Interesting Facts about Porsche
Porsche, a powerhouse car manufacturer responsible for the production of several iconic cars was developed in 1931. While it has established itself as one of the most well-known brands, there are many interesting facts that you may not know about it. However, in this blog, we will share all those interesting bits that every Porsche lover should know about.
Porsche Car Facts
Following are some interesting lesser-known facts about Porsche cars.
1. The First Electric Car Was Produced by Ferdinand Porsche
When thinking about environmentally friendly cars, a Porsche might not come to mind. But the auto manufacturer was very involved in the cause ahead of time. In fact, Ferdinand Porsche designed the very first electric car in 1989 and named it Egger-Lohner electric vehicle. The model was also known as C-2 Phaeton or P1 for short.
Ferdinand Porsche was working for Ludwig Lohner, the owner of his father’s car company Jacob Lohner. The designer engraved “P1” that stood for Porsche number 1 on all important parts of the vehicle.
2. Porsche Designed the First Hybrid
Later on, Porsche designed the first hybrid car and named it the “Lohner-Porsche Mixte Hybrid.” The hybrid featured a Daimler international combustion engine instead of batteries. Two gasoline engines were used to power a generator, which as a result produced an electricity supply to drive the front wheels. This prototype was displayed by Porsche and Lohner in 1900 at the Paris World’s fair.
3. Ferdinand Porsche Also Designed a VW Beetle
Among other interesting Porsche car facts, this one is lesser-known. The founder of Porsche, Ferdinand was known for making a mark on several German car manufacturers. He assisted VW in making their iconic Beetle car.
In 1938, Hitler requested Ferdinand to make a car for the people (Volkswagen means “Peoples car”). Ferdinand worked with his son Ferry in his Stuttgart villa where they came up with the legendary design of the Beetle as we know it today.
4. The Legendary Porsche 911 was Originally Named 901
The Porsche 911 is a legendary sports car with many wins under its name. In 1963, when the popular Porsche 911 was originally developed it was named “901” but Porsche renamed it to 911 when a French automatic Peugeot said he trademarked models with “digit-zero-digit.”
Since its inception, the Porsche 911 stood out from other vehicles. From an engine located behind the rear axle and an iconic shape, the 911 was different from every other car on the road and played a major role in making what the brand of Porsche is today. The legendary Porsche 911 combines sportiness, practicality, driving pleasure, innovation and tradition.
5. Porsche 911 Almost Didn’t Exist
Even a non-car enthusiast would know about a 911 if you ask them about Porsche. Ever since its launch in 1964, the exceptional sports car caught the public’s attention unlike any other. However, a lesser-known fact about Porsche is that the car manufacturer almost halted the production of its flagship vehicle in the late ’70s.
At that time, the CEO Ernst Fuhrmann thought that the vehicle couldn’t get more innovative and wanted to focus more on the 928 model which was due for release in 1978.
However, the front-engine 928 model did not get popular with Porsche purists and resulted in poor sales. Nevertheless, 911 continued to stand out among their vehicles and this holds true to date.
6. Porsche Made Tractors
We all know that Lamborghini was famous for farming machinery, but did you know Porsche made tractors. The auto giant produced over 125,000 tractors in the 1950s and 60’s. Once, they even designed aeroplane cockpits and forklift trucks.
7. Porsche 365 Was a Popular Sports Car Way before the 911 was Conceived
During the early 1960s, Porsche 365 experienced commendable commercial success. This reputation building process incepted over a decade. Thus, Porsche had a positive reputation for building quality, high-performance vehicles that handled equally well on and off the race trackway before the 911 was conceived. At that time, Porsche 356 sold 76,313 cars and was very popular in Europe and the United States. The 365 Porsche sports car contributed to motorsport wins and popularity.
Those were some of the most interesting facts about Porsche. If you are looking for a Porsche for yourself, take a look at these popular used Porsche car models for sale in the UAE:
- Buy used Porsche Cayenne cars in the UAE
- Buy second-hand Porsche Carrera 911 cars in the UAE
- Second-hand Porsche Panamera cars for sale
- Used Porsche Cayman cars for sale in the UAE
Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more on car facts, DIY solutions, car repair tips and much more.