,000 Porsche vehicles would be produced over the next two decades. According to the latest figures from Porsche, more than 623,000 vehicles have been registered worldwide as of 2014.
Check out how Porsche vehicles have changed over the years.
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