By Rafiq Vayani
DUBAI: The 356 “No.1” Roadster was the first Porsche vehicle registered for road use in 1948. Seven decades on and the Stuttgart-based manufacturer has become renowned for producing high performance, emotional sport cars. Porsche Centre Dubai commemorated the 70th anniversary by inviting customers, enthusiasts and brand representatives to a gala Iftar at the Sheikh Zayed Road Showroom, for the launch of a special exhibition.
Forming part of the first Sportscar Together Day global calendar of celebrations, Porsche Centre Dubai’s exhibition, which is now open to the public, features a showcase of some of Porsche’s most iconic models.
Commenting during the event, K Rajaram, Chief Executive Officer, Porsche Importer Dubai and Northern Emirates, Al Nabooda Automobiles LLC, said: “Porsche’s 70 year journey has resulted in the production of some memorable sports cars. To celebrate this occasion we have curated a very special exhibition featuring seven iconic models that represent each decade of Porsche’s existence. We are very grateful to our patrons who have generously allowed us to display these sports cars at the exhibition. I encourage all Porsche enthusiasts to join us at our home in celebration of this momentous achievement”.
The history of the Porsche brand began in 1948, yet the foundation of the sports car manufacturer is built upon the life’s work of Professor Ferdinand Porsche. He had already designed pioneering innovations for the automotive industry as early as the start of the last century. In 1900, he built an electric car with a wheel hub drive known as the Lohner-Porsche, a vehicle on which he would then base the world’s first all-wheel-drive passenger car.
In the same year, he created a template for hybrid vehicles with the development of a mixed petrol-electric powertrain. In 1931, Ferdinand Porsche founded his own engineering office. The “Berlin-Rome Car” showcased in 1939 was the beginning of his idea for a sports car bearing the Porsche name, although this dream was only realised by his son Ferry in 1948 with the Type 356.
The successor model to the 356, the Porsche 911 designed by Ferry Porsche’s son Ferdinand Alexander, finally gave the company its breakthrough as one of the leading manufacturers of sports cars in the world, both from a technical and a design perspective. The Porsche 911, presented to the global public for the first time in 1963, has now been built over a million times.
