So far as Porsche enthusiasts go, I’ve had a fairly good run of experiences.
See here, here, here, and here, to call a couple of. I’ll admit though, it took me far, far too long to make my method to Stuttgart to go to the Porsche Museum – but I’m so incredibly glad that I finally did.
I apologise for the soppy title, but the reality is the Porsche Museum is probably the most incredible places I’ve ever visited – hand on heart.
Naturally, the experience begins on the very start of the automaker’s journey, with a number of the earliest cars to bear Ferdinand Porsche’s name.
The prototype Porsche 356 was definitely a highlight, especially considering its mid-engine layout. If that fact was higher known, I feel it might silence the critics who dismiss the Boxster and Cayman because the ‘poor man’s Porsches’ – for the reason that model was meant to be a mid-engine automobile from the very starting, all the best way back in 1948.
It’s fascinating to see Porsche’s evolution through the years, with several 356 variants and its earliest Formula Junior cars on display.
The Le Mans racers of the mid-to-late twentieth century produced a number of the brand’s most iconic machines, with the 906 Carrera standing out as probably the most beautiful – and purest – examples of the Porsche breed.
Free from enormous wings and excessive bodywork, Porsche’s iconic curves are much clearer to see on the 906 than they’re in later prototype monsters to compete on the worldwide stage.
Monsters just like the 917 and its various iterations – including the legendary 917/20 ‘Pink Pig’.
A collaboration between Porsche and Paris-based engineering firm SERA R&D, the 917/20’s aerodynamics drew loads of criticism when it was first revealed. With its blunt nose and fat curves, it was quickly likened to a pig. As an alternative of ignoring the comparison, the team decided to own it by decorating the automobile in a livery harking back to a butcher’s cut diagram, solidifying its legendary status in the method.
The 962 stays considered one of the fastest race cars to ever power down the Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans, though it’s questionable whether it ever had enough downforce to sustain this position at any speed.
‘RSR’ is a mythical set of letters in 911 circles, and you may see its evolution in Stuttgart, followed by the 935 – a automobile that modified the sport with its radical aerodynamics and flat nose.
The 935’s legacy has been revived in the shape of a track-focused 991 GT2 RS, but for real racing heritage, the RSR name has lived on with subsequent generations of water-cooled race cars, with an interesting detour in the 997 GT3 R Hybrid, a one-off technology demonstrator from 2010.
Stepping away from race cars for a second, my heart skipped a beat after I spotted a Porsche I never thought I’d see in person, let alone up close.
I’ve mentioned it in several articles at this point, but my #1 dream automobile – the one I’d select over all others – was there before me in Stuttgart. The 964 Porsche 911 Turbo S 3.3-litre Leichtbau – or ‘Lightweight’ in English.
To the uninitiated, it would appear to be some other 964 from a distance. It’s no wider than the regular Turbo, with the identical optional Speedline split rims and tea tray or whale tail on the back.
But take a better look, and also you’ll spot that the wing lacks the reasonably ugly black rubber gurney flap found on typical 964 Turbo models. As an alternative, there’s a sleek one-piece composite item, and a pair of intakes sit in front of the wide, Turbo-specific rear wheel arches.
Then there’s the script beneath the doors, signifying that that is the exact automobile I’ve had saved in my ‘favourite’ photos file for over a decade.
I used to be in awe. The reality is, regardless of how rare, how special, or how historically significant some other automobile within the constructing was, all of them paled as compared to this one.
In the event you’ve ever been lucky enough to spend time around your favourite automobile, I’m sure you’ll understand. Take a look at the gallery below to see what other treasures were on display on the Porsche Museum, but I just can’t top that 964. I hope you don’t mind.
Mario Christou
Instagram: mcwpn, mariochristou.world
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This Article First Appeared At www.speedhunters.com
