Jump to content
Gibson Brands Forums

Another Legend Lost: R.I.P. Ferdinand Porsche


GuitarBuilder

Recommended Posts

He must have been really old when he died.

 

Only 76. You're probably thinking of his grandfather of the same namesake who is most noted for the design of the Volkswagen Beetle. Ferdinand Alexander, the grandson who just passed away of course brought us the world renowned 911 design. Arguably one of the best auto designs ever. Though I am still partial to Corvettes... [thumbup]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Only 76. You're probably thinking of his grandfather of the same namesake who is most noted for the design of the Volkswagen Beetle. Ferdinand Alexander, the grandson who just passed away of course brought us the world renowned 911 design. Arguably one of the best auto designs ever. Though I am still partial to Corvettes... [thumbup]

Ok, that makes sense now. My first thought was "I thought that old coot died like 50 years ago!"

ALL HAIL ZOMBIE FERDINAND! How many zombies can you fin in a Volkwagen Beetle anyway?

 

Love me some Volkswagens! I've owned several Beetles and a couple of second gen. busses, one of which was an automatic trans with a bench seat. I found out recently that they are super rare. DOH! #-o

Link to comment
Share on other sites

...Not so sure about the 911 design though...

Whilst he wasn't responsible for the engineering side of it Ferdinand 'Butzi' Porsche was the person who did the overall styling of the 911 so can take much of the credit for the success of that iconic model.

 

To his name he could also add the 904; one of the prettiest sports-racing cars ever designed.

 

P.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Whilst he wasn't responsible for the engineering side of it Ferdinand 'Butzi' Porsche was the person who did the overall styling of the 911 so can take much of the credit for the success of that iconic model.

 

To his name he could also add the 904; one of the prettiest sports-racing cars ever designed.

 

P.

 

Yes I agree the aesthetics are superb...and Porsche's are big status symbols in yuppie society :blink:

 

Perhaps credit is due to sticking to the 'tail heavy' configuration and making it work better as the years rolled by

 

I have fond memories of VW's...learning to drive in dad's 'Variant', a really snazzy small estate car

 

And the Karmann Ghia's always looked good, but desperately under-powered...

 

But the main reason is I cannot afford a Porsche

 

So sour grapes rule... [biggrin]

 

V

 

:-({|=

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes I agree the aesthetics are superb...and Porsche's are big status symbols in yuppie society :blink:

 

Perhaps credit is due to sticking to the 'tail heavy' configuration and making it work better as the years rolled by

 

I have fond memories of VW's...learning to drive in dad's 'Variant', a really snazzy small estate car

 

And the Karmann Ghia's always looked good, but desperately under-powered...

 

But the main reason is I cannot afford a Porsche

 

So sour grapes rule... [biggrin]

 

V

 

:-({|=

All good points, V.

 

I didn't know yuppies still went for Porsche's. I don't mix in their circles, though!

 

Jeremy Clarkson, famously, hated the tail-heavy attitude of 911's until a 'mate' of his (The Marquis of Blandford, no less) took him for a 'spin' in the latter's new 993. The handling was so superb that Jezza had to admitting to finally having a great deal of respect for the car. Finally, I believe, JC has now bought a Porsche to call his own.

 

The Variant was a lovely car. It had three 'variants', as it were; estate, fastback and notchback. My own first car was a 1959 rag-top Beetle, complete with 'semaphore' indicators, which I bought in '88 and kept as my daily driver for 10 years. I used to attend many VW rallies - picking up spares - and was always amazed by how quick the 'pancake-cars' could go as they whizzed past my snail-slow 25hp type-1.....

 

K-G's were gorgeous - even the type-3 'razor-edge' cars. The type-1 versions were financially crippling if you had a front-on collision in one. The nose section was made up of several sheets of compound-curved steel panels all welded together and smoothed by hand!

 

Finally, and back on topic, two weeks ago I was re-united with the second car I've ever owned which was another 'Butzi' Porsche design - the 914. I've had it 15 years and it came home after 3 years at a local garage who were meant to be repairing certain aspects of the thing. They didn't (not really all their fault); and it's still, unfortunately, a non-runner.

 

Do any of you guys Stateside know of anywhere I can source a pair of rear brake calipers for a '71 914 for under $750 inc. shipping?

 

P.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes RIP indeed....

 

Not so sure about the 911 design though

 

And wasn't Gran pals with Adolf H ?

 

Perhaps that's best forgotten today....

 

V

 

:-({|=

 

Yes, Porsche has strong roots with the 3rd Reich! So does Hugo Boss -- why else did you think the SS had such super-heiß uniforms? The Volkswagen was Hitler's baby, as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...