Porsche culture reached the end of an era last Friday, when Ferdinand Alexander Porsche passed away.
Ferdinand ‘Butzi’ was the eldest son of Ferry, son of Ferdinand. Ferry once said: “We all have a desire to create something that will show we were here, and did something of value. To create something timeless.” Fifty years ago, his eldest son fulfilled that ambition.
Butzi’s breakthough was not his favourite: this award went to the 904. It was not the most expensive, nor the most exclusive. But it was the most authentic and engaging of Porsches. Butzi gave the world a Porsche that answered more desires than any before, or since. It was, of course, the 911.
Butzi believed that design was not fashion. Good design was functionality. Functional items fit with our needs: they are relevant.
When relevance touches the soul, the subconscious creates deep, unbreakable connections. When something is irrelevant, our conscious minds disconnect and discard, but such a fate never befell Butzi’s creation. 901, 911, 964, 993, 996, 997, 991: call it what you will, since that first line emerged from the mind of Butzi Porsche, the 911 has been the world’s most relevant sports car.
With so many 911s from the model’s half-century history still used and abused, cherished and adored, the revelance is proven. Almost fifty years after its arrival, the 911 remains the machine most connected to the practice of driving, and most aspired to by those who seek the ultimate driving experience.
Through Ferdinand Alexander, all of us who love the 911 discovered one great thing: an instant route to satisfaction. Sitting in Ferdinand’s 911, surrounded by his vision of perfection, we enjoy a space that is timeless: simultaneously of its time, and of ours. We who cannot imagine life without our 911s know its true purpose: it is a direct connection to three generations of engineering genius, and a vital component in the engine of the super-ego.
It’s tough to say goodbye to friends, even tougher when you’ve never met them. But be sure that if you own and enjoy a 911, F. A. Porsche was a friend: one of your best. Let this be in our minds as we say farewell to our friend and inspiration, Butzi Porsche.
Adieu Ferdinand Alexander, on your journey to the arms of your father. You will never be forgotten by those you have inspired. Rest in peace.
Porsche legend, Hans Herrmann, has been inducted into the Sebring Hall of Fame. Herrmann’s award came this weekend, during the 2012 12 Hours of Sebring.
Hans Hermann, Juan Manuel Fangio, Karl Kling
2012 was the 60th running of the historic half-day race, an event Herrmann (seen above with Fangio and Karl Kling) won twice in his career. In 1960, he won at Sebring in a Porsche 718 RS 60 shared with Oliver Gendebien, winning the Targa Florio in the same year. Having raced in F1 with Maserati, Cooper and BRM, Hans also raced F1 for Porsche. Lack of success prompted a move to Abarth.
A few years later, Hans returned to Zuffenhausen. The team struggled with the 906 for a couple of seasons before finding their feet in 1968, with the awesome 908. Hans again won Sebring, this time alongside Jo Siffert.
The following year, Herrmann’s 908 missed a Le Mans win by a very narrow margin. In 1970, the baker from Stuttgart made up for it by clinching the first win for Porsche at Le Mans in the 917, alongside Richard Attwood. The car was one of just seven finishers in a race of total chaos.
Hans Herrmann was 42 when he won Le Mans: an age that many drivers of his era did not live to see. After the event, he retired from racing but continues to attend many European and US events.
Now the grand age of 84, Herrmann’s importance in the history of Porsche should not be underestimated. Nor should the affection he is held in amongst the Porsche cognoscenti: one chat with the major players at the Porsche Museum speaks volumes about how Stuttgart regards one of its all-time favourite racing sons.
Congratulations Hans! Well deserved, and many more besides.
Ferdinand blogs my freelance adventure with Porsche at the centre. To support the blog or engage with me in other ways, you can:
The team at Porsche have put an interesting video together with Museum Director, Achim Stejskal, talking about the new Boxster at the Geneva unveiling. I always enjoy Achim’s easy way of pulling different ideas and elements together: no wonder he does what he does for Porsche, and was so good in the same job at Mercedes.
Achim presents the new Boxster as the latest in the genesis of Porsche roadsters that started with the 356. “The original Boxster concept was presented at the Detroit Motor Show in 1993 and became the car of the show. Three years later, the (production) Boxster was launched and now this third generation of Boxster is more attractive than ever.” This is true.
Achim then links Geneva Motor Show to his “living room of the Porsche brand” by way of DNA. “New Boxster is not just a new model line. This is also the climax of our almost 60-year history of Porsche sports cars. All the DNA starting with the very first Porsche 356 and 550 is combined in this new Boxster.
“All these cars – 356, 550 or 718 Spyder – have the same philosophy. This (Boxster) is a mid-engine concept in a lightweight body, so a very agile car. It all combines to make a great thing called the fun of driving. This is what Porsche presents and it is working very well: it is almost overwhelming. This car is a pure roadster and it’s a perfect car, in my opinion.”
Much has changed since the Detroit launch in 1993. That new Boxster was launched in Geneva says it all: Europe is now the heart of the motor industry and the epicentre of brand determination. How Europe buys its cars is how most manufacturers now build and price their cars.
As Harris says in his Drive video, new Boxster is quite a different car to the old one. It looks better, goes better and feels of an all-round higher quality. And Porsche will happily charge for the experience: a generous Boxster S is £65K now.
The excellence of new Boxster may be the best indication yet of how new Porsche has repositioned itself higher up the VW food chain: back to its primo price, primo reward self. As this is the self that spawned the 718 RSK, the ’73 RS and all of our favourite hewn-from-granite classics, new Boxster could be the best news yet for fans of old Porsche. I mean proper old Porsche.
