When Ferdinand Porsche designed a crude but operable electric carriage in 1898, he had no idea his name would become associated with one of the most prestigious automobile brands in the world. Porsche, which was founded in 1931, began manufacturing cars in 1948 with the launch of the Type 356. Motorsport success followed rapidly. But it was the production of the 911 in the 1960s that defined the commercial sports car genre, and the identity of the company that today is a byword for high performance luxury. But these glittering achievements came at a price, with the Porsche name embroiled in controversy at the end of the Second World War for its use of forced labor during the conflict. So, what are the origins of this iconic vehicle, and how has the brand endured?
Click on and take a drive through the history of Porsche.