People, Models, Milestones

The history of the Porsche brand: historical moments in time-lapse.

   

1948
Four years after the move to Gmünd in Austria due to the war, the first sports car with the Porsche name – the 356 “No. 1” Roadster – is developed

1949
Porsche returns to Stuttgart in November

1950
Series production of the 356 kicks off in March at a hall in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen leased by Karosseriewerk Reutter

1951
On January 30, company founder Professor Ferdinand Porsche dies at the age of 75. In their debut appearance at Le Mans, Porsche achieves a class victory in the 356 SL

1952
The first issue of the customer magazine Christophorus is published at the start of the year

1953
In June, two Porsche 550 compete at Le Mans for the first time and take first and second place in the 1.5-liter class

1956
The ten thousandth Porsche sports car is produced in Zuffenhausen on March 16. Porsche wins the Targa Florio endurance race for the first time

1958
Frenchman Jean Behra defeats the established competition in a Porsche 718 RSK in the Formula 2 Coupe Internationale de Vitesse in Reims

1961
Porsche enters Formula 1 with the four-cylinder Monoposto 718/2

1963
Porsche unveils the prototype of the new 901 at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt am Main

1964
The first series model of the 901 rolls off the production line on September 14. The vehicle type is subsequently renamed the 911

1968
Vic Elford and David Stone complete the prestigious Rallye Monte-Carlo and emerge as the overall winners in the 911 T

1969
With the 908/02 developed under the direction of Ferdinand Piëch, the company secures the World Sportscar Championship

1970
Porsche celebrates its historic first overall win at Le Mans with the 917. At the wheel: Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood

1971
The company begins moving the Construction, Testing, and Design departments to the new development center in Weissach in the summer

1972
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche KG is converted into a corporation, at which time the owner families, Porsche and Piëch, make the decision to no longer fill the management positions with family members

1974
At the Paris Motor Show, Porsche surprises the world with the 911 Turbo, which is considered to be the fastest series production vehicle of its time

1976
The 924 is the first front-engine model with transaxle design to celebrate its premiere

1977
The 928 follows as a luxurious, high-performance sports car with light-alloy V8 engine

1982
With the 944, Porsche introduces the third series with the transaxle design. The 911 SC Cabriolet is presented, the first completely open model in 19 years. At Le Mans, Porsche achieves a triple victory with the new 956

1984
The Formula 1 TAG turbo engine developed by Porsche kicks off its winning streak in the McLaren MP4/2, and Niki Lauda is World Champion ahead of Alain Prost. Porsche triumphs at the Paris–Dakar Rally in the all-wheel 911

1985
The 959 super sports car shows off the brand’s technical expertise. Porsche wins the World Sportscar Championship for the fourth time in a row – this time with the 962

1988
To mark the 911’s 25th anniversary, an all-wheel series model of the 911 is offered for the first time

1992
Wendelin Wiedeking is appointed spokesperson of the Executive Board on October 1

1993
The Boxster concept car delights the audience at the Detroit Motor Show. It goes into series production three years later

1994
Porsche introduces the C88 family car, a study developed specifically for the Chinese market, in Beijing

1996
The one millionth Porsche rolls off the production line in Zuffenhausen on July 15

1998
On March 27, Ferry Porsche passes away at the age of 88 in Zell am See

2000
Construction of the new Porsche plant in Leipzig kicks off on February 7

2002
The plant is officially opened. In the same year, the Cayenne goes into production, the brand’s first four-door model

2003
The Carrera GT, also produced in Leipzig, delivers 450 kW (612 PS), making it the most powerful Porsche series sports car of its time

2006
Porsche wins the LMP2 championship of the American Le Mans series with the RS Spyder

2007
Dr. Wolfgang Porsche is elected Chairman of the Porsche AG Supervisory Board on January 26

2009
The spectacular new Porsche Museum in Zuffenhausen opens its doors in January. The Panamera is introduced on the 94th floor of the Shanghai World Finance Center on April 19

2012
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, who designed the 911, dies at the age of 76 on April 5

2013
The 918 Spyder high-performance sports car sets a historic lap record of six minutes and 57 seconds on Nürburgring Nordschleife. The Macan is the third four-door model to be presented at trade fairs in Los Angeles and Tokyo

2015
The Mission E concept study marks Porsche’s entry into electric mobility. Oliver Blume is appointed the new Chairman of the Porsche AG Executive Board in October

2017
The one millionth Porsche 911 rolls off the production line. Porsche secures the triple in the FIA Endurance Championship for the third year in a row: Le Mans overall win, World Constructor and Driver Championship

2019
The Taycan, the first all-electric Porsche, is unveiled globally on September 4

2020
With its LMDh project, Porsche confirms its return to the top league of endurance sports

2022
Porsche AG heralds a new era with its successful IPO on September 29

Source

Porsche Calendarium 1931–2018. Third revised and expanded edition; Munich: Piper Verlag 2018

Thomas Ammann
Thomas Ammann
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