7 Other Vehicles Porsche Designed/Built That You Probably Don't Know
Time and time again Porsche has built some of the best cars that the automotive world has seen. However, here are some vehicles that you may not know Porsche had something to do with.
1. Zündapp GmbH Type 12
The Type 12 was designed as the "car for everybody" back in 1931 for the defunct brand called Zündapp in Germany. The car featured great arching rounded styling which was the current fad in design at the time, and you can also see in cars like the TatraV570 and the Toyota AA. Ferdinand Porsche suggested the car should have a flat four for the engine, but upon insistence from Zündapp, it carried a five-cylinder radial engine.
2. VW Schwimmwagen (Porsche Type 166)
The Porsche Type 166 was exactly what it sounds like when you say the name out loud: a wagon that can swim. These amphibious off-roaders saw action during World War II and were used extensively by German ground forces. The Type 166 holds the crown for being the largest mass-produced amphibious car in history. Fun fact: if you were to peel back the exterior of the vehicle, you'd find the engine and internals from the VW Type 86 and Type 87 four-wheel drive cars.
3. Linde Forklift
In the early 1980's, the forklift manufacturer Linde asked Porsche to design a whole new look for their work machines. What resulted was in all actuality a forklift that was as pretty and streamlined, as it could be winning multiple awards since their partnership began. If you have a repair shop and know of one that could use a forklift, then this would be the perfect one for the job.
4. 1984 Lada Samara
On behalf of the Russian car brand AvtoVAZ, Porsche helped to develop the Lada Samara's engine. Some people suspect that Porsche may have gone beyond that with the car to get the vehicle rolling, but there is no official evidence. However, the Lada Samara T3 rally car that appeared in the Paris-Dakar rally was running the four-wheel system that was straight from a Porsche 959 and a 3.6-liter engine from a 911, so there's that.
5. Mercedes-Benz 500 E
The 500 E was developed by Porsche and was in production from 1990 to 1995 in Zuffenhausen, Germany. Mercedes wanted a sedan that was both a family car that had the performance of a sports coupe. The timing was perfect, as the 928 GTS had just ended production and there was vacant room and workers that needed something to do.
6. Audi RS2 AVANT
This car was the product of a joint venture between the two brands that gave the world this high-performance sports wagon. The RS2 Avant's heart hit Zuffenhausen production lines after the 500 E was done with its run at the famed factory while the body was built in Ingolstadt. The Audi itself underwent a few tweaks courtesy of Porsche including Brembo brakes, upgraded suspension, and a beefed-up six-speed gearbox. Porsche was feeling particularly generous as the Audi also rolls with alloy wheels and door mirrors straight from the Stuggart parts bin.
7. McLaren MP4
The TAG-Porsche engine was a 1.5-liter V6 that was put together simultaneously with the 1983 season but didn't make an impact until the 1984, 1985, and 1986 seasons. The last Porsche-powered McLaren was the MP4/3, which finished second at the 1987 Constructors Championship.
For information on maintenance and repairs for your Porsche, visit our How-to section here in Rennlist.com.