When in Stuttgart...

A girls love affair with Porsche and a trip to Stuttgart...

Traveling from Paris to Wurzburg this past November, we made a quick stop in Stuttgart to visit the Porsche factory. I have had a love affair with Porsche since being a small child. A family friend had a couple of 356's. They were project cars, one a rag top and one a coupe. Most of the time not running. I loved sitting in the rear seat (yes, I was that small) listening to the revving engine and taking in all the smells that old cars have. On lucky days I would get to sit in the passenger seat, propped up by a couple of pillows so I could see out the window.

 After touring the factory I now have a new found love for Porsche. I always knew they were special, but seeing each and every engine coming down the line being built by hand was impressive. One technician follows each engine from start to finish with a real sense of duty and pride. Call me naive, I just did not understand the care and detail that went into each and every car. 

When you arrive, you are given a tag and time to meet up for the tour. You then have to store your camera, and phone in locked cubbies. There are no photo ops on this tour. No trade secrets to share on your Instagram.

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​Our guide was fantastic, he was just as enthusiastic as the tour attendees who heralded from all over the world. The farthest coming from Singapore.

The tour began in the leather sorting room. Each hide is carefully gone over by hand. The technician maps the flaws on each individual piece which is  entered into the computer and bar coded for the trip to the cutting room. The pieces are cut with a high pressure water system so as not to tear the hide.

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Porsche is now celebrating it's 70th Anniversary. On display in the museum is a 1953 pre-A 356 driven from Tokyo to Stuttgart a whopping 15,000km over 53 days by Porsche enthusiast Toshiyuki Suzuki. He arrived in time for the big celebration.
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His car is now on display at the museum. The front passenger seat was removed and a roof rack added for items necessary for the trip.

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After two years of searching, and travels all over the state of California, I finally found my dream car four years ago. I am the proud custodian of a 1987 Carrera Targa. While I have been scolded for not driving it enough, I love to start it up and take it for a spin. I never tire of hearing the engine, smelling those old car smells.