Just tweeted the Drendel Porsche Collection sale at Amelia Island and it was terrific fun. Here’s a list of my tweets, with the prices fetched in the hall – add the premium to get the buyers’ actual bill. Quite a few world records, as expected. Gooding will no doubt have a huge press release on this.
Best result? Take your pick: Martini 935 at $2.3 Million, Baby Turbo which sold for a stunning $2.95 Million or the 917/30 at $4 Million! Here are the tweets:
We are THREE CARS away from a ton of big-money classic Porsches at @GoodingCompany in Amelia Island. Stay tuned!
1960 #Porsche 356B Roadster in Silver with Blue/Blue makes $135k at @GoodingCompany. Tons of start bids, painfully slow finish in 2.5s.
Drendel Collection NOW ON SALE. First car is a 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S.
#Porsche 944 Turbo S has just 700 miles from new. Unreal. Makes a SUPER SWEET $75k at @GoodingCompany. $10k past high estimate.
The Martini #Porsche 935 now on the stand at @GoodingCompany. Hall is buzzing.
The #Drendel Martini #Porsche 935 makes $2.3 MILLION at @GoodingCompany. Holy mother: $300k past high estimate.
NOW! Bell/Holbert’s ex-Le Mans 1980 Porsche 924 GTP on the stand. All other cars owned by the factory. #Drendel @GoodingCompany
Ex-Le Mans 1980 Porsche 924 GTP makes a slow $350k – seems value for money…
1997 #Porsche 911 GT1 Evolution on the stand. #Drendel @GoodingCompany – Bids at $825k and heading north
Make that $950k on the phone
$975k on the GT1 – still bidding. Phone is out.
$1.05 Million against the phone for the GT1 #Porsche at @GoodingCompany
(Tweet chat to @GTPorsche: Yes I think the 924 was a good buy. Gooding including their premium – my numbers in the hall. Good fun sale.)
1990 #Porsche 944 Cab makes $36k – well past high estimate. Now 934 on the rostrum. On $650k at the mo.
Peach of a #Porsche 934 selling well cheap at $650k and slow to go.
1976 #Porsche 934 in top colour, ex-Le Mans class winner sells for $810k – new money came in at $725k when looked all over.
1987 McLaren MP4/3 Formula 1 on the stage NOW – 1000hp with spare engine. Charlie takes a start bid of $200k straight in
McLaren going frigging ballistic
$780k for the McLaren F1 car – Porsches look cheap against it! Talk about last minute save at $640k – GRIPPING AUCTION with HEAVY bidding
Derek Bell now on the stage talking about the next lot – sale just down the road from his FL house #Porsche 1984 962
Winningest #Porsche in history?! For sale for first time ever. 1984 Porsche 962 opens at $1 MILLION
Finish of $1.75 MILLION on phone for 1984 #Porsche 962. Low estimate was $1.75M. Slow to get there.
WORLD RECORD FOR A #PORSCHE 962
1986 #Porsche 944 Turbo Cup starts at just $20k – nuts but we’ll see where it goes
1986 #Porsche 944 Turbo Cup low estimate of $65k – finishes at $72k. Like pulling great big rooted teeth here.
1974 #Porsche RSR Carrera Turbo 2.14 starts at a mill. Baby Turbo on sale. Low estimate $1.75M – now $2M
Baby Turbo makes $2.95M in room at @GoodingCompany #Porsche 911 RSR. Very strong bidding – such a thrill to watch. Blitzes estimates.
ONE CAR TO GO TO THE 917/30 #PORSCHE AT GOODING OMG OMG OMG
Auction Fever – #Porsche 968 Turbo S Clone makes well past high estimate at a healthy $66k @GoodingCompany – the mega 917/30 is up next.
OK – this is the BIG ONE. Ultimate #Porsche 917: most powerful road racing car EVER. One of only 6 built. 0-60 in 2 seconds.
#Porsche 917/30 hits a killer $4 Million at @GoodingCompany. One bid from 2.6 to 3 tried to freeze the rest but failed. High est $4M
This is such a great #Porsche sale – now we have the Boss 944 GTP sold without reserve. Fantastically famous car opens at $200k.
Who is keeping total score here? Guess I’d better add it up! Still four more #Drendel #Porsche cars to go after 944.
$280k for the #Porsche 944 GTP. Now a Holbert 962 with truckload of spares. 9 wins and 17 podiums. Starts at $500k.
Holbert #Porsche 962 sells at $850k
1992 #Porsche 968 Turbo RS starts well below low estimate at $100k, but soon hits low estimate of $250k.
Great result for #Porsche 968 Turbo RS at $315k – $10k off top estimate
1980 Parnelli #Porsche Indy Car sluggish bids to $200k – fails to hit low estimate of $350k. #Surprised #UNSOLD
FINAL #Drendel #Porsche at @GoodingCompany is the 1995 911 (993) GT2. Low estimate $375k. ON SALE at $255k now.
Last #Drendel #Porsche 911 993 GT2 sells amongst very busy $5k bid increments for $325k. Everyone exhausted!! Low estimate was $375k.
Thanks to everyone who didn’t unfollow me through the #Drendel tweets! What a great sale – top day for #Porsche fans.
Some major professional disappointments lately but wallowing in them won’t pay the bills. Time to get back to work!
I’m looking for a 1989/1990 Porsche 928 for a photoshoot, ideally left hand drive. Needs to be in the UK. Anyone interested please email me at mail@ferdinandmagazine.com. Something like this would be perfect:
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