911 Love: Peter Thonet
The entrepreneur led the furniture manufacturer Thonet into the future in its fifth generation.
History and zeitgeist have been key constants in Peter Thonet’s life since he joined the Thonet family business in 1985, as his mission has always been to usher the company into the future. More than 200 years old, the business was founded in 1819 by his great-grandfather Michael, whose development of the bentwood technique revolutionized the field of furniture production. Using steam, he was able to make solid wood pliable, which not only enabled aesthetically pleasing shapes, but also made production more efficient. The 1859 Viennese coffeehouse chair was the first Thonet chair to be mass-produced and is still manufactured to this day. The company continued to develop by leaps and bounds under the leadership of Peter Thonet, translating traditional designs into modern collections and combining innovative technologies with craftsmanship. Peter Thonet has since withdrawn from operations, as the sixth generation of the family is already raring to go. With his mission fulfilled, he can now look to the future with optimism – and enjoy more time in his 911 Carrera 3.2.
What is love?
Trust, affection, solidarity.
How are you?
Optimistic.
The Porsche 911 in three words?
Design, motorsport, practicality.
Which simple things can make you happy?
Driving a Porsche and a motorcycle.
What would you never do in a 911?
Smoke.
What’s your favorite road?
Ederseerandstrasse on the northern banks of Edersee Lake.
What can distract you?
Arrogance.
Indispensable to you on a desert island?
My wife, enough reading materials, and a good selection of restaurants.
Is there a historical figure you admire?
My great-grandfather Michael Thonet.
What on a 911 could you do without?
The radio – you can barely hear it when you’re driving anyway.
And what couldn’t you?
Air-conditioning in the summer.
What music did you wake up to this morning?
Bad Habits by Ed Sheeran.
Your favorite film?
Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
Your favorite book?
I’m Off Then by Hape Kerkeling.
Where do you long to be?
The Algarve in Portugal.
Your most treasured possession?
The watch my wife gave me for my 60th birthday.
Your secret?
I’ll never tell.
The 911 moment of your life?
The first time I got behind the wheel of my own 911.
Your best advice?
Never judge people by their appearance.
What would no one expect of you?
I’m good with my hands.
Peter Thonet
Born: 1947
Residence: Frankenberg, Germany
Profession: Entrepreneur
Porsche: 911 Carrera 3.2 (G-Series)
