Christophorus Moments: Real, Just Different

In addition to featuring short pieces on Porsche police cars, a private 356 rally in the US, and a British 911 Turbo with the license plate “222 HOT,” Christophorus issue 138 focused on one topic in particular: the premiere of the Porsche 924. It started with the magazine cover, which put the sports car front and center. Pop-up headlights and the glass rear hatch boldly ushered in a new sports car era. The Editorial itself highlighted this watershed moment. Editor in Chief Rico Steinemann responded to potential criticism of the new concept with historical context: “The 924 is indeed a real Porsche, just a different kind,” he wrote. “If you want to verify the accuracy of this statement for yourself, you’ll need to take a brief foray into (...) Porsche history. All engine and drive concepts are (...) ancient. From the very start, Ferdinand Porsche (...) experimented with all of them.” According to this statement, diversity is a part of the brand’s DNA. The middle section of the magazine provided detailed analysis of the 924, with a focus on transaxle layout, engine and chassis, body, and driving dynamics. “Time and again, it’s sports cars that achieve milestones and promote development. This is especially true of the first Porsche, type 356,” wrote author Reinhard Seiffert. “In its rational design, (...) the 924 followed in the footsteps of the unforgotten Porsche 356.” The visual highlight for the cover story was an illustration in color by Werner Bührer, which broke down the 924 into its assemblies, from the transaxle unit and the rear wheel suspension to the cockpit. A clear, well-illustrated explanation of an innovative sports car technology – with premium design quality.