per.fec.tion

NOUN

1.the state or quality of being perfect:
“the satiny perfection of her skin” ·

synonyms: flawlessness · excellence · superbness · sublimity ·
exquisiteness · magnificence · perfectness · faultlessness · impeccability · immaculateness · exemplariness

When describing Porsche’s role and influence in the Automotive industry and Motorsport from the past to today, we cannot thing of a more apt word.

The exhibits at the Porsche Museum in its traditional city of Stuttgart, represent the philosophies that have shaped the company from its glorious past to the present day.

And illustrate a purity of design, lightness and engineering excellence that has been carried thorough their illustrious motorsport icons to the current 911.

The Porsche museum proudly tells the story, right from the beginning. A split window Beetle recalls Dr. Porsche’s work on the original people’s car.

Earlier examples of Dr. Porsche’s influence are also displayed. The minimalist cockpit of this 1946 Cisitalia Type 360 grabbed our attention. This unfinished concept featured a 1.5 litre supercharged 12 cylinder with four wheel drive. Exceptionally advanced and innovative engineering ideas from the 1940’s.

Known simply as “Number 1”, the first prototype of the Porsche 356 from 1948 is beautiful in its simplicity.

The 356 was the first Porsche production car and its success was fundamental in establishing the brand as it is today.

First introduced in 1949, the car started life sharing many components with the VW Beetle, but gradually evolved over time. By the time the 356 was discontinued in 1965, the majority of its components were 100 percent Porsche.

The type 550 Spider is one of 90 made. Its most famous victory was a class win at the Carrera Panamericana in 1954. This was also the infamous model of car that James Dean called ‘Little Bastard’ that ultimately took his life.

This 1950 356 SL (Super light) was the first German automobile to compete at Le Mans after the second World War. In 1951, it was the first Factory-backed Racing Porsche at the hallowed motorsport venue.

Wandering around the Porsche Museum, you begin to appreciate how influential motorsport has been in the design of these brilliant machines.

The legendary Porsche 917/30 Can Am racer is one of the most raw racing machines on display.

The performance figures of this car are frightening: 0-100 in 1.9 seconds, and a top speed of 413 km/h. With a potential 1300 bhp on tap in qualifying trim, it’s said this car could smoke its rears in fifth gear.

Its not often you are within drooling distance of a car that captures pure automotive joy. Enter none other than the fabulously-radical Porsche 935-78, also known as the Moby Dick.

Innovative in design and performance, never had such a crazy, production-based completion vehicle ever been previously crafted.

It actually doesn’t matter that this thing didn’t win at Le Mans in 1978. Race cars like this embody something more than records and statistics, its still a legend in its own right, and will always be.

The Group C Rothman’s car was celebrated upside down.

It could be said that Le Mans Porsches look fast from any angle. The Group C Blaupunkt Joest Porsche Racing Porsche 962 C looking as fresh today as it did almost 30 years ago.

It was raced to 4th place at Le Mans 1990 by Fank Jelinski, Derek Bell and Hans-Joachim Stuck.

Adding to Porsche’s 50th anniversary was a Le Mans win. It was with this very machine, the GT1 in 1998. This was the first time that a Porsche racing car with a ultra lightweight carbon fiber chassis had been used in racing.

Often overlooked in the Porsche motorsport narrative, is the Rallying chapter. One of our favourite Rally Porsches is the Martini 911 SC 3.0 ‘Martini’. Driven by Vic Preston and John Lyall where it won the 26th East African Safari in 1978.

This is the sparse Penske Racing LMP2 spec RS Spyder, a car which up until the last couple of years was a contender in the American Le Mans Series.

The Museum also painted a picture of where Porsche is heading in the future. The 911 GT3 R Hybrid features an electrical front axle with two electric motors developing 60 bhp wach, supplementing the 480 bhp flat six. Interestingly, instead of the usual bulky hybrid batteries, an electrical flywheel power generator installed in the interior delivers energy to the electric motors.

The utterly impressive 918 was launched in 2013, and is limited to a production of 918 vehicles. Featuring a hybrid and combustion engine developing 608 bhp. Two electrical engines develop 286 bhp.