The Official 356Talk Forum

Great story in yesterdays WSJ by Dan Neil about the first Porsche - link below but more than likely, a subscription is needed to access story.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-does-a ... 1564756570

I've got a PDF copy of article I can email one of the forum moderators if its possible to upload it - I tried but I think platform is limited to uploading Jpegs. PM me if you want me to send it.

A good read.

Ken,

After reading your entry regarding a recent article in the WSJ (Rumble Seat), I looked for in in my WSJ issue August 6, and could not find it in either section A or B. Could it have been in last Monday's or Friday's edition? Can you help with this mystery, please?

Thanks,

Frank Earle
#927

Frank, Dan Neil's piece is on the back of Saturday's OFF DUTY section. KTF

Frank - if you can’t find it PM me & I can email it to you

This car is coming up for sale in only a few days over at Monterey -- some say $20 million or more.

Also, great several pages in this month's Octane with detailed history of the car.

I thought Dan Neil's piece in the WSJ was rather wrong headed, disgusting, and condescending.

I looked the car over carefully and talked briefly to Otto Mathe when he brought the car to Monterey a few years ago. At that point it's history was well known, and it hadn't been "restored".
Porsche was a contract engineering company before the war, not a car manufacturer. They built the three aerodynamic, lightweight, stagger seat, race cars on KDF/VW chassis, which they had designed, and hot rodded a KDF engine for it. After the war, Ferdinand's son led the development of their own chassis, and they continued to hot rod VW engines until the 911.

What was “disgusting” about the article? I am sure none of us are happy about the unfortunate connection between Professor Porsche and Adolf Hitler, but it is something that needs to be acknowledged if we are to be fully honest about the origin of our favorite car.

Mark Reich wrote: ↑Thu Aug 08, 2019 8:15 am What was “disgusting” about the article? I am sure none of us are happy about the unfortunate connection between Professor Porsche and Adolf Hitler, but it is something that needs to be acknowledged if we are to be fully honest about the origin of our favorite car.

Yeah, hard to deny history.

I read this is the old fashioned way, in print. I got the impression the writer was an idiot.

What is the basis for that opinion?

Adam Wright wrote: ↑Thu Aug 08, 2019 8:18 am Yeah, hard to deny history.

Adam, no criticism directed at you at all, but as a pretty serious student of WWII, I'll make two comments:
1) Moral relativism if a very complicated subject, and I'll bet Curt's got the ban-hammer cocked already, so you'll hear no more from me about that here.
2) That guy in the middle of the second image sure don't look what the Nazis presumed to be Aryan. For that matter, neither does the guy to his right with that tooth-brush 'stache.

Here is Chris Harris driving it, for those that missed it:

https://youtu.be/HaDWPBco07w

Ron LaDow wrote: ↑Mon Aug 12, 2019 12:10 am

Adam Wright wrote: ↑Thu Aug 08, 2019 8:18 am Yeah, hard to deny history.

Adam, no criticism directed at you at all, but as a pretty serious student of WWII, I'll make two comments:
1) Moral relativism if a very complicated subject, and I'll bet Curt's got the ban-hammer cocked already, so you'll hear no more from me about that here.
2) That guy in the middle of the second image sure don't look what the Nazis presumed to be Aryan. For that matter, neither does the guy to his right with that tooth-brush 'stache.

I make no public moral stand on Dr. Porsche working for and with the Nazi Party, I posted the pictures to showcase that he did in fact work closely with the Nazi's and Hitler, so to deny it is to deny history. Reasons, motivations, rationale, I'm not commenting on those, just the fact that Porsche was involved.

It also wasn't 'healthy' to say no to Hitler when you were a prominent person. To Dr.Porsche's credit, he was never seen wearing any Nazi symbols, uniforms or other party-specific gear. True believers often sported such items.

My humble recommendation, read Karl Ludwigsen book:
Battle of the Beetle. Interesting reading and I’m strong
believer that Ludwigsen don’t make a lot of assumptions.
In this book is the relationship between Porsche and Hitler
brought up. This is a great book if you’re interested in old
cars.
Also available by Karl Ludwigsen: Professor Porsche's Wars.