Dieter Landenberger // Porsche Museum

[Milou]

Waiting for my flight at the Stuttgart airport, I just spent the afternoon at the Porsche Museum. I had made an appointment with Dieter Landenberger, Director of the factory archives.

It turned out to be a personal visit of the entire archives for 2 whole hours...an extraordinary experience.

It is amazing the documentation they have: all the race records (down to the ticket stubs, period press cuttings and original programs), all the homologations papers with photographs for each model (exterior and interior), millions of photographs and films, 3 examples of each brochure ever made, all the posters, and of course individual record for each car ever built (for now only the 356 archives were available, the 911 records will be transfered later this year). We finished the visit in the classic workshop looking over factory prototypes and private cars. A Martini experimental 917 was there in its original condition, down to a broken windshield, and dried oil on the engine...amazing...

I couldn't thank Dieter Landenberger enough for his availability, generosity, and knowledge. He provided me with great information on my own 911 and revealed a degree of passion for the brand's heritage I never thought existed. A memorable experience I will never forget.

[letsrollbabe]

Milou:

I think it was Dieter who gave me a tour of the Classic Workshop in 07 when I was in Stuttgart. That shop was a marvel to walk through, RSRs, 917, RS, 550...and 8-10 unbelievable historic examples outside waiting to be worked on.

When those 911 records are transferred, someone will have to spend some time going through the ST and RSR history records, and especially development activities and homologation papers in the fall of 72 to spring of 73, when the prototype work was being done for the RSRs. I am glad you were able to sense the passion for the history of Porsche...comforting that it still exists.

Gib

[gulf908]

.... and revealed a degree of passion for the brand's heritage ....

Its very heartening that this flame still exists.
It would have been so easy for Porsche to lose this sense of heritage in the scramble for survival in the early '90s and the subsequent rise to power and prominance in recent years.

Cheers,
Dennis.

[Milou]

It was amazing....really....I still find it hard to believe how kind and available Dieter was. I hope to have a chance to return and really do some serious research this Summer.

Forgot to mention the DVD I was given on Porsche's history (2 and a half hours). It's brand new, due to come out in a month or two, organized by decade with only original footage: great stuff....