The Porsche Museum welcomes you to traverse the 75-year historical journey of the Porsche brand. The entire museum resonates with a fresh ambiance. Ranging from the introduction to the conclusion, the featured exhibition explores numerous aspects of today and tomorrow, featuring inspiring personalities and pioneering technologies, brought to life through digital animation.
Dreams possess the power to transform the world, as it has always been. Ferry Porsche had once envisioned a car that was yet to exist. In collaboration with his team, he brought it to reality. The inception of Porsche 356 ‘No. 1’ Roadster marked the beginning of the brand’s prosperous journey and the legend of Porsche. The vehicle received its general operating permit on June 8, 1948. The highlight of the ‘Driven by Dreams. 75 Years of Porsche Sports Cars’ anniversary celebrations is the most comprehensive special exhibition to date at the Porsche Museum. ‘Driven by Dreams’ encapsulates the company’s history while projecting it into the present and the future. Until January 7, 2024, the exhibition will highlight the individuals behind the brand who, akin to Ferry Porsche, pursued their dreams, aspired for grandeur, and brought significant ideas to life: The Dreamers.
Because dreams often materialize during the night and are as infinite as the cosmos, the Porsche Museum displays the main actors of the special exhibition against a backdrop of the night sky. “The Porsche company is dynamic and ever-evolving, akin to the universe. There is no standstill. The brand has been pioneering innovations for 75 years, driven by values such as honesty, pragmatism, and courage,” expresses Achim Stejskal, the Head of Porsche Heritage and Museum. “For the special exhibition marking the anniversary, we’ve transformed the museum more significantly than ever since its inauguration in 2009. Observing the engineering marvels and the multitude of ideas from the past 75 years, and leveraging them to sculpt the future, underlines the relevance of heritage more than ever.”
A tale of dreams and audacity: “This special exhibition unfolds a universe of dreams. As the visitors ascend the escalator, they are ushered into a realm where dreams and ideas are limitless,” explains curator Iris Haker. Journeying through the Porsche cosmos, visitors get an intimate experience of the brand’s evolution over 75 years of sports car history. “We’ve curated themed exhibits that cohesively present the cars and the content, recreating the dreams and experiences across the decades in a thrilling manner,” states Ilona Hoppe, Exhibition Design and Management. The entire museum vibrates with a fresh vibe. From the introduction to the conclusion, the special exhibition traverses numerous subjects of today and tomorrow, with inspiring personalities and pioneering technologies, animated digitally. During the special exhibition, an entirely newly created conclusion illuminates Porsche’s current and future direction with rotating highlighted cars such as the Mission R or the Vision GT, painted by the artist Vexx.
From the first Porsche to the latest concept car: The journey through the Porsche cosmos commences with the Porsche 356 ‘No. 1’ Roadster and its fresh media presentation. A dream belt links the founder of the Porsche brand, Ferry Porsche, with his dream car, the Porsche 356 ‘No. 1’ Roadster. The model is showcased within a unique setting. On new pathways, exhibition-level guests are immersed in stories about pioneering spirit, engineering feats, and bravery. While the Zuffenhausen site expanded in the 1950s, Porsche contemplated exporting the 356 models to the US. In Max Hoffman, the sports car manufacturer discovered the perfect partner for this venture. Franz Xaver Reimspieß designed the emblem that would become an enduring trademark. The first clubs were also established, where enthusiasts could express their passion for Porsche sports cars. The 1960s spotlighted the iconic 911, which celebrates its 60th birthday this year. Visitors not only learn interesting facts about the 911 but also witness its design evolution. Among the special exhibition’s highlights are a sketch of the 911’s precursor, the 901, and the disclosure of many insider names for the prototypes.
At Porsche, innovative concept cars have always paved the way for the future. The sports car manufacturer is perpetuating this tradition with the latest concept study. Mission X is a dramatic reinterpretation of a hypercar, with Le Mans-style doors that open upward to the front and an efficient, high-performance electric powertrain. For the first time, Porsche is showcasing its striking-looking two-seater to a broader audience at the Porsche Museum from June 20 to July 2, 2023.
Motorsport of the Past and Electrification of the Future: In the 1970s, visitors are introduced to dreamers like Porsche engineer Norbert Singer, racing driver legend Hans-Joachim Stuck, and entrepreneur Louise Piëch. A display on ‘100 years of the 24 Hours of Le Mansmmemorates the endurance race on the Sarthe with exhibits such as a lap timer, a helmet, and models 917 and 956. A decade later, the focus shifted to the Porsche 959 as a technology demonstrator. Exhibition-level guests also learn about the transaxle design and appreciate exhibits like a TAG Turbo engine and pop-up headlights. The 1980s also encompass the story of ‘Monoposti at Porsche’ for interested visitors.
The subsequent decade, the 90s, started on a dismal note for the sports car manufacturer. Sales plummeted and Porsche was on the brink of becoming a takeover target. CEO Wendelin Wiedeking initiated changes that included overhauling production processes and catalyzing a turnaround in the company’s fortunes. The Boxster was a hit in Detroit as a study, and shortly thereafter, as a series model, it steered the company out of its crisis. In the 2000s, the groundwork was laid 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 inaugurated the new Porsche Museum in 2009. In the 2010s, Porsche embraced the transformation of the auto industry and its electrification as an opportunity for further development. Four years separated the presentation of the Mission E concept study and the product launch for the Taycan. The very limited 911 R model garnered significant attention, the 911 of the 991 generation was a big hit with Porsche enthusiasts, and Marc Lieb and Timo Bernhard won important races for the brand. The following decade, the 2020s, has been marked by Porsche charting new paths and by anniversaries, art, and electrification. As an all-electric sports car, Mission R signifies the future of customer motorsport, and the Sonderwunsch department continues to make numerous dreams come true.
Porsche promotes exhibitions in neighboring countries: The ’75 Years of Porsche Sports Cars’ celebrations also spread beyond national borders. Starting June 23, the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne is hosting an exhibition for the 75th birthday. With approximately 600,000 visitors annually, it is the country’s most frequented museum. There, in addition to various loaned exhibits, the Porsche Museum will also display its ‘Driven by Dreams’ heritage truck, specifically designed for the anniversary year. The sports car manufacturer’s anniversary will also be celebrated at an altitude of 2,369 meters in the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse Museum in Austria. Spanning 48 kilometers and featuring 36 hairpin bends, the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse is one of the most picturesque panorama roads globally. The exhibitions tackle topics such as heritage, environmental protection, art, motorsport, and innovation, which hold central significance for Porsche. For each topic, there are three dreamers representing the past, the present, and the future. The event managers present cars and other exhibits related to these dreamer trios. Visitors are introduced to the visions of 40 additional dreamers whose quotes and the realization of their dreams contribute to the installation’s overall experience.
