The new “Beyond Performance. 50 years of Porsche Turbo” special exhibition at the Porsche Museum is officially open. Over the next five and a half months, the Porsche Museum will present numerous cars and small exhibits in the way that they are perceived by sports car enthusiasts – as powerful and sculptural.
A Turbo from Zuffenhausen represents a combination of experience and success, performance and everyday usability. Every Turbo embodies all the victories that Porsche has celebrated on the world’s racing tracks. Today, the sports car manufacturer has a new special exhibition – “Beyond Performance. 50 Years of Porsche Turbo” – to honor the anniversary. Running until 12 January 2025, the Porsche Museum effectively provides a space for stories that inspire courage. Stories about what it means to master challenges and surpass the ordinary, time and again. Stories about the continuous evolution of a timeless classic, about pushing the limits of what is feasible – stories that distinguish a Turbo. “In the special exhibition, we’re giving the ‘Turbo feeling’ a face across all the model lines. We’re demonstrating that Turbo recipe for success using a wide range of sports cars and exhibits, from the ‘Turbo look’ to turbocharging,” says curator Iris Haker. After visiting the Porsche Museum, it is hoped that fans will agree that “when you speak of Turbo, you mean Porsche”.
Numerous small exhibits to underline the “Turbo principle”
The exhibition management team at the Porsche Museum has designed a special treat for visitors that will inspire, inform, and offer surprise after surprise. “We’re showing cars and smaller exhibits that have never been seen before in an exhibition,” continues Haker. “Technology fans can look forward to cutaway models that visualize the Turbo technology.” For example, visitors can marvel at a 13-meter-long display case that contains technical exhibits, drawings, and photographs. These include various turbochargers, a bypass valve, charge-air coolers, and a K-Jetronic. To experience as much as they desire, visitors can watch films and digital explanations on large touchscreens covering development, technology, and interior/exterior topics. The Porsche Museum is also exhibiting the original specification sheet of the Porsche 911 Turbo from the 1973 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show, a technical drawing of the 930-generation Porsche Coupé, a spoiler from the 991-generation Porsche 911 with active aerodynamics, and a design model from the early 1970s.
Trailblazers and one-off cars
One of the first cars awaiting visitors after one of the first vehicle changes as of the end of August is a special one-off model. The first 911 Turbo was a present to Louise Piëch on her 70th birthday. On 29 August 1974, Ferry Porsche’s sister was gifted the one-off car, which had a narrow body and a 2.7-litre engine. On the back of the 191 kW (260 PS) sports car, the word ‘Carrera’ rather than ‘turbo’ distinguished it from subsequent series production cars. The sports car had the special body of the 911 Carrera 2.7, which Porsche had built to mark 25 years of driving in its most beautiful form. Two features indicated that this was an exceptional model: the extravagant rear wing and a badge on the glove compartment with the initials “LP” and the inscription ‘Turbo-Porsche No. 1, Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, 29 August 1974’.
Another one-off car in the special exhibition is a 992-generation 911 Turbo in a silver two-tone finish. The 911 Turbo S ‘Duet’ from 2020 resulted from a collaboration between Porsche and the aircraft manufacturer Embraer. Those who opted for the Phenom 300E business jet at the time could purchase a matching customized 911 Turbo S.
Lessons from experience and success
Between the prologue and epilogue, the color Turbonite is a common thread that runs through the special exhibition and gives it a very particular atmosphere. Different areas deal with topics such as ‘The Turbo Principle’, ‘Beyond Turbo’ and ‘Motorsport’. The epilogue juxtaposes heritage and the future. Here, facing each other, are a 1976 Porsche 911 that belonged to Ferry Porsche and the 911 Turbo Lego Big Brick anniversary car in Oak Green Metallic. The two sports cars demonstrate how driving dynamics, comfort and progress can look while preserving the Porsche DNA.
The Tina and the Turbo Secret digital learning adventure
In order to give children an insight into the Turbo world, an age-appropriate digital learning adventure has been developed for a special exhibition for the first time. With the aid of a multimedia guide, young visitors are accompanied by the Porsche 4Kids mascot Tina Turbo. Racing engineer Tina received a letter from a child asking her where her name Turbo originated and why the Porsche Museum is celebrating 50 years of Turbo. Young visitors can search for and discover this and many other exciting turbo-related snippets of information. In the process, they’ll discover some unusual Turbo cars and discover what Tina, children, and the Porsche Turbo have in common. The multimedia guide is included in the entry fee and is available in the museum foyer. Tina and the Turbo Secret is available in German and seven other languages. The Porsche 4Kids area also includes a 911 Turbo from LEGO®, sound showers, and many great, interactive activities.
Above content © 2024 Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee
