Father of the 911 turns 75

The name Porsche is synonymous with performance. Yet it means different things to different people. For some, it’s the quintessential sports car that stands for pure driving pleasure, for others it means Germanic precision and attention to detail, while for some owners it could simply mean image and striking looks, which they hope, by association, will rub off onto whoever’s in the driver’s seat at the time.

But most of all, the history of Porsche conjures up images of a passionate group of racers and engineers who’ve been able to, over the years, create one of the most iconic names in automotive history – the 911. On the 11th of December 2010, the designer of the 911, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, celebrated his 75th birthday. Better known as ‘Butzi,’ he was the grandson of Dr. Ferdinand Porsche.

The iconic 911 was introduced in 1964, and is one of the longest running designs in history. It’s the quintessential sports car, which has captured the imagination of young boys the world over for several decades. The 911 was the successor to the 356, the first truly global model by Porsche, which was designed by his father – Ferry Porsche. The 911 was larger and more comfortable, but also more powerful and still fun to drive. Moreover, it maintained the rear engine layout of the 356, which was a design philosophy that both his father and grandfather firmly believed in.

Keeping in mind Butzi’s genes, it was no surprise that even as a child he had an eye for automobiles. Unsurprisingly, he spent a lot of time in and around design offices and development workshops. It was in 1943, that both the family and business shifted their base to Austria, as a result of which Butzi attended school in Zell am See for a span of 7 years before returning to Stuttgart in 1950. On his return, he sat through the final exams at the Waldorf School, which further allowed him to register for the College of Design in Ulm. After graduating, the young designer joined the design department of the company.

In 1962, he took over the Porsche Design Studio, and changed the world of sports cars forever by penning the timeless silhouette of the 911 – originally referred to as the 901. Besides this, he also designed the mid-engined 904 Carrera GTS, which was a very successful racing machine for Porsche.

Apart from designing cars, he is also known for his contribution towards setting up the Porsche Design Studio in Stuttgart in 1972. The design firm presently manufactures a wide range of men’s accessories like watches, spectacles, writing instruments, and much more.