First Use of the Name "Carrera"

[Jeff Stein]

This is likely to be an easy question for you guys, but I have seen conflicting information on the internet, so I will serve it up to the experts.

What was the first Porsche to oficially carry the "Carrera" name?

I have heard that the Porsche racecars in the Carrera Panamericana races (of the 1950's) were called "Carreras", but was the name actually "in the metal" / on the cars, or was this just a nickname for the racecars? In what year did the Carrera name first appear, in the metal?

Next part of the question: What was the first street car / car offered through dealers to the general public to carry the name "Carrera", in the metal?

Thanks,

Jeff

[CurtEgerer]

I'll go out on a limb and say that the first official use of the Carrera moniker was in 1954 when they called the 550 Spyder 4-cam engine the 'Carrera' engine (after they won the Carrera PanAm with it). First car to use the name would be in 1955/56 when they dropped this engine into the road-going 356 and called it the 356 Carrera.

[Jeff Stein]

not trying to sound like a lawyer, but just wondering whether it actually had the name written on the car / metal script / etc.?

thanks,

jeff

[gms]

not trying to sound like a lawyer, but just wondering whether it actually had the name written on the car / metal script / etc.?

thanks,

jeff

Yes
http://www.356carrera.net

[911T1971]

Ernst Fuhrmann, the engineer behind the original 4-cam 'Carrera' (Fuhrmann engine) of the fifties was later the first CEO of the newly organised Dr.ing. H.c.F. Porsche AG.
(Until 1971 Porsche was a family owned "limited risk company" (KG in german ) starting in 1972 a "stock option company" (AG in german) with a CEO and independent family members/stock option holders on the supervision board).

Having the future prototype 2.7litre 911S under development for 1973 and even some brochures of the new car line up already in print, Ernst Fuhrmann and the marketing dept. changed its "top of the line" car to a new 2.7l RS 'Carrera' designation.

The 'Carrera' on 2.7RS cars re-uses the fifties graphic design of metal scripts on 356 cars, probably for both memorising the famous success of this 4-cam engine in competition as well as the new CEO apointment of its former engineer...

[gms]

I'll go out on a limb and say that the first official use of the Carrera moniker was in 1954 when they called the 550 Spyder 4-cam engine the 'Carrera' engine (after they won the Carrera PanAm with it). First car to use the name would be in 1955/56 when they dropped this engine into the road-going 356 and called it the 356 Carrera.

This brings to mind another car named after a Great Race
The Pontiac LeMans LOL

[CurtEgerer]

Jeez, I just about choked looking at that, Glenn. My secretary came rushing in to see if I was OK ....

(Ironically, that's the car I was trying to think of when photos of Chris Bungle's latest BMW, the X6, was released. -- see Off Topic BMW thread)

[gms]

Jeez, I just about choked looking at that, Glenn. My secretary came rushing in to see if I was OK ....

(Ironically, that's the car I was trying to think of when photos of Chris Bungle's latest BMW, the X6, was released. -- see Off Topic BMW thread)

Curt,
You don't feel this car is the epitome of speed and endurance?

LOL

[JCR]

It's too bad the A.G. mindset saw fit to eventually put the word "Carrera" on everything... eroding the hard fought, special aura of the term. Shades of the Detroit mindset... but as demonstrated above, nobody can trash a once proud name like Detroit.

Monaco
Monte Carlo (did you ever see the "Intimidator" edition?)
Sebring
Daytona
Even Shelby... remember the Dodge Omni GLH Shelby?

[1st]

....but Porsche used C a r r e r a before Heuer did!

Hope you're well mate and good to hear of you over here.

Happy (Heuer) Christmas.

Cheers

Stewart.