Tales from the Early Days of Porsche in America

Reflecting back on the past 60 years that Porsche has been in the United States, it's a nostalgic tale of the incredible journey that started in a humble meeting in France between Professor Ferdinand Porsche and legendary entrepreneur Maximillian E. Hoffman back in 1950.

Two days after their first meeting in October 1950, Porsche and Hoffman struck a deal to send 15 cars to New York. After the shipment was sent over to the United States, sportman Briggs Cunningham won several races in his Porsche, creating interest and envy by other car enthusiasts.

Hoffman was not a racer himself, but he knew what racers needed. He created a dual-purpose lightweight model that was specifically for U.S. club racers. Sold for $4,600, the America Roadster had an aluminum body, plastic side-curtain windows, two bucket seats, and a cloth top. At a feathery 1,580 pounds it weighed little more than some contemporary golf carts. It was a vehicle that inspired awe from coast to coast in America.

In 1952, encouraged by this early success, Hoffmann pressed Dr. Porsche to create a brand symbol for the company that would better reflect its European heritage. At lunch that day, Dr. Porsche, a fan of the ancient art of heraldry, doodled on a napkin, sketching a rearing stallion on a heraldic shield that was surrounded by elk antlers and the red and black stripes of the Barden-Württemberg region around Stuttgart. The iconic Porsche crest was born.

A second historic Porsche was the Speedster, debuted in 1954. Designed to be a low-slung car that as writer Johnny von Neumann stated, "guys could drive, with their arm on the window sill, and talk to the girls on the sidewalks." Porsche shipped its entire output to U.S. consumers, in the first year.

In 1955, the Porsche Club of America was formed by a dozen Porsche lovers, based on a mutual camaraderie on the road, signified by flashing lights at a fellow Porsche. The first meeting at Blackie's Grill in Washington D.C. in 1956, attracted 64 members. Among the early club decisions, the annual gathering was to be called "The Porsche Parade."

Looking back on the past 60 years, Porsche continues to listen to its large market across the Atlantic. Now looking to the future, each new model is planned with American regulations and tastes in mind. American consumers wait impatiently for the new limited edition 2011 GTS and Speedster models to debut.