Dr. Wolfgang Porsche & son Ferdinand in the Porsche 550 Spyder!

Recently updated on January 25, 2021 at 10:09 am

What a panorama: the Edelweißspitze lies at an altitude of 2.571 meters. It opens up a magnificent view of the Großglockner, Austria's highest mountain. At his feet the gaze wanders over a seemingly untouched high alpine landscape. A landscape like a painting, impressive for thousands of years. It's seven o'clock in the morning, the air up here is still cool, but the rising late summer sun is already bathing the highest peaks of the Glockner group in a warming light. Below the Edelweißspitze, one of the most spectacular routes in Europe winds its way up the mountain in tight serpentines: the Großglockner High Alpine Road.

Dr. Wolfgang Porsche & son Ferdinand

Still far away, two bright spots dance with elegance and speed through the hairpin bends. As they get closer, the echo of the engines echoes up the valley, just as unmistakable as the silhouettes that become increasingly clear in the morning light: Two Porsche 550 Spyders are approaching. Two rare examples of the first Porsche racing car, with which the company wrote motorsport history in the 1950s. Pure driving fun on the lonely road. Both drivers and vehicles are clearly in their element on the demanding mountain route. The terrain is familiar.

Stopover in front of the inn on Fuschertörl, we are at an altitude of 2.407 meters. The two drivers take off their woolen hats with which they protect themselves from the icy wind, and we experience a real premiere: two Porsches sit at the wheel of the two Porsches - Wolfgang and Ferdinand, father and son. They have never been on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road together with two 550s, although the asphalt strip is the family's home route.

"My grandfather already carried out test drives here."

dr Wolfgang Porsche

My grandfather Ferdinand carried out test drives here on the mountain, as did my father Ferry later, ”says Dr. Wolfgang Porsche having breakfast on the restaurant terrace. "It was on one of these occasions that my father discovered the bulk material." The alpine farm in Zell am See, around 35 kilometers away, has stood for the family's deep ties to the region south of Salzburg for many decades. Today the bulk cargo serves as Wolfgang Porsche's residence.

Father and son enjoyed the duo of the two historic racing cars through switchbacks with names such as Piffalpe or Hexenküche. “This is only the second time I've driven a 550 Spyder,” says Ferdi Porsche. (“Please Ferdi, not Ferdinand”, he made it clear right away.) “Even Tempo 50 feels fast, you're practically sitting in the open.” It was cold, he admits. "But that only increases the experience." As is the spartan equipment of the uncompromising racing car with thin bucket seats and a low windshield that barely keeps the airstream.

The result of these savings measures is a lightweight of just under 600 kilograms. 110 hp from the 1,5-liter boxer engine ensured superior performance in the mid-1950s. The so-called Fuhrmann engine because of its builder was the first Porsche engine specially designed for racing. The silver Spyder that Ferdi Porsche drives today was originally used in club races in the USA before it came to Austria and was acquired by father Wolfgang for his own collection.

Father and son share a love for cars. A passion that undoubtedly - and who is surprised - is passed on from generation to generation in the Porsches. “Since grandfather's time, everything has revolved around the car for us,” says Wolfgang Porsche, “that has not changed.” He gained experience behind the wheel as a child. At the age of just twelve, he was allowed to win the 1956 in 10.000. Drive the Porsche out of the factory hall in Zuffenhausen. “The night before I slept badly,” the 77-year-old remembers with a smile.

The passion for sports cars is reflected in the street on the Großglockner - the chairman of the supervisory board of Porsche Automobil Holding SE and Porsche AG goes on the summit as often as possible. Each time he takes a photo at a very specific place as a reminder. The vehicles change, the background always remains the same. The result was an impressive gallery with exquisite Porsche classics in front of the majestic summit of the Großglockner.

The white 550 Spyder that Wolfgang Porsche controls today has also been part of this photo project on several occasions. And his résumé is impressive: it was once used by Ferry Porsche as a private car, later the then Porsche race director Huschke von Hanstein started with him at racing events - including the spectacular ice races in Zell am See. This tradition of the house is currently being continued, because since 2019, son Ferdi has been organizing a new edition together with Vinzenz Greger. Father Wolfgang entered the ice course with exactly this white car for the premiere of the GP Ice Race in 2019.

For Ferdi, the enthusiasm of the mostly young spectators who flock to the GP Ice Race is a sign that “the car enthusiasm lives on in my generations too.” He is therefore particularly pleased that Porsche “is at the forefront of technological development with the Taycan in e-mobility ”. The fact that it bears the name of the great-grandfather, who designed electric cars as early as the end of the 19th century and first became famous with the Lohner-Porsche electric car from 1900, is another fascinating family story. For the 27-year-old, who has just completed his architecture degree in Vienna, the idea of ​​ecology plays an important role. "As an architect, you always have to be careful with nature."

"The car enthusiasm lives on in my generation."

Ferdinand Porsche

Living in harmony with nature is also important to Father Wolfgang. “I'm a sideline farmer,” he says with a mischievous smile, “with a large alpine pasture and around 200 Pinzgau cattle.” This is a “light breed specially bred for the steep slopes,” he explains. "Because if the animals are too heavy, they trample the pastures." In addition, fruit is grown on the bulk goods, honey is produced and a lot more. “We bake bread and process our own meat,” reports the passionate hunter, not without pride, “we are practically self-sufficient.” You just don't keep your own chickens anymore. "But we can manage that again," says Ferdi suddenly.

He does not share his passion for hunting with his father - "not yet", as the latter throws in - but the city dweller is increasingly discovering the advantages of rural life. His homeland also makes it easy for him: “Where else can you get that? In summer we swim in the lake and in winter we ski right on the doorstep, ”enthuses Ferdi von Zell am See. Family traditions and values ​​that have been in place for generations live on. The father: “We stay down to earth. It was always important to me to pass this on to my children. ”With success? “Yes, we were brought up very normally,” confirms Ferdi. "Maybe with a little more sense of speed."

Even in good weather, a trip to the Grossglockner High Alpine Road is not only impressive, but also demanding, especially in the 550 Spyder. Before Wolfgang Porsche drives the serpentines downhill again that morning, he has one more request to the photographer Stefan Bogner: Can you drive to the usual place and take the obligatory souvenir photo? Nothing better than that. And the result is a motif with a rarity value: four Porsche cars - and all of them original.

Of course that had not happened yet!

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