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OT: 1 of a kind Porsche Type 64 to be displayed at The Allure of the Automobile Exhib

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Old 02-19-2010, 12:36 AM
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Steve 96C4S
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Default OT: 1 of a kind Porsche Type 64 to be displayed at The Allure of the Automobile Exhib

ition in Atlanta. I hope I'm not reposting something that's already been posted but someone on my BMW forum pointed this out to me today. (yes, I actually did do a search here but nothing came up). If I was in Atlanta I'd want to see this! ("This incredible design piece is the only prewar Porsche and has never been exhibited outside of Germany. It will be carefully removed from its perch at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart and flown to Atlanta for the exhibition that begins on March 21 and ends on June 20." )

One-of-One Porsche Type 64 to be Displayed at The Allure of the Automobile Exhibition in Atlanta
by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) Feb 18th 2010 at 7:04AM



1938 Porsche Type 64

Way back in 1938 – a full decade before the legendary 356 – Ferdinand Porsche developed what the German automaker now considers the "first ancestor of all Porsche sportscars." Called the Type 64, this car employed a number of construction methods and styling that would later come to typify the brand that carries its designer's last name from the aforementioned 356 all the way to today's 911.

The streamlined Type 64 has sat as the "first and most prominent exhibit" at the Porsche Museum in Zuffenhausen since it opened in January of 2009, and it will be shipped outside of Germany for the first time since being carefully restored by the automaker as it makes its way to the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Type 64 will be on display in Atlanta for the The Allure of the Automobile exhibition from March 21st until June 20th. During this time away, the Porsche Museum in Germany will show off the wooden buck that was used as a frame to pound out the Type 64's complex aluminum bodywork. Check out our high-res image gallery below and make the jump for the official press release.













PRESS RELEASE:

Porsche Museum supports special exhibition at the High Museum of Art

First Ancestor of All Porsche Sports Cars on Show in America for the First Time

Stuttgart. The Museum run by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, Germany, is sending its legendary Type 64 Berlin-Rome Car on a long journey. Befitting the 60th anniversary of Porsche in America, the aluminium body of Type 64 will be presented from 21 March to 20 June 2010 at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia (USA), taking the first and most prominent exhibit at the Porsche Museum in Zuffenhausen to a new location outside of Germany for the first time.

The High Museum of Art is one of the world's leading art museums. In its special exhibition "The Allure of the Automobile", the High Museum of Art is expressing its recognition of outstanding automotive developments in the period 1930 to 1960, focusing on differences in the development of American and European design. Type 64 will be presented next to other icons in the world of the automobile from Bugatti, Duesenberg, Jaguar, Ferrari, Pierce Arrow, Packard, Cadillac and Tucker as a synthesis of innovative construction and design, supreme craftsmanship, and exceptional design.

Type 64 is of very special significance to the history of the Porsche brand: Built in 1938/39 under the guidance of Ferdinand Porsche, this unique car already had all the features that make sports cars from Zuffenhausen so very special the world over to this day: lightweight construction and superior aerodynamics, exceptional performance, reliable technology, and that unique design so characteristic of a Porsche. Originally developed for the Berlin-Rome long-distance race, Type 64, due to the war, never entered a race in its lifetime. But it marks an essential milestone en route to the first Porsche, Type 356 built in 1948.

The car's streamlined aluminium body already showed distinctive indications later to be admired in all of Porsche's sports cars, its DNA living on in the Porsche 356 through the Porsche 911 all the way to the Panamera. The symbiosis of motorsport requirements and the use of production elements made the car a perfect grand tourer able to reach an average speed on public roads back in 1939 of more than 130 km/h or 80 mph. No surprise, therefore, that Ferdinand Porsche himself used Type 64 for long journeys.

Accompanying the new construction of the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, the aluminium body of Type 64 was re-built by experts in years of painstaking craftsmanship. Ever since the Museum was opened in January 2009, Type 64 has marked the beginning of the Museum Tour thrilling visitors from all over the world through its cultural impact and unique flair alone.

While Type 64 is being presented to the public in Atlanta, the Porsche Museum will be displaying the skeleton structure of the Type 64 body until the end of June 2010 – a skeleton made of wood upon which the 1.2-millimetre aluminium panels were hammered into shape.

The Porsche Museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9:00 to 18:00. Further information is available in the internet at www.porsche.com/museum.Porsche Museum supports special exhibition at the High Museum of Art

First Ancestor of All Porsche Sports Cars on Show in America for the First Time

Stuttgart. The Museum run by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, Germany, is sending its legendary Type 64 Berlin-Rome Car on a long journey. Befitting the 60th anniversary of Porsche in America, the aluminium body of Type 64 will be presented from 21 March to 20 June 2010 at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia (USA), taking the first and most prominent exhibit at the Porsche Museum in Zuffenhausen to a new location outside of Germany for the first time.

