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05/04/2012
F.A. Porsche, the ‘father of the 911’, has died

5 April 2012: Ferdinand Alexander ‘Butzi’ Porsche is dead. Son of Ferry, and grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, ‘FA’ designed both the 911 and 904 before founding Porsche Design. He was 76.

Although its basic engineering principles were set out by Ferry Porsche, it was Ferdinand Alexander Porsche and the company’s head of bodywork Erwin Komenda who completed the styling of one of the world’s most famous cars, the 911. The new car was unveiled at the 1963 Frankfurt Show.

In those relatively early days of the company, it was a tradition that one member of the Porsche family was involved in the styling of new cars. ‘FA’ also penned the aerodynamic bodywork of the Porsche 904 glassfibre-bodied production racing car. He always claimed it was his favourite.

The Porsche Design Studio was opened in Stuttgart in 1972 by ‘Butzi’ Porsche following changes within the car company that kept family members out of its day-to-day running. Porsche Design's most famous product was the series of matt black watches, still in production today.

Text: Classic Driver
Photos: Porsche

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