Porsche Have A History That Is Full Of Intrigue, Excitement, Luxury, Famous Stars and ofcouse Racing Heritage

Porsche - The Story so far..

Undoubtedly one of the greatest cars ever made. Its story is as amazing as the marque itself. The history of Porsche automobiles goes back to the beginning of the century. The first design, a Lohner-Porsche. The founder, Ferdinand Porsche, was born in 1875 in Mattersdorf, a village close to Reichenberg, in what was then North Bohemia, later Czechoslovakia. He had always showed excellent mechanical skills, and at 18, he was recruited for a job in Vienna with Bela Egger (later Brown Boveri). He sneaked into night classes at the Technical University, and gained the only "formal" engineering education he ever obtained.

After a few years in Vienna, he secured his first automotive job with Jacob Lohner. In 1900, that first, System Lohner-Porsche, made its debut at the World's Fair in Paris. It set several Austrian land speed records, obtaining over 35 mph. Ferry Porsche then reigned in Daimler's and Panhard's internal combustion engines to power wheel-mounted electric motors in the new System Mixt. More speed records were won, recognition naturally followed, and in 1905 Porsche won the Poetting Prize as Austria's outstanding automotive designer. He was now a famous automotive engineer in Europe.

The official "date of birth" for the first Porsche is around June 8, (a hand-built aluminium, prototype). The first, a two-seater 356 with a 1.1 litre centre engine, 40 HP weighing 650 kg. Other reports state that the first Porsche had a 1.3 air-cooled four cylinder engine put out "between 35 and 40 horsepower with a four-speed manual gearbox, accellerating to a massive top speed of just a fraction under 90 mph. The following 50 manufactured, of the 356/2 that were hand built in Gmund/Karnten (Austria). These are the ones that most resemble the classic 356 and are almost priceless. Did you know that the very first prototype prototype is still around? Should you be looking for new car finance for a great car like a Porsche, Ferrari, Lamorghini please contact us here at HSL to discuss personal finance.

Some Porsche Trivia: Many poeple think that a Porsche Carrera is a particlular Porsche like 911 or 356. Not the case, a Carrera is a description of the model type. ie Ford Focus Style and Ford Focus Studio. You get a 911 Carrera and a 944 Carrera too.

It's the late 40's: In late 1949 the Reutter Company in Stuttgart (Germany) start production of the 356. 500 are to be made. It is named so because it is the 356th project off the Porsche design desk. The body work is adjusted and this model of the Porsche 356 became the classic 356. It came complete with a 1.1 litre engine and 40 HP, it reached a speed of 140 kph. Now please realise that the terrifying speed that 140 kph represented some 60 years ago! It was rumoured that Ferry Porsche never expected to sell all 500 of the cars he was to build at the time and to say that he underestimated would be a gross under exaggeration! In March 1954 the 5.000th vehicle left the factory.

During the 1950s: Porsche builds the 1.5L flat-12 supercharged Cisitalia racing car with driver-controlled four wheel drive. In 1951: The factory enters a light-weight 356 in the Le Mans 24 hours race. And in 1953 the 550 mid-engined race car Spyder is created along with the Porsche label badge. During 1959 the start of the development of a new Porsche began.

Some Porsche Trivia: This year, being 2008 a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder sold at auction for $10,000,000 in America. Thats around Five Million Pounds Sterling! The Porsche which was once proudly owned by actor James Coburn, was bought by our very own Virgin Radio Founder Chris Evans. Yes, the very same man who was married to Billie Pipper. That porbably makes Porsche another record for the record books and Chris a very happy camper.

September 1963, the new generation Porsche designed by "Butzi" Porsche, a prototype called 901 was introduced. Unfortunately it was not available to customers until August 1964.However the French car producer Peugeot objects to the name 901 because the combination of three numbers with a zero in the middle, as it was patented to Peugeot. Therefore Porsche responded right away, changing the name to 911. A monumental era in car history.

In 1964 the Porsche 911 was born and production begins.

In April 1965 the last Porsche 356 leaves the assembly line after 17 years of production. In total there were approximately 81,000 produced, along with 1194 in various Carrera versions.

Some Porsche Trivia: This is a bit of a generalization, but almost all famous people that live in the limeligh own a Prorche. Richard Hammond from Top Gear showed his Porsche at the MPH show in Earls Court. Chris Evans from Virgin Radio ownes the most expenseive Porsche ever sold! David Beckham and Posh Spice don't need car finance either, it was reported that David owns a Porsche 993. The 933 series will remain for many the ultimate 911 – the last of the air-cooled Porsches that had been honed to absolute perfection over 30-odd years. To pick up one of those would cost you a cool £97,950

The 70's: During the 1970s, the new G-body 911 was designed with larger bumpers, 2.7L flat-6 engine. A prototype 911-Turbo was shown at the Paris Motor Show. Then other productions included, Porsche 911 Turbo, 2.7L, 186kW, with a rear whale-tail spoiler, a new 3.0L, 6.5:1 c.r., 0.8bar boost, turbo engine, 194kW at 5500rpm, then the 4-cylinder, water-cooled, front engined 924 which later developed into the 944 and 968. Then in 1977 the 3.3L, 7.0:1 c.r. Porsche 911, it was inter-cooled the next year, and then the 224kW, 416Nm. and with the front-engined layout the V8, water-cooled 928.