The High Museum of Art is one of the world's leading art museums. In its special exhibition "The Allure of the Automobile", the High Museum of Art is expressing its recognition of outstanding automotive developments in the period 1930 to 1960, focusing on differences in the development of American and European design. Type 64 will be presented next to other icons in the world of the automobile from Bugatti, Duesenberg, Jaguar, Ferrari, Pierce Arrow, Packard, Cadillac and Tucker as a synthesis of innovative construction and design, supreme craftsmanship, and exceptional design.

Type 64 is of very special significance to the history of the Porsche brand: Built in 1938/39 under the guidance of Ferdinand Porsche, this unique car already had all the features that make sports cars from Zuffenhausen so very special the world over to this day: lightweight construction and superior aerodynamics, exceptional performance, reliable technology, and that unique design so characteristic of a Porsche. Originally developed for the Berlin-Rome long-distance race, Type 64, due to the war, never entered a race in its lifetime. But it marks an essential milestone en route to the first Porsche, Type 356 built in 1948.

The car's streamlined aluminium body already showed distinctive indications later to be admired in all of Porsche's sports cars, its DNA living on in the Porsche 356 through the Porsche 911 all the way to the Panamera. The symbiosis of motorsport requirements and the use of production elements made the car a perfect grand tourer able to reach an average speed on public roads back in 1939 of more than 130 km/h or 80 mph. No surprise, therefore, that Ferdinand Porsche himself used Type 64 for long journeys.

Accompanying the new construction of the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, the aluminium body of Type 64 was re-built by experts in years of painstaking craftsmanship. Ever since the Museum was opened in January 2009, Type 64 has marked the beginning of the Museum Tour thrilling visitors from all over the world through its cultural impact and unique flair alone.

While Type 64 is being presented to the public in Atlanta, the Porsche Museum will be displaying the skeleton structure of the Type 64 body until the end of June 2010 – a skeleton made of wood upon which the 1.2-millimetre aluminium panels were hammered into shape.

The Porsche Museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9:00 to 18:00. Further information is available in the internet at www.porsche.com/museum.
________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

Porsche to Sponsor Upcoming 'The Allure of the Automobile' Exhibition at Atlanta's High Museum of Art

18 of the World's Finest Vehicles to be Displayed, Including One-of-a-Kind Porsche Type 64

ATLANTA, Feb. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- When a nationally renowned fine art museum is showcasing cars as masterpieces of art in your home town you pay attention. When you are Porsche you become a patron and help welcome the cars that represent the industry's most incredible designs.







