Ferdinand Porsche born 1875 in Maffersdorf a village near Reichenberg which was then North-Bohemia, later became Czechoslovakia.

Ferdinand Porsche grew up with an aptitude for mechanics and engineering as his work later will display.
At age 18 he were recommended for a job in Vienna. While working at Bela Egger in Vienna, which later changed to Brown Boveri, Ferdinand Porsche received his only formal engineering education ever. He sneaked in the night classes of the Technical University. This very same University later honored Ferdinand Porsche with his first doctorate degree.

Working for five years at Vienna his first job in the automotive industry in collaboration with Jacob Lohner arise.
In 1900 the "System Lohner-Porsche" where developed as a result and displayed at the World's Fair in Paris.
This new system harnessed Daimler and Panhard's combustion engines to power the electric motors mounted on the wheels of the car.
Porsche reveals his understanding of the importance of having the power source as close as possible to the wheels in this system instead of having very long drive shafts, which at that stage where quite a new concept.

With the "System Lohner-Porsche" several speed records scattered and Ferdinand Porsche won the Poetting Prize as Austria's outstanding designer in 1905.

In 1906 Austro Daimler, which where a licensed Daimler firm, appointed Dr. Ferdinand Porsche as their chief designer. One of his familiar designs where for the Prince Henry Trial in 1910 where he won the top 3 places.
This 85 horsepower contoured car namely model 27/80 has ever since been referred to as the "Prince Henry".

From 1910 onwards Austro Daimler where mostly interested in military equipment which ranges from aircrafts, trucks and motorized cannons. Dr. Ferdinand Porsche became Daimler's managing directory in 1916 and shortly after, in 1917, received one of his most honorable awards from the very same University in Vienna where he sneaked night classes. His was awarded a honorary doctorates degree.

Austro-Daimler where focusing mainly on expensive, luxurious sedans during the 1920's in contrast with Dr. Ferdinand Porsche's passion for light durable fast sports cars. From his early days Dr. Porsche participated in motor sport rallies not excluding rallies, hill climbing etc.
Dr. Porsche has found motor sports to be an important part of an automobile firm. Through motor sports he could better and improve cars.

In 1923 the vision of Austro-Daimler's board members for the company forced Dr. Porsche to resign. Within a couple of months Dr. Porsche was back again but this time as Austro-Daimler's Technical Director. His previous contributions to the firm earned him a second award. Dr. Porsche was now awarded a honorary doctorates from the University of Stuttgart.

After Daimler and Benz's merger in 1926 more "gas-guzzlers" where to be seen in the market. Some very large cars where designed and build not to mention the 6.2L K, 6.8L S and also the 7.0L SS / SSK / SSKL models which commanded the racing industry from 1928-1930. Dr. Porsche's racing activities where flourishing at that time but there was one great obstacle. The obstacle that made him leave Daimler-Benz for good. Daimler-Benz where not interested to produce smaller and lighter cars.

Dr. Porsche joined Steyr, another automobile firm but with the "Great Depression" on the rise the automobile industry didn't look very promising. Steyr went out of business and Dr. Porsche, at not so favorable age (55), where jobless. Despite of his well known and respected knowledge Dr. Porsche would hardly find a satisfying job.

In 1931 he returned to the automobile hub, Stuttgart, where he started his consulting firm, "Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche GmbH, Konstruktionen und Beratungen für Motoren und Fahrzeugbau" (Motors, Vehicles, Airplanes, Boats). For his newly founded consulting firm Dr. Porsche put together a team of people he previously worked with. A team consisting of Karl Rabie (Chief Engineer), Karl Fröhlich (Transmissions), Erwin Komenda (Body Designs), Josef Kales, Josef Zahradnik (Steering & Suspensions), Franz Xaver Reimspiess and Josef Mickl (Aerodynamics), Adolf Rosenberger (Business Manager), His son Ferry Porsche and son-in-law, Anton Piech (Lawyer) also joined the team. Anton Piech's son Ferdinand Piech much later became chairman of Volkswagen from 1993-2000.

