Porsche Car's Most Wanted, a Brief Guide to The Air Cooled Models

The Porsche sports car company has come along way since its early beginnings, the company was founded as Dr. Ferdinand Porsche in 1931 who was an Austrian engineer born in "Maffersdorf", at the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Porsche GmbH initially offered motor vehicle development work and consultancy for the then German Government and the first major project was to develop a car for the people, this was later called the Volkswagen Käfer (or VW Beetle as it became known to the English). It wasn't until 1939 that Dr. Ferdinand Porsche developed the first car the bore his name, the "Porsche 64", it was developed using many components from the Beetle. The first road certified Porsche that was available to the public to buy was the Porsche 356; it went on general sale in 1948.

The Porsche 356 is still an iconic sports car, and in with today's prices, commands a very high price if you can find an original early example or a rare Porsche 356 "Carrera" model, as these are always in demand by serious car collectors or Porsche fan's who want to drive some motoring history. As back in 1951, the little known Porsche 356 SL took a class victory at the Le Mans 24 Hour Race, which placed it firmly on the sports car map.

Next on the Porsche most wanted list would have to be the Porsche 550 Spyder, which was a roof-less out-and-out light weight developed race car, in 1956 the 550 Spyder took its first overall victory, at the Targa Florio, Italy. The 550 Spyder was immortalised with a one of its most famous owners and movie legend James Dean, who died behind the wheel of his 550 Spyder in a road traffic accident.

The 911 was first debuted in 1964 and went into production. This was another air-cooled, rear-engined sports car, this time sporting a flat six-cylinder "boxer" style engine. Because of the successes of both the 356 and the 550 Spyder, the Porsche 911 attracted immediate attention from around the world and today is what typifies the Porsche name and brand. In a recent international poll for the award of "Car of the Century", the 911 came fifth, so it just shows the car's popularity.

Also from the 911 stable is the Porsche 911 RS Carrera which was first produced in 1973 this was the Porsche to own on the 70's and was handed down technology and many parts from the factory Porsche Race Team, which was due to their many racing victories around the world. The 911 body styling influence can still be seen in most of the current Porsche water-cooled models.

Gregory Greene is writing on behalf of Romans International, the best choice for a Porsche Dealership Surrey or when choosing a Pre owned Porsche for your next luxury sports car.

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The First Audi Models

In the early twentieth century, car makers all over the world were experimenting and testing new and innovative ideas in the area of car manufacturing. Historically, there was no blueprint to go from and any new and ground-breaking thoughts were treated as viable ideas. It was an era of pioneering in a society that was enjoying novel ideas about where to take the automobile next. One company who ventured into these unknown waters was Audi.

The first Audi was made by August Horch in 1910 at a plant in Zwickan, Germany. The Audi Type A 10/22hp (16Kw) Sport-Phaeton was created as a recreational vehicle that felt comfortable on the open road as well as in the city. These were long, heavy, and awkward vehicles that really were not designed for the narrow cobblestone streets of small German towns. One of the main problems that existed in those days was the infrastructure of the country. There simply wasn't one. What was good was having an automobile if the streets in which you drove were 12 feet (and sometimes narrower) wide. And that was a good road. Until the German government could build the roads for these new vehicles, cars that would be the first technological success of the 20th century, the car in general was not practical.

As Audi continued to change and adapt the Type A Sport-Phaeton, it somehow found its way into the racing competition of central Europe. Competing against the well-known manufacturers of Germany, the likes of which would become recognized names worldwide in automotive engineering, the Audi stood next to Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Peugeot, and a host of others.

Taking the Type A into competitive racing, Audi made numerous adaptations to the car in order to become relevant in the manufacturing and racing fields. Engines were tested and changes were made. Horsepower and acceleration were improved and body construction enhanced. It was not too long before Audi's Type A was making its presence felt.

Feeling the tight economic times of the post WWI era, Audi was not a major player in the market before the Second World War. Using the Type A as the prototype for new engineering, Audi began reducing the size and weight of the cars it built. The Type A was used for the trial of new and more powerful engines as well as the improvement of body design.

The Audi has come a long way since the Type A left the factory. Audi now creates automobiles that compete in a worldwide market and for the past 25 years has enjoyed growing success. From the Type A to today, Audi enjoys renewed success.

Enid Glasgow is an auto enthusiast who is never blue when she'd driving her Audi automobile.

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