Ferry Porsche - Cars Are My Life

'I have always understood the Porsche to be more than just a car. It is almost a philosophy which has found devotees throughout the world' So says Ferry Porsche, a man who has lived and breathed cars all his life, and for whom 'motoring at its most beautiful' has always been a guiding principle. His affinity with motor vehicles can be attributed to his father, Professor Ferdinand Porsche, himself a brilliant engineer working with Austro Daimler, Mercedes Benz and Auto Union. Even as a child, Ferry liked nothing better than to accompany him to work and soak in the atmosphere of the factory and the workshop. His interest was rewarded when he was given his very own car for Christmas: he was only 11 years old, but could already drive. Ferry Porsche's career includes many outstanding landmarks: his work on Hitler's 'people's car' and, at the same time, the development of racing cars and later sports cars, the field in which the Porsche name was to become most famous; the provision of tanks and other vehicles for the German army in the Second World War such as the Kubelwagen and Schwimm-wagen; the four wheel drive racing Cisitalia, the introduction of the 356 in June 1948, the first sports car to bear the Porsche name, and driven to victory in a race at Innsbruck just one month later; and the emergence of the legendary 911 which laid the foundations for the worldwide success of Porsche cars and developments such as the four wheel drive 959. Notable victories in the World Sports Car Championship, Porsche cars have also achieved success in the European Rally Championship; the Targa Florio; on the difficult Northern loop of the Nurburgring; the Monte Carlo Rally; and, of course at Le Mans, as well as in events outside Europe, such as the American CanAm series. The establishment of the development centre at Weissach is the achievement of another of Ferry Porsche's ambitions, and at the age of 80, he can both take stock of the past and look forward to the future of the motor industry. In company with his old friend Gunther Molter, he now tells his fascinating life story as one of motoring's most successful and best respected entrepreneurs, a man whose enthusiasm has never wavered, and whose cars truly live up to the company's motto, 'Driving in its purest form’.