The 80's and 90's belong to the Porsche 911: In 1981, the 911 4WD concept car is shown at the Frankfurt Motor show. In 1982 a new 911 Carrera-2 shape with integrated bumpers is made. In 1984 a 911 4WD wins the Paris-Dakar rally and in 1986 the 4WD Porsche 959s finishes 1st, 2nd 6th in the Paris-Dakar rally. In 1987: The Porsche 959 was a 911-based group-B rally car and had electronic controlled 4WD with dry/ wet/ icy settings, also ABS brakes. 2.85L twin-turbo flat-6, 330kW at 6500rpm, 500Nm at 5500rpm, 1350kg. 200 were built.

During 1991 the Porsche 911 type-964 (Carrera 2) 3.3L, 235kW, 450Nm, four-wheel drive was completed. In 1993 the 911 Turbo gets a 3.6L, 270kW engine. In 1995 the 911 series 993, 300kW twin-turbo, 6-speed, electronic control of 4WD and limited slip diff' from the Carrera 4 and Porsche 959 were developed. This engine later developed up to 400kW in a car with a weight of 1280kg and 4WD.

More Car Trivia: The year is 1991 and a prestine condition 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO was sold at a Vegas Vehicle Auction for three million pounds sterling. Experts believe the Ferrari GTO, of which 39 exist, could break all records if on sale today as it is regarded as the most desirable model of Ferrari ever built. That means that we may have a contender for Chris Evans Porsche which he set the world record with in 2008

1996 once again sees Porsche make history: In June 1996 Porsche number 1,000,000 was delivered to its customer. It also marks the year of the Boxster. This is a new mid-engined, more affordable make of Porsche.

Porsche celebrate 50 Years: 1998 sees the 50th anniversary, and it is possible that of over 1,000,000 Porsches which have been built to date 2/3rds of them are still on the road. Perhaps this can't be proved but who really cares. Just the possibility of this notion is the essence of what we think of Porsche! In 1999 the 911 type-996 turbo 4WD, 309kW is produced.

2000 AD and the turn of the Century: During 2000 Porsche celebrates the world premiere of the high performance Carrera GT sports car. It is ready-for-the-road concept car with a carbon-fibre chassis, 10-cylinder naturally aspirated engine. Development begins on a new Porsche assembly plant in Leipzig for the multi-purpose Cayenne SUV. In 2001 the new 911 GT2 is developed and it is equipped with PCCB Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake standard and generates 462 hp. The new generation of the 911 Carrera has a 3.6-litre engine with variable valve lift. Available as new versions are the 911 Carrera 4S and 911 Targa. Then in 2002 the Cayenne SUV the sporty and off-road model is ready. Also revised is the Boxster with VarioCam technology, it achieves lower fuel consumption and emission ratings with simultaneous power boost. The years is now 2003 and production of Porsche Carrera GT starts up in Leipzig. Then in 2004 the new generations of 911 and Boxster sports car series are introduced in both Basic and S versions.

2005 sees the intorduction of the Porsche Cayman S. We are now in 2005 and in this year Porsche reveal the the Porsche Cayman S with 6-cylinder boxer mid-engine for the first time at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Also, the model range is extended with the 911 Carrera 4 and 911 Carrera 4S in CoupÈ and Cabriolet versions. Porsche becomes the largest Volkswagen shareholder. In Zuffenhausen, construction begins on the new Porsche Museum. In 2006, alongside the new 911 GT3, the 521 hp Cayenne Turbo S marks a new power peak. In Geneva, new 911 Turbo with Variable Turbine Geometry (VTG) is introduced. The Cayman with 245 hp rounds out the model range. Further new entries are the 911 GT3 RS and the 911 Targa 4 models. Not being a company to shy away from its motorsport roots in the American Le Mans series, the Porsche RS Spyder prototype achieves a championship victory in the LMP2 class. Expansion of production facilities begins in Leipzig. There assembly of the Panamera, will commence in 2009 according to reports.

More Expensive Car Trivia: The year is 2007 and a 1966 800-horsepower Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake of which just two were ever built and was used as the personal transportation of Carroll Shelby himself makes car auction history fetching $5.5 million at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction. Once again setting a new world record price for an American car sold at a motor auction, according to auction organizers. That is half the price Chris Evans splashed out for his 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder. You'r the man Chris!

We await the next generations of one of the world's most successful marques.

If you plan to borrow money to buy a vehicle consider your circumstances: As with everything there are more options to hand, so you must consider your circumstances, affordability and practicality of financing your vehicle. If you are still in a quandary, why not read our other finance related articles for tips on the finance industry for further information, for here at HSL Vehicle Finance we cover car loans for prestige cars, asset finance, motorcycle and much more so why not let us give you a great deal on your next vehicle loan. To view what we can offer you, visit http://www.hslfinance.co.uk/pages/prestige-finance.lasso

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