Porsche the origins of a supercar
Ferdinand Porsche (1875–1951): Austro-Bohemian automotive engineer Ferdinand Porsche founded.
Volkswagen: One of the first commissions the new company received was from the German government to design a car.
VW and the Third Reich: Ferdinand Porsche, together with chief designer Erwin Komenda and a hand-picked team.
Tanking up: In 1939, Porsche developed the Porsche 64 using many components from the Beetle.
Tragic association: Sadly, the 550 Spyder is forever associated with one of Hollywood's most notorious tragedies.
Ferry Porsche (1909–1998): After Ferdinand Porsche's death in 1951, Ferry took the wheel and steered the company into postwar prosperity.
Porsche 356: The history of the Porsche automobile brand effectively began in 1948 with the Type 356.
Porsche at Le Mans: In 1951, an enhanced 356 SL attracted international attention with a class victory at the famous Le Mans.
Porsche 550 Spyder: In 1953, the Porsche 550 Spyder was raced at Le Mans.
Slave labor controversy: As was routine for German companies of its size, Porsche used forced labor in its factories throughout the conflict.