Ferry Porsche is later on addressed as ´professor engineer', although he has never filed an engineer's exam, by the way, exactly like his father. Only three years after his graduation, he is welcomed in 1931 to his father's firm. Presumably he has learnt a lot at the company Bosch, yet, his new workplace is definitely more demanding. His father is world-famous at this time already. One could criticise him only if one was alone with him. His highest praise was to say nothing at all.

Ferdinand Porsche constructed a whole lot of things, only no Porsche. The car Union model C is the first project, in which Ferry Porsche is involved. It is not directly obvious, but this technology anticipates some of the beetle and with it also from the first Porsche. In this case, too, he learns to estimate the advantages of lightweight constructions.

The development of the VW Beetle, beginning one year later, played an important role in Ferry Porsche's life. This car promotes his career within the company because his father shifts more and more, beginning in 1937, from designer to factory manager. While his father is occupied with the newly developed VW factory in Fallersleben, he slowly grows into the roll of the (vice-) boss in the Stuttgart design engineering department.

Finally, after the war and a short custody, it is fully on him, accompanied by few, but good employees in Gmünd near the Italian border. A lot of beetle components and all construction plans were directed in the final phase of the war to Gmünd. A lucrative order of the company Cisitalia plays an important role, however, more in terms of the financial basis of the company, offering a lot of employment and motivation.

The 356 is designed when there was a clear lack of parts. The aluminium for the first 50 Porsche 356 comes from Switzerland, an excellent car body plumber is present, even though he is not really reliably. The first Porsche sticks out due to its low weight and its excellent aerodynamic shape, less so because of its strong engine.

The 356 features, except for few chassis peculiarities, almost unchanged beetle technology. The design comes from Ferry Porsche. His father is not allowed to Gmünd, so everything is up to its son, also the logistics problems. Though wind tunnels are known already for a long time, they cannot lay their hands on one. So the test car is pasted with woollen threads and is photographed during the journey. Comparing the road performance to those of the beetle, one must admit that the car body of the 356 has definite aerodynamic qualities. 12/09

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