The High Museum of Art exhibition, called, fittingly, the "The Allure of the Automobile," is sponsored by the famous German sports car company, headquartered in Atlanta, and will feature some of the world's most rare and spectacularly conceived vehicles ever produced. Among these exquisite collectors items from both sides of the Atlantic will be a 71-year old Porsche design that is considered the precursor to all Porsches—the 1938/39 Porsche Type 64.
This incredible design piece is the only prewar Porsche and has never been exhibited outside of Germany. It will be carefully removed from its perch at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart and flown to Atlanta for the exhibition that begins on March 21 and ends on June 20.
Porsche is also displaying another historic car, the 1953 Porsche 550 LeMans coupe, which will be on loan from the private Collier Collection of Porsche in Naples, Florida.
Rolling Sculptures
Sometimes referred to as "rolling sculptures," the incredible cars of the show are a mixture of innovative engineering, uncompromising workmanship and breakthrough design. When viewed as pieces of art, they give admirers a completely new way of looking at the great design periods of our time, spanning the movements from the 1930s to the mid 1960s.
"Our visitors will be surprised to find that today's vehicles come from a legacy of beauty and innovation comparable to the finest decorative arts that may be found in museum collections," said Michael E. Shapiro, Director of the High Museum of Art. "This exhibition will showcase the greatest feats of engineering and luxury design from 1930 to 1965, when cars became synonymous with success, power and wealth. Created for the privileged few, the luxurious, custom-built automobiles embodied speed, style and elegance, and influenced art, architecture, fashion and design."
Six Decades of Porsche in the U.S.
"The Allure of the Automobile" is being sponsored by Porsche Cars North America (PCNA), which is headquartered in Atlanta and is celebrating the brand's 60th anniversary of selling cars in the U.S.
"The partnership with the High Museum of Art, one of the world's renowned art museums, is a perfect fit for us," said Detlev von Platen, President and CEO of PCNA. "This incredible exhibition, 'The Allure of the Automobile,' is a celebration of ground-breaking design and engineering -- a theme that resonates throughout our brand."
An Object of Design and Desire
As a focal point of the exhibition, the one-of-a-kind Porsche Type 64 is a unique object in automotive history. It is unlike any other car on display; in fact it is not actually a car at all, but a hand-built, aluminum shell that represents the essence of Porsche design. Even today, when new Porsches are being developed, designers still look to the Type 64 to remind them of the brand's unique legacy.
The Golden Age of Design
As part of the "The Allure of the Automobile," the Type 64 will be joined by an iconic list of the world's finest cars from the "golden age of automobile design." These include masterpieces by Bugatti, Duesenberg, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Pierce Arrow, Packard, Cadillac, Tucker and others. This first-of-its-kind presentation traces the evolution of the motorcar from the mid 1930s to the mid 1960s, examining the contrasts between American and European design, the influence of decorative arts and design and the significant changes in automotive styling and engineering both before and after World War II.
"Until World War I, most cars had been utilitarian objects with one principal goal: transportation," said Ken Gross, guest curator of the exhibition. "But as tastes and wealth coincided, designers could create and/or customize an automobile's body, dramatically altering its silhouette and decoration and producing artful, one-of-a-kind objects. Lavish and often beautifully trimmed with aluminum, chrome, inlaid wood and lacquer, the streamlined silhouettes of the finest mid-century cars represent prime examples of Art Moderne design."
While the first part of the exhibition will spotlight the custom coachwork, art-inspired styling, luxury and opulence marked vehicles from the pre-war era, the second segment of the exhibition focuses on how the industry shifted in the post-war years, with the Europeans moving towards smaller, sportier models, while the American manufacturers concentrated on mass-producing cars for a booming economy.
To learn more about the High Museum of Art and the exhibition, please visit www.High.org.
About Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga., is the exclusive importer of Porsche vehicles for the United States. It is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing.h.c. F. Porsche AG. PCNA employs approximately 180 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, service, marketing and training for its 200 dealers. The dealers, in turn, provide Porsche owners with best-in-class service. Throughout its 61-year history, Porsche has developed numerous technologies that have advanced vehicle performance, improved safety and spurred environmental innovations within the automotive industry. The company continues to celebrate its heritage by adding to its long list of motorsports victories dating back to its first 24 Hours of Le Mans class win in 1951. Today, with more than 28,000 victories, Porsche is recognized as the world's most successful brand in sports car racing. PCNA, which imports the iconic 911 series, the highly acclaimed Boxster and Cayman mid-engine sports cars, high-end Cayenne sport utility vehicles and the four-passenger Panamera Gran Turismos, strives to maintain a standard of excellence, commitment and distinction synonymous with its brand.
Old 02-19-2010, 05:59 AM
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vaujot
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I think there is some debate whether the Porsche Museum's 64 is authentic or a replica.
There is another one on exhibition in Hamburg, Germany at the prototyp museum. I believe they have Otto Mathe's car mentioned in the wikipedia entry on the Porsche 64.
I have a bad quality picture (taken with a blackberry, sorry about that) of that car (attached). If you are in Hamburg and have some time to spare, that museum is definitely worthwhile for a car enthusiast.
Attached Images  
Old 02-19-2010, 01:46 PM
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JPP
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Originally Posted by vaujot
I think there is some debate whether the Porsche Museum's 64 is authentic or a replica.
I don't think there's ever been a debate over it being one of the original cars other than some people misunderstanding what it's supposed to be. In the museum display they clearly state that the factory recently re-produced this body for the display using their (Porsche's) original bucks and tooling. From the article above:

"Accompanying the new construction of the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, the aluminium body of Type 64 was re-built by experts in years of painstaking craftsmanship."

I believe the picture you show above is one of only two original cars know to still exist, both in Germany, the other not restored and evidently in fairly bad shape.
Old 02-19-2010, 03:57 PM
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The museum car is an exact replica of one of the existing VW Type 64K10's. I got to see it in person at the museum. The third was cut open by US soldiers and turned into a convertible, and was wrecked. And yes, it's a VW and was meant to promote the Beetle when it debuted, and the Porsche badge was added by Ferry later on after the war.
Old 02-19-2010, 04:27 PM
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Fly911
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This is a non operational replica of the 1939 Berlin to Rome Rennwagen, Designed by Ferdinan Porsche, based on early VW mechanics. Back then Porsche didn't manufacture cars under his own name, and the original car was actually a VW.
The author Karl Ludvigsen had an article (in Excellence?) "When is a Porsche a Porsche?" about this particular car, and the conclusion was clear, this is not a Porsche as we know the brand. However, the relationship is as close as it can get, and like the first cars made under the Porsche name, this one was also based on the Beetle.
But from a history point of view, this is a very interesting car. Porsche designed several different "Beetle"-like cars in the 30's, most of them produced by Zundapp, but also by Auto Union and NSU. The first real Beetle was called KdF Wagen (Kraft durch Freude - Power through Joy), and was produced in 1936.
Old 02-20-2010, 10:23 AM
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The body was designed by Erwin Komenda, who was Ferdinand Porsche's chief body engineer. He also did the Beetle, 356, and other early Porsches. The VW Type 60K10 was meant to showcase the durability of the Beetle and was intentionally designed with design cues from the Beetle for brand recognition. I remember the first time I saw pics of this car in a German car book I got for Christmas when I was 8.
Old 02-20-2010, 10:33 AM
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It might be my imagination, but I can see the lines of the future 959 in that car...



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