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A Brief History of Porsche

Ferdinand Porsche was an automobile engineer with more than a thousand patents to his name, and played an important role in the development of airplanes and the construction of tanks for the Wehrmacht as well. In the 1920s he was appointed chief engineer at Mercedes-Benz in Stuttgart and later set up his own engineering workshop. There he designed, among other things, the Volkswagen. He acted as chief of operations at the plant where the Volkswagen was made, Wolfsburg, and at the end of the war he was interned by the Allies.

He was released a few years later and immediately went to work building his first car with his son, Ferry Porsche. This car was named the Porsche 356, after Ferry, and was a sports car with styling reminiscent of the Volkswagen. In fact it had the same four-cylinder boxer engine, and wore it rear-mounted, just as the VW did. This meant that it was far from being a powerful sports car, boasting a mere 40 bhp and a maximum speed of 87 mph (140 km/h). Distinguished by its elegant and innovative body, the Porsche 356 was first produced as a convertible and then as a hard top. Father and son developed it in the workshop of Erwin Komenda, a master of restrained streamlining who had been in charge of sheet metal and design techniques for Ferdinand Porsche since the VW Beetle. This new style of closed coupe designed by Komenda soon became the embodiment of the sports car, due in part to its "fastback".

Erwin Komenda and Ferdinand "Butzi" Porsche, the founder's grandson, continued this tradition with the 911.

The 911 became instantly recognizable: it had an attractive sloping bonnet reminiscent of the 356, what later became characterized as "frog eye" headlights, curves running from the top edge of the windscreen to the rear bumper, and a straight waistline. From a functional and technical point of view it shared more in common with a BMW 1500, but it retained the distinctive stylistic features of the original Porsche. The new 911 became the keystone of Porsche's identity, even though the design was not always fully appreciated. During the 1970's and 1980's, many Porsche designers attempted to distance Porsche from its legendary design and nearly brought the company to the edge of disaster. The more modern 924 model, "a people's Porsche", developed with Volkswagen, as well as the 928 fell short fulfilling expectations, and failed to allow the company to branch out in new directions and styles.

However, in the 1990's the company seemed to realize that what some perceived as a stylistic straitjacket was in fact a market advantage. During this period Porsche embraced the timeless nature of classic styling to become highly profitable. Nearly forty people now worked in the design department solely dedicated to further improvement of the long running 911. Such developments included the 911 GTI, put forward by the in-house designer Anthony R. Hatter as a powerful combination of sports and racing car. In 1999, Porsche's chief designer proudly unveiled the new Boxster, enabling Porsche to establish a second independent range of successful models.

Richard Brown
17 Mar 2007

Richard Brown is an author for several web sites including car buying and shopping topics.

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The First Porsche - The Porsche 64

Most auto connoisseurs consider the Porsche 64 which is also sometimes known as the VW Aerocoupe, Type 64 and Type 64K10 as being the first automobile made by Porsche. It was manufactured mainly from parts from the Model 64 VW Beetle and that is where the model number comes from. The Porsche 64’s flat-four engine produced fifty b.h.p. and gave the vehicle a top speed of 160 km/h. The body was designed by Porsche Burro after wind tunnel tests made for the Type 114, a V10 racer that never saw the light of day as a production car. Dr. Porsche planned to enter the roadster in the 1939 Berlin to Rome race event. The bodywork specialist company Reutter made three cars from shaped aluminum. Out of the three, one was totaled in the early years of World War II by a VW bureaucrat. The two cars that remained were used by the exclusively by the Porsche family.

Towards the end of World War Two, they put one of the vehicles in storage and used the other one. American troops discovered the one put in storage in May 1945, cut the top of it off and took it joyriding for a few weeks until the engine went and it was junked. Farina restored the only remaining Porsche 64 in 1947, as it was owned and driven by Ferry Porsche. In 1949, the Austrian racer Otto Matte bought the car and raced it, winning the Alpine Rally in 1950 in it.

