Dr. Ing. h.c. Ferdinand Porsche

The thoughts of the brilliant engineer have become reality. One of the world’s most spectacular automotive museums has been built at the headquarters of the Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. Futuristically designed by the Viennese architects Delugan Meissl, more than 80 vehicles are on display on the building’s 5,600 square metres of exhibition space – from the wheel-hub of the Lohner-Porsche, the world’s first hybrid vehicle dating back to 1900, right up to the current Porsche 911 generations.

Whilst the bold architecture of the building reflects Porsche’s individuality, self-confidence and sense of tradition, the exhibition with the turn-key sports cars from the Museum on Wheels keeps the company’s history very much alive. In contrast to other automotive museums, the exhibition concept of the Porsche Museum, which was officially opened on 31 January 2009, deliberately dispenses with the idea of a theme world. The vehicles in the Porsche Museum should speak for themselves. Furthermore there is the pedagogical goal that the museum should assume a key cultural role at the traditional Zuffenhausen headquarters: using the latest museum didactics, the exhibition imparts extensive historical and contemporary knowledge about Porsche.

Alongside focussing on the essence of automobiles, the exhibition concept stands out because of its flexibility which is completely in keeping with the Porsche brand. All the rare items on show are in the truest sense of the word “mobile”. As the exhibits are exchangeable, the exhibition and all the media installations can be readily altered to provide a high degree of variety and attractiveness. Visitors should be communicated the “Porsche Idea” in its whole complexity on so-called “theme islands” supported by many small exhibits.

The museum on Porscheplatz stands on an important site in German automotive history. In as early as 1938, the former Porsche Engineering Offices moved from the centre of Stuttgart to Zuffenhausen’s Works 1. The first forerunners of what later became the “VW Beetle” were designed here in the same year. They were followed in 1939 by the Type 64. The precursor of all Porsche sportscars, it was known as the “Berlin - Rome Racer”. Sportscars with the now world famous Porsche coat of arms have been built in Zuffenhausen since 1950.

The Porsche Museum is open to visitors from Tuesday to Saturday from 9.00 a.m. to 6 p.m.