Whilst another German legend is currently Asleep at
the Wheel…
Naturally being a One Man Band, your Humble No
Fenders scribe Tomaso simply cannot poond’ out fast enough everythingy’ that
occurs in Der Wurld de Motorsprten, Ja-Ja!
And although we’ve turned the calendar to March,
having just witnessed the conclusion of another 12 Hours of Sebring. Which
perhaps I was able to listen to part of during my Heart surgery recovery. Which
Y’all are probably getting tired of hearing about, Eh?
Thus obviously, I’m still playin’ Ketsup as
always here upon Ye mystical Isle ‘O Nofendersville!
As I simply didn’t have the time, energy or
space to pontificate about some significant events in 2023. Although having waxed-on
about it being McLaren’s 60th Anniversary. I failed to note that Porsche’s legendous’
911 turned 60, along with Lamborghini! Not to overlook that America’s “Sports
Car” Corvette turned 70, Crikeys!
And whilst I did manage to scribble another
short, HaHaHa! No Fenders Three part story about Honda celebrating it’s 75th
Anniversary Justin-time last December. I’ve failed to give Porsche credit for
also celebrating the same 75th Anniversary last year. For which ironically,
both Honda and Porsche; two-thirds the “Axis of Evil” celebrated a year after Ferrari
did so.
Yet like Ferrari (1939) and Honda, (1937) who
both were founded prior to their noted Anniversary’s. Porsche also does
likewise, with a most convoluted History.
As Dr. Ferdinand Porsche founded the company in
1931, along with Adolf Rosenberger and Anton Piech
The company’s first assignment was from the
German Government to develop a “People’s Car”, better known as the iconic
Volkswagen Beetle, Ja Volt! Before arguably the company’s first automobile,
simply known as the Type 64 was manufactured in 1939. Albeit borrowing heavily from
the Volkswagen Beetle, for which only three examples were built.
Ferdinand designed Tanks during World War II,
although losing out upon the contracts to produce His Tiger I concept, before
being Imprisoned for twenty months following the War’s end in 1945.
Thus during this time, Ferdinand’s son Ferry
took over running of Porsche, along with having designed what Porscheaphiles’
denote as the company’s first production vehicle, the legendous’ 356.
As the first 356 was road certified in Austria
on June 8, 1948. Promptly being entered in a race, where it won it’s class. And
hence, Porsche’s 75th Anniversary comes full circle. Even though the 356 was produced
by Ferry and sister Louise’s Austrian Porshce Konstruktion GesnbH concern
between 1948-50.
As the Austrian company would later become
known as Porsche Salzburg, which entered the 917 that won Porsche’s first
overall 24 Heurs du Mans victory. Subsequently becoming the largest distributor
of Porsche Automobiles and ultimately becoming today’s Porsche Holdings…
Whilst we All know that Porsche is synonymous
with Sports Car racing, for which I’ll tackle in a separate No Fenders yarn
shortly. But first, a very brief look at it’s largely overlooked Single Seaters
Open Wheel Racing History instead…
Arse-sumedly when Y’all hear the words Porsche
and formula 1, Yuhs think of those F1 World Championship McLaren TAG-Porsche
entries, Righto?
Yet it was actually the Porsche 718 model that
first competed in Euripean Formula 2 that initially involved Porsche in Single
Seater racing. Although reportedly Dr. Ferdinand Porsche had designed Formula 1
machinery for Mercedes and Auto Union during the 1920’s & 1930’s.
And although the 718 saw limited success as a Single
Seater. It’s RS60 variant greatest successes were winning the 1960 12Hours of
Sebring and the Targa Florio.
Yet with the FIA mandating maximum engine capacity
of 1,500cc for Formula 1 in 1961, the 718 F2 model was instantly eligible for
the f1 World championship.
Yet Porsche’s 718 F2 model was outdated and
outclassed. And thus Stuttgart designed the brand new 804 model for F1 in 1962,
featuring a Flat-8 cylinder engine. Which Dan Gurney won His and Porsche’s
maiden Formula 1 victory aboard during the ’62 French Grand Prix.
Before Porsche withdrew from Formula 1 at season’s end due to it’s high costs and lack of road car relevance. Not returning to thee Pinnicle ‘O Motorsports for another two-plus decades as an engine supplier…
