Driven by Dreams: Porsche is celebrating 75 years of history with an amazing exhibition

Dreams change the world. Ferry Porsche once dreamed of a car that didn’t yet exist, so together with his team he built it himself. I am talking, of course, about the first Porsche in history, a brand that celebrates 75 years in 2023. I was happy to be part of the Porsche caravan in Romania and I’m looking forward to visit the Porsche museum, this summer. Driven by Dreams: Porsche is celebrating 75 years of history with an amazing exhibition.

*** #GirlPilot #OnTheRoad #English

• The Porsche Museum is inviting visitors to take a journey through 75 years of Porsche history with its most comprensive exhibition to-date, covering present and future topics, inspirational people and trailblazing technology. 
• The Porsche Museum, Stuttgart, Germany – access and contact https://www.porsche.com/international/aboutporsche/porschemuseum/
• “Driven by Dreams. 75 Years of Porsche Sports Cars” exhibition – will run until 7 January 2024. 

About the very beginnings… 

Ferry Porsche once dreamed of a car that didn’t yet exist, so together with his team he built it himself. The Porsche 356 ‘No. 1’ Roadster launched both the Porsche brand and what would become the Porsche legend. Seventy-five years ago, on 8 June 1948, the car received its general operating permit. The highlight of the anniversary celebrations for ‘Driven by Dreams. 75 Years of Porsche Sports Cars’ is the most comprehensive special exhibition ever laid on by the Porsche Museum. At its core is ‘Driven by Dreams’ – a value that captures the history of the company while transporting it into the present and the future. The exhibition, which runs until 7 January 2024, also shines a spotlight on the people behind the brand. 

A success story all about daring to dream 

The exhibition covers many topics of the present and the future, with inspirational people and trailblazing technology, digitally animated. 

… The journey through the Porsche cosmos begins with the Porsche 356 ‘No. 1’ Roadster and its new media presentation. A “dream belt” connects the founder of the Porsche brand, Ferry Porsche, with his dream car and during the process, the model is presented within a special setting. On new walkways, guests on the exhibition level are immersed in stories about pioneering spirit, feats of engineering and courage.

… While the Zuffenhausen site was growing in the 1950s, Porsche was thinking about exporting the 356 model to the US. Max Hoffman, the sports car manufacturer, turned out to be the ideal partner for the project. Franz Xaver Reimspieß designed the crest that would go on to become a timeless trademark. The first clubs were also founded, in which enthusiasts could share their passion for Porsche sports cars.

… In the 1960s the iconic 911, which celebrates its 60th birthday this year, was the focus of everyone’s attention. Visitors not only encounter exciting facts about the iconic model but can also witness the evolution of its design. Among the highlights of the special exhibition is a drawing of the 911’s predecessor, the 901, while the many potential names for the first prototypes are revealed. 

… In the section dedicated to the 1970s, visitors are introduced to dreamers such as Porsche engineer Norbert Singer, legendary racing driver Hans-Joachim Stuck and entrepreneur Louise Piëch.

… A display case on “100 years of the 24 Hours of Le Man”’ celebrates the endurance race on the Sarthe with exhibits such as a lap timer, a helmet, and models of the 917 and the 956.

… The following decade sees the focus shift to the Porsche 959 as a technology showcase. Guests on the exhibition level can also discover more about the transaxle design and enjoy exhibits such as a TAG Turbo engine and pop-up headlights.

… The 1980s also include the story of “Monoposti at Porsche” for interested visitors. 

… The next decade, the 90s, got off to a gloomy start for the sports car manufacturer. Sales figures went into a steep dive and Porsche was in danger of becoming a takeover candidate. CEO Wendelin Wiedeking made changes that included revamping production processes and prompted an upturn in the company’s fortunes. The Boxster was a hit in Detroit as a study, and shortly thereafter as a series production model it manoeuvred the company out of its crisis.

… In the 2000s, ground was broken in Leipzig as the existing plants in Zuffenhausen and Weissach continued to grow. Rally legend Walter Röhrl tuned the Carrera GT, series manager Klaus-Gerhard Wolpert dared to launch an SUV at the turn of the millennium, and Achim Stejskal opened the new Porsche Museum in 2009.

… In the 2010s, Porsche saw the transformation of the motorcar industry and its electrification as an opportunity for further development. Four years separated the presentation of the Mission E concept study and the start of production of the Taycan. The limited-edition 911 R model received a lot of attention, the 991-generation 911 was a big hit with Porsche enthusiasts, and Marc Lieb and Timo Bernhard won important races for the brand. 

… This decade, the 2020s, has been characterised by Porsche finding new paths, and by anniversaries, art and electrification. As an all-electric sports car, Mission R represents the future of customer motorsport, and the Sonderwunsch department continues to make many dreams come true.

The future? 

The sports car manufacturer is continuing this tradition with its latest concept study, Mission X. This is a spectacular reinterpretation of a hypercar, with Le Mans-style doors that open upwards to the front and a highperformance, efficient electric powertrain. For the first time, Porsche is presenting this dramatic looking two-seater to a wider audience at the Porsche Museum from 20 June to 2 July 2023.

Photography: (c) Porsche Museum.