Fact 1: The Longest Continuously Produced Model
Porsche 911, the most famous product of the brand, has the accolade of being the longest continuously produced model in automotive history. It has been in consistent production since 1963 and is still going strong. The model has seen countless alterations and updates but retains the original classic outline that fans adore.
Fact 2: The Company’s Founder was Arrested for War Crimes
Ferdinand Porsche, the founder of Porsche was arrested by the French for war crimes in 1945. He was never formally charged and was released after 20 months of confinement.
Fact 3: The Porsche Logo
The Porsche logo which stylizes a horse rearing up, accompanied by the name of Stuttgart, is a tribute to the city of Stuttgart where the company is based. Stuttgart was built on a site of a horse farm hence the inspiration behind the logo.
Fact 4: The First Hybrid Vehicle
Surprisingly, the first-ever hybrid vehicle was designed by Ferdinand Porsche while he was working for Jacob Lohner & Co. The vehicle was named the Lohner-Porsche Mixte Hybrid and was created in 1900, a whole 111 years before the popular Prius.
Fact 5: Porsche’s Contributions in Tractor Design
Before its foray into luxury sports cars, Porsche worked on the design of tractors. In fact, Porsche specifically designed a tractor intended for coffee farmers that had a very high ground clearance necessary for fields with large roots.
Fact 6: Ferdinand Porsche’s Role with Volkswagen
Before starting Porsche, Ferdinand Porsche was the Chief Engineer with Volkswagen where he designed the classic Volkswagen Beetle under Adolf Hitler's regime.
Fact 7: The Most Successful Brand in Le Mans
Porsche holds a record for the greatest number of victories at Le Mans. It has overall won the most races at this prestigious endurance race than any other manufacturer.
Fact 8: First Car Built by Porsche wasn’t a Porsche
The first official car that Porsche constructed, the Porsche No. 1, was technically not a Porsche but a mid-engined VW Roadster. The vehicle had its engine slightly in front of the rear axle.
Fact 9: Role in Developing the Mercedes-Benz 500E
Porsche played a crucial role in developing the Mercedes-Benz 500E in the 1990s. The hand-built performance-boosted luxury vehicle was assembled by Porsche due to capacity issues at Mercedes.
Fact 10: Porsche Founded a Subsidiary Airline
An often-overlooked fact is that Porsche launched a subsidiary company airline named "Porsche Travel Club" in the late 1990s. Although it was short-lived, it highlighted the company's ambition to endeavor into ventures beyond automobiles.
Fact 11: Porsche and Harley-Davidson Joint Venture
Porsche contributed to the development of a motorcycle. In collaboration with Harley-Davidson, they developed the V-Rod motorcycle, which was released in 2001.
Fact 12: Bespoke Porsche Yachts
Porsche’s design studio has also designed yachts. Their partnership with shipbuilders Royal Falcon Fleet has led to the development of the RFF135, a luxury catamaran that exhibits the same sleek stylings as their sports cars.
Fact 13: Porsche and the Electric Drive
Porsche was one of the first manufacturers to invest in electric drive technology. Its first vehicle, the P1, was completely electric and was built in 1898.
Fact 14: First Porsche Car Imported to America
Max Hoffman, a luxury cars dealer, was the first person to import a Porsche to America in 1950. He believed in the potential of the cars, and he was right.
Fact 15: Porsche Emblem History
The origin of Porsche's emblem is not clearly known. It's believed that Ferry Porsche, son of Ferdinand Porsche, sketched it on a napkin during a dinner meeting and finalized its design style with Max Hoffman.
Fact 16: Limited Edition Porsche
The Porsche 911 Carrera Club Coupe is one of the rarest Porsche models. Only 12 of these cars were made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Porsche Club of America.
Fact 17: Porsche Holds a Guinness World Record
Porsche holds a Guinness World Record for the vehicle with the longest production run, the Porsche 911.
Fact 18: Porsche’s 1 Millionth Car
The one millionth Porsche rolled out of the manufacturing assembly line was a 911 Carrera S. It was painted in an exclusive 'Irish Green' to honor the British racing heritage.
Fact 19: The Fastest Porsche 911, the GT2 RS
The Porsche 911 GT2 RS is the fastest 911 to date, with a top speed of 211 mph. The car also set a record for the fastest lap of the Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit in 2017.
Fact 20: Porsche Holds a Record for the Highest Paid 911
A unique model, the 1973 911 Carrera RSH 2.7, holds the record of being the most expensive Porsche 911 ever sold. It was sold at an auction for over $2 million.