The first project happen to be design work for another German based automobile firm namely, Wanderer. Several other approved designs followed. Dr. Porsche has never let his original dream pass by and also worked on his own designs for a small light concept car. His funded this project with a loan on his life insurance and later a motorcycle company, Zundak, help to finance the project. Zundak quit participation due to their success in the motorcycle industry and Dr. Porsche where looking for new investors again. NSU, originally a knitting machine manufacturer overlooked the project but the high cost of tools discourage them.
No one seemed to be interested in this project. Or at least for the time being. Adolf Hitler who believed that every German family should have a radio, car and / or tractor heard of Dr. Porsche's concept and where immediately interested.

June 1934 Dr. Porsche where contracted to build 3 prototypes of his design which he finished in 1936.
Daimler-Benz was then appointed to build a further 30 of the prototypes. Wolfsburg, back then known as "Stadt des KdF-Wagens" was founded to host the new factory. Wolfsburg are still naturally accepted as Volkswagen's headquarters.

During this time Dr. Porsche where asked to build a racing car for Auto Union (Audi today) which will compete with Daimler-Benz's "Silver Arrows". The P-Wagen was brought into life and where a very successful automobile on all levels.

While working actively in setting up the new factory in Wolfsburg, Dr. Porsche also accept more work from the "Third Reich". Some of the work related to the development of military equipment amongst others were the Elephant -, Tiger I -, Tiger II tanks. As a result much of Dr. Porsche's responsibilities at his own company where left for his son Ferry Porsche.

In November 1945, just after the war, France asked Dr. Porsche to continue development of Volkswagen there. As part of war reparations they requested that Dr. Porsche must move his factory equipment to France. Conflict amongst the French government and also resistance from French automobile firms put a stop to the entire project. Not long afterwards, in December 15 1945 Dr. Porsche, his son Ferry and son-in-law Anton Piech where arrested by the French government. They are believed to be war criminals and where held in prison for 20 months except for Ferry Porsche who were released.

Ferry Porsche struggle in order to make ends meet and had to run his father's company while they are in French prison still. As a means of generating income Ferry where involved in all kinds of trade. He sold water pumps, winches and did reparations on cars and also got a contract from Piero Dusio (Italy) where he need to build a grand prix car. The Type 360 Cisitalia where produced. Through the last mentioned contract Ferry generated enough money to bail his father and Anton Piech from the French prison.

Ferry also started to work on a sports car, later known as the 356 model. This would be the first car with the Porsche emblem and name. Their factory has moved to Gmund to avoid allied bombings in Stuttgart. The first 49 Model 356 cars where build in an old saw mill and also 100% hand made.

After the WWII, in 1949, the Porsche family move back to Stuttgart seeking ways to re-open the factory there. Banks refused to issue Dr. Ferdinand a loan and his factory in Stuttgart where still under American Embargo and could not serve as security. Ferry Porsche not really happy with the banks assistance took a special edition Porsche 356 from the factory in Gmund and visited all Volkswagen dealers. He managed to obtain orders from these dealers and also arranged for one up-front payment per order. The up-front payments where enough replace the rejected bank loan.

The Stuttgart Porsche 356 version had a aluminum body whereas the new Stuttgart Porsche where build with a steel body. Ferry Porsche where very optimistic and projected for sales in the area of 1700 cars. His optimism where exceeded with sales of over 78,000 cars over a period of 17 years.

Volkswagen required Dr. Ferdinand Porsche's skills and contracted him for consulting work with the Volkswagen Beetle. He negated to receive royalties on the Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle which turned into his favor financially. Over 20,000,000 (20 million) Type 1 Volkswagens where build.

Ferdinand Porsche visited Wolfsburg in November 1950 for the first time since the WWII ended. With Volkswagen cars build on large scale and the factory in full operation Porsche experience great satisfaction. He spent time chatting to the president of Volkswagen about the future of the Beetle.

Sadly, a couple of weeks later Dr. Ferdinand Porsche suffered a stroke from which he could not recover and on 30 January 1951 he passed away on the age of 75.