The Ultimate History of Porsche

‘Porsche — there is no substitute.’ As a young Tom Cruise uttered those words in the film Risky Business, in his guise as a teenager 'borrowing' his father's 928 for the weekend, there must have been many a movie-goer nodding in agreement. For Porsche — or, more precisely, Dr ing h.c. F, Porsche AG is acknowledged worldwide as a name synonymous with speed and desirabihty; the ultimate sports car. |t features on several of the world's fastest and most beautful road cars, and a number of hugely successful motorsport siblings, and has done for more than 50 years. The German company's prestigious badge remains the wallpaper of choice for impressionable youngsters and the darling of many in the motoring press. More than a century on from its founder's first and much-heralded attempt at automotive design, the Porsche organization that bears his name now sells more cars and makes more racers than ever before, and, with the introduction of a whole raft of new 911 models (the 997 generation), and broadening the range with the Boxster, Cayman and Cayenne, the future is looking bnght. lts doubtful that even Ferdinand Porsche himself could have imagined how successful hs company would become, even with his self-belief and vision. The story of Porsche is not a simple one. Smart cars are not its only subject: it also covers Porsche, the family; Porsche, the marque; and Porsche, the sports giant; all inextncably linked with those famous models of yesteryear and today. Each model that rolls out of the Porsche factory comes with not only a price tag but also a great deal of history attached. The Ultimate History of Porsche peels back these layers to examine each of Porsche's greatest models in detail, including how and why they were developed and how they were received. It looks at the men behind the marque itself, how they triumphed through war and tnbulation to create one of the world's most successful motor car manufacturers and race team owners; and how their original technology continues to be used in the twenty-first century in far more than racing cars. The Ultimate History of Porsche considers the public's appetite for the road cars; their early and continued popularity among young and old alike; their involvement in all classes of racing and rallying and their pure entertainment value. It looks in detail at the sporting history of ths greatest of competitors, from the early victories in the 1950s through the glonous Brumos and Martini years and McLaren-TAG Formula One victories of the mid-1980s, and examines both the many events Porsche made its own, including Le Mans and the Targa Florio, and the many drivers who drove them to victory. Porsche today is a very different entity from the company of 50 years ago. lt has branched out in directions that Ferdinand Porsche would never have envisaged or even agreed with. But it continues to make some of the best loved and best-performing sports cars in the wortd, for road and racetrack alike, and that is something that the great Doctor would never d spute. Packed with information and technical detail, and | fully Illustrated with stunning colour photographs, The Ultimate History of Porsche ís the definitive reference to thís classic sporting marque, from Ferdinand Porsche's early career with Lohner, Daimler and Benz to the latest Porsche models to hit the showroom floor. The book begins with a look at the pioneers behind the company, Dr Ferdinand Porsche and his son (later Professor) Ferry, and their struggle to establish and maintain their dream of making, selling and running sports cars for competition. It covers Ferdinand's earliest days in the motor industry at the start of the twentieth century to his work on the famous Auto-Union O-wagens and the now infamous Volkswagen ‘Beetle’ and Ferry's first sporting designs, including the ‘original’ Porsche, the 356/001. This book also presents the popular and famous models that made the company's fortune: the revised 356, the 911, the Carrera, today’s Boxster, the Cayenne and the Panamera, all shown ín lavish detail with explanations of their design and mechanics accompanied by beautiful images. In its comprehensive look at motor sport, from hill-climbing to Formula One, via rallying, endurance racing, even Indianapolis, The Ultimate History of Porsche celebrates not just the cars, but the drivers who piloted them to victory and the many events that Porsche made their own from the earliest days of competition. And for those people to whom Porsche is a chance to achieve a dream of cruising at speed on the open road while others just stop and stare, The Ultimate History of Porsche contains all the technical details and enticing images you need to decide on your next model. STUART GALLAGHER ís the current editor of G7 Purely Porsche magazine, was the former editor of BMW Car and was a member of the original editorfal team on the launch of Evo, As happy behind hís keyboard as he is behind the wheel of any car, Stuart's passion for all things Porsche has led him to write The Ultimate History of Porsche, HELEN SMITH writes about motor sport purely because she loves it and always has. Between motoring assignments Helen writes on technical and business matters. While claiming to be totally unable to service her own car, she writes about cars with a devotee’s enthusiasm — from grasstrack to Formula 1.