His Life’s Work:
Ferdinand (Ferry) Porsche (1909 – 1998)

The following is an excerpt of a story written by Dieter Landenberger, appearing in Christophorus Magazine 339, August 2009.

The death of Professor Dr. Ing. h.c. Ferdinand Anton Ernst (Ferry) Porsche in March 1998 meant bidding farewell to one of the last greats of automotive history. Under his leadership in 1948, the first sports car with the name of Porsche appeared, and for decades he strongly determined the course of the company. The 100th anniversary of his birth was marked on September 19, 2009.

One of the quotes Ferry Porsche is best remembered for is, “To have earned the affection of boys is to possess a great emotional treasure.” When he himself was a boy, he already possessed an enormous store of genuine automotive genes. But being the son of the world-famous design engineer Ferdinand Porsche also meant having to emerge from the shadow of his brilliant father to find his own place in the automotive world.

Surrounded by top-notch engineers, Ferry Porsche learned quickly, and in a short time advanced from an apprentice to the junior boss. Ferdinand Porsche demanded a lot of his son, but also gave him opportunities, such as running the driving tests for the Volkswagen Beetle in 1935, and directing the test department in 1938.

On June 8, 1948, the first sports car carrying the Porsche name, the 356 “number 1,” received its road authorization. All of Europe was trying to rebuild after the war, so most vehicles on the market were practical and affordably priced. Yet in this situation, Ferry Porsche unswervingly followed his dream of having his own sports car—and found out that other car lovers shared this dream with him.

Production of the first standard-series 356 coupes and convertibles began in Gmünd (in Carinthia, Austria) in the second half of 1948 and then shifted to Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen in the spring of 1950.

An important factor in the success of the young Porsche company was also its early readiness to export. Ferry Porsche was already shipping the first cars to America in 1950. The Porsche 356 won the hearts of sports-car drivers in the largest and most important market in the world and, not least of all, caught the attention of many Hollywood stars. With models like the 356 Speedster, Ferry Porsche instinctively responded to the wishes of American consumers, who accounted for half of total annual production by 1955. He held a strong conviction that people and cars are meant for each other.

In addition to exporting, Ferry Porsche also was passionate about racing, which served as a catalyst for the success of the Porsche brand. Instead of doing advertising or marketing, he wanted his sports cars to speak for themselves by racing to victory before the eyes of spectators. Racing also meant constant technical advances, because the experience gathered there flowed directly into perfecting standard road models—which sharpened the competitive spirit of this passionate engineer.

Ferry Porsche sought to advance his company not only in technical matters, but also in terms of social responsibility. He introduced a company pension plan in 1956, and a Porsche foundation subsequently provided assistance to employees who encountered financial difficulties through no fault of their own.

The 356, which despite its entire development program could not deny its close relationship with the VW Beetle, was facing only minimal chances for continued success at the close of the 1950s. Rather than further develop this proven model, Ferry Porsche decided on a new concept that would be based on the proven Porsche design with an air-cooled rear-mounted boxer engine.

The decision for the 911 designed by his eldest son, Ferdinand Alexander, was visionary, given that the car differed both in style and in technical fundamentals from everything that had come before. The fact that Ferry Porsche recognized the future potential of the uncompromisingly innovative 911 design is one of his greatest accomplishments.

The success of the 911 series was based on the model policy of constant evolution, which eventually developed the 911 into an ideal sports car. He was pleased to have his engineers excite and persuade him with their ideas. On developing types 914, 924, and 928, Porsche left familiar waters—not always to the delight of the company’s die-hard customers. But these models also contributed to the company’s success; after all, every second Porsche produced in the 1980s was a front engine sports car. Ferry Porsche’s love of freedom knew hardly any limits, except for this one: “You may always modify a Porsche, but its character and inimitable quality must be maintained.”

In his later years, Ferry Porsche saw his company enter a crisis that threatened its very existence. But when Porsche, too, became a takeover candidate, he was adamant in emphasizing the importance of independence. Against losing hope he had this to say: “It all comes down to never giving up, and to responding to crises with the right answers.” When the company succeeded in turning around economically under the direction of CEO Dr.Wendelin Wiedeking, he saw his life’s work regain the path to success. With his death on March 27, 1998, an era came to a close—the last air-cooled 911 left the production line in the same year. A vibrant entrepreneurial life had come to an end. Yet a similarly vibrant piece of wisdom has remained for Porsche.

The author, Dieter Landenberger, is the director of the historical archives of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG