Miguel Sánchez
Few brands have such a well-defined sporting identity as Porsche. In fact, trying to justify it would be to undertake a long enumeration full of common places known to all. From the saga of the 911 to the successes at Le Mans with the 917 or 956, no one doubts the credentials of the Stuttgarters on any asphalt circuit. Also, the concern to lighten their cars has been a more than interesting hallmark from the 550 Spyder to the 909 Berspyder. However, and unlike other clearly performance brands, Porsche also represents a successful business model in which it has been able to diversify risks.
In the first place thanks to the combination of purist models with other more heterodox ones such as the 928 or the 944. Both are quite misunderstood by the followers of the "All behind", although at the same time responsible for having squared the accounts of the brand at obviously critical moments. In exactly the same shape and manner as the Cayenne did two decades ago. Also, through the discreet work undertaken by Porsche Engineering the brand has been behind the development of many popular vehicles. Among them the Opel Zafira or the Lada Samara. What's more, it has also signed the creation of new engines to order from SEAT or Harley-Davidson.
As it is, Porsche is one of those brands where the financial history is as interesting as its own design trajectory. A fact that is perfectly exemplified when we look at the 597 Porsche 1955. The first model of the German company with four-wheel drive. Being the product of a military competition in the times where everything seemed to be dominated by the different series of the 356 sports car. Another example of the versatility exhibited by Porsche. A few years later, the 804 single-seater would be released for F1, while here, with the 597, it managed to put into circulation an amphibious vehicle capable of overcoming 65% slopes.
A MODEL FOR THE NEW GERMAN ARMED FORCES
After the German defeat in 1945, the Allies took care to direct the pacification of the country with a view to clearly eradicating the Nazi yoke. In this way, until 1950 companies such as Daimler or BMW were prohibited from manufacturing aeronautical engines. Also, the creation of its new armed forces would be supervised by the western powers in order not to facilitate a dangerous reset. With all this, it was not until 1955 that the Unified Armed Forces of the RFA were christened. Always under the careful supervision of NATO within the framework of the Cold War and the opposition to the Warsaw Pact.
In this context, the future Bundeswehr launched in 1953 an open competition for the German automotive industry. The purpose of it was to find a light SUV in the manner of the North American Jeep. Clearly more oriented to fast movements over rough terrain than to heavy transport of troops or weapons. At this point, during the two years given for the development of the prototypes, Auto Union, Goliath and Porsche itself concurred.
Obviously the assignment was not easy. After all, those responsible for the Bunderwehr demanded that the future vehicle be fast, light, suitable for any surface and also easy to manufacture and repair. Qualities replicated by the Stuttgart house, which doubled the bet by making the Porsche 597 an amphibious model thanks to its monocoque chassis capable of floating. Reason why this SUV does not even have small doors on its sides. Making your cabin a true shell isolated from the invasive action of water. All signed by the coachbuilder Karmann.
THE FALL OF THE PORSCHE 597
Regarding the mechanics, the Porsche 957 included an engine capable of yielding up to 55CV based on the four-cylinder boxer of the 356. In addition, as in the sports car, it was also placed behind the rear axle. A fact that gave this SUV an unusual thrust, even more so if we take into account its meager weight of only 870 kilos. That's the way it is, could reach up to 100 kilometers per hour launched thanks to the four-speed synchronized box. And that's not to mention its excellent driving qualities by connecting the mechanism that made the front axle work in solidarity with the rear. In short, the Porsche 957 was an excellent design that could not envy the well-known Jeep.
At this point, the question is obvious. What happened so that you did not win the public contest? Well, first of all, the prototype presented by Auto Union was not as shiny as the Porsche 957, right. But it is adequate for the demands of the contract. Also, in an example of correct redistributive management, it was decided to give the contract to Auto Union instead of Porsche. After all, the latter was already a successful company exporting sports cars to the United States. Meanwhile, the Auto Union factory in Ingolstadt was in serious jeopardy. In fact, in 1958 it fell under the domination of Daimler to pass to Volkswagen six years later.
In other words, if it had not managed to get through those harsh years of commercial drought with contracts like this one from the Bundeswehr, Auto Union might not have survived. Fact for which, today, we would not have Audi. A good consolation to understand the reasons that made the Porsche 957 lose the contest. However, far from manufacturing just one prototype, the production of the 957 reached 71 pre-series units necessary to carry out all kinds of tests. Interestingly, many of them reached private clients. Being today a jewel for collectors of the brand. Just that type of fans who are already pending the impending auction of one of these Porsche 957 by RM Sotheby's.
Photographs: Porsche/RM Sotheby's