Now nearly a hundred years after its founder started designing automobiles, Porsche is still popular, the result of offering a cure for a mid-life crisis similar to owning a Harley – Davidson motorcycle. Porsche’s lineup now features four model lines: the incredibly sexy and popular Boxster, the enduring 911 models, the relatively new Cayenne SUV, and the stunningly opulent Carrera GT, and if you can’t afford their cars, Porsche also offers watches, luggage, and tennis rackets bearing its name.

The company is still controlled by descendants of the founding family and it has enlarged its area by offering consulting services to other industries not only on the automotive industry but in furniture, construction, and engineering as well.

Form its early years of operating in the red, Porsche has evolved into a winner as one of the most profitable car makers on the planet while many other automakers are having to lay off workers, offer cash incentives, and strategize how to deal with the upcoming Chinese market. Porsche consistently releases startling new products and has quadrupled annual vehicle sales in less than ten years in spite of costs and the risks involved.

The most recent additions of the Boxster and Cayenne are doing very well and continue to be examples of the popularity of Porsche as the company continues to move forward.

Greg Hall
17 Mar 2007

Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. www.performanceautopartsplus.com

BMW 325i, Another Breakthrough

The BMW 325i is yet another breakthrough in the automotive industry. And it comes from one of the most powerful automobile manufacturers the world over. It has the capacity to roar and get waves and nods from other people around. This vehicle actually has a seamless six speed automatic transmission and it proves that it is graceful and has lithe and speed. It has a engine that holds six inline cylinders. It has refinement. It has a balanced handling. In performance, it is unparalleled.

It has flared and aggressive lines along with less ostentatious design compared to its sibling, the BMW Z4. Take a ride inside the BMW 325i and you would find a similar balance of avant-garde style as well as very good ergonomics. It also has simple and very straightforward controls that not only provides easy access but lessens the confusion for drivers. The controls come in flowing shapes and have been crafted using quality materials. Aside from those mentioned, the BMW 325i has front sports seats that could very well support each and every passenger. Adjustable side bolters are also added in.

BMW claims that the BMW 325i’s highlights are just what would be needed to further the capacity and capabilities of this vehicle. There is a six speed STEPTRONIC. It is an automatic transmission that provides a choice of three modes. These modes are the “Drive” automatic (it incorporates BMW’s Adaptive Transmission Control); “Sport” automatic (this is used for a more dynamic shift pattern); and the STEPTRONIC automatic (which is a hands-on control of a manual transmission without the use of a clutch). There also is the BMW Assist with Bluetooth Wireless Technology. This is a wireless communication system. It includes the capacity to work with the Automatic Collision Notification, the Emergency Request, the enhanced Roadside Assistance, and the Stolen Vehicle Recovery services. This technology is actually standard if you would choose the BMW Assist option. This technology also enables connection of mobile phones to a vehicle for a hands free calling.

Features for the BMW 325i include an electronic throttle control, the Dynamic Stability Control, the Comfort Stop, the Brake Fade Compensation, the Dynamic Traction Control, an extensive aluminum componentry, a double-pivot type front suspension with dual forged aluminum lower arms, front and rear anti-roll stabilizer bars, a flat tire warning indicator, halogen high-beam and low-beam headlights, fog lights, heated dual power mirrors, 8-way adjustable front seats, leatherette upholstery, an anti-theft AM/FM stereo with CD and MP3 player with ten speakers, and an auxiliary audio input for portable music players.

Featuring more powerful and fuel efficient engines, innovative assistance systems, a wide range of safety features, as well as a superior standard of equipment, the new BMW 325i needs no less than superior BMW parts and accessories when the need arises. And this is where Auto Parts Fast comes in. This online store has a vast array of well crafted BMW parts and accessories such as BMW wheels, floor mats, hubcaps, BMW radiators and a lot more, to serve BMW owners and aficionados.

Stacey Wilson
21 Mar 2007

As a former news correspondent for an auto-related website, Stacey has gathered extensive knowledge and experience in the automotive industry. This 34 year old mother of two from Memphis is a genuine car lover.