A moment of sadness fell upon me when I heard the news of the passing of Ferdinand Alexander Porsche (nicknamed "Butzi), legendary designer of the iconic Porsche 911 sports car. As a Porsche enthusiast, I felt that the auto industry has lost one of the most legendary designers of the century. Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, the Honorary President of the Supervisory Board died Thursday in Salzburg at the aged of 76.
As the creator of the iconic Porsche 911, he established a design culture that has shape Porsche sports cars. As well as define a philosophy of good design that has become the legacy of Porsche. The 911 first appeared in 1963, and the elegance and simplicity of design has become in essence the trademark of Porsche. In addition, tt is now in its seventh version, and was recently voted one of the best cars of the twentieth century.
Born Dec. 11, 1935, in Stuttgart, Germany, he was the eldest son of Dorothea and Ferry Porsche, who along with Ferry's father Ferdinand Porsche founded the business that grew one of the most influential auto makers.
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche received numerous honours and awards both for his work as a designer as well as for individual designs. In 1968 the “Comité Internationale de Promotion et de Prestige” honoured him for the outstanding aesthetic design of the Porsche 911 while the Industrial Forum Design Hannover (iF) voted him “Prizewinner of the Year” in 1992. In 1999, the President of Austria bestowed on him the title of Professor.
From 1990 to 1993, F.A. Porsche served as President of the company’s Supervisory Board, thus playing a major role in Porsche A.G’s economic turnaround. In 2005, he stood down from his Supervisory Board role in favor of his son Oliver and assumed the mantle of Honorary President of the Supervisory Board.
This impressive and forwarding thinking designer will be greatly missed and honoured for years to come.
Butzi Legacy Lives on through the 911
Experience a snapshot of the 2010 911 Turbo driven to the extreme around the tracks at the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone. Ferdinand Alexander Porsche legacy lives on through the 911.