Thursday, September 5: Today’s destination was Gmünd, the site of the original post-WW II PORSCHE Factory and the wonderful Pfeifhofer PORSCHE Museum. We crossed over the highest Alpine Mountain Road: the ominous Grossglockner. Everyone was grateful for the Fast Lane Travel vests they got the night before as their good night present with our traditional goodnight note announcing tomorrow’s activities.
The only private Porsche Museum is in Gmünd in Carinthia, Austria, where the first vehicles bearing the Porsche name were built between 1944 and 1950. The extensive collection includes the Porsche 356 Type 356 020 ALU , the buoyant Porsche hunting car (1956) and Porsche rally and racing cars . Another highlight is Austria’s first and only police Porsche 911. A special exhibition changes every year. This year: “60 years of the Porsche 911” . A multimedia presentation on the history and designs of Porsche provides further informative information. Of course, we also arranged a “closed to the public” visit of the original first PORSCHE Factory. What a treat to sit at Ferdinand Porsche’s desk and touch his drafting table. The original blueprint of the Cisitalia and the list of the first 20 PORSCHE 356 customers are also on display. Does the name Ruprecht von Senger sound familiar?