Ferdinand Alexander Porsche: the designer of the 911
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This record covers
- Who Butzi Porsche was
- His designs: T7, 911, 904 and 804
- Porsche Design and his later career
- The dispute over 911 authorship
Short answerFerdinand Alexander Porsche, known as Butzi, was born in Stuttgart on 11 December 1935, the eldest son of Ferry Porsche and grandson of Ferdinand Porsche. He studied at the Ulm School of Design, led Porsche’s design department from 1962 and is credited with the 911’s shape, first seen in his 1959 Type 754 T7 study, and with the 904. He founded Porsche Design in 1972, chaired Porsche’s supervisory board from 1990 to 1993, and died on 5 April 2012.
- Born
- 11 Dec 1935, Stuttgartdocumented
- Head of design
- From 1962documented
- Porsche Design founded
- 1972documented
- Died
- 5 Apr 2012documented
Butzi Porsche drew the most recognisable sports car shape of the twentieth century before he was thirty. He then left car design within ten years and built a second career designing everything except cars.
Who was Ferdinand Alexander Porsche?
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche was the eldest son of Ferry Porsche and grandson of company founder Ferdinand Porsche. Born in Stuttgart on 11 December 1935, he attended the Waldorf School in Stuttgart and studied at the Ulm School of Design before joining the family company in the late 1950s. His nickname, Butzi, dated from childhood.
What did Butzi Porsche design?
| Year | Design | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1959–60 | Type 754 T7 | Four-seat study with the 911’s roofline |
| 1962 | 804 Formula One car | Porsche’s only F1 win as a constructor, 1962 French Grand Prix |
| 1963 | 901 / 911 | Shown at Frankfurt IAA, 12 September 1963 |
| 1963–64 | 904 Carrera GTS | Glass-fibre bodied race car |
In 1962, at 27, he became head of Porsche’s design department. The shape he developed from the T7 became the 901, renamed 911 in 1964.
Why did Butzi Porsche leave car design?
Butzi Porsche left day-to-day car design in 1972, when the Porsche and Piëch families agreed to withdraw from operational management of the company. That year he founded Porsche Design, first in Stuttgart and later in Zell am See, Austria, applying a “form follows function” approach to watches, sunglasses, pens, luggage and industrial products.
What was his role at Porsche after 1972?
After 1972 he remained a shareholder and served on Porsche’s supervisory board, chairing it from 1990 to 1993 during a difficult financial period for the company. He died on 5 April 2012, aged 76.
Did Butzi Porsche really design the 911?
Porsche credits Butzi Porsche with the 911’s design, and the T7 study supports that. The heirs of Erwin Komenda, head of the body department, have argued in German courts that Komenda’s contribution was larger than the official account. The rulings to date are set out in who designed the Porsche 911.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Ferdinand Alexander Porsche?
Ferdinand Alexander “Butzi” Porsche (1935–2012) was the designer credited with the Porsche 911, the eldest son of Ferry Porsche, and the founder of the Porsche Design brand.
Why was Ferdinand Alexander Porsche called Butzi?
Butzi was a childhood family nickname that stayed with him throughout his career, used to distinguish him from his father Ferry and grandfather Ferdinand.
What did Ferdinand Alexander Porsche design besides the 911?
He designed the 904 Carrera GTS race car and contributed to the 804 Formula One car, and through Porsche Design created watches, sunglasses, pens, furniture and consumer products under a “form follows function” approach.