Check out the Oldest Surviving Car worked on by Ferdinand Porsche

The Porsche Museum has just acquired a significant addition to its permanent exhibition. It is the oldest surviving car that Ferdinand Porsche ever worked on during a lifetime spent in the automobile industry.

The car is the Egger-Lohner C.2 Phaeton, also known as the Porsche P1. Interestingly, it is not powered by an internal combustion engine. Instead, the Phaeton has an ‘Octagon’ electric motor that made 3 hp with a ‘boost’ up to 5 hp for short periods (achieved by overcharging the motor).

The car is capable of speeds reaching 22 mph and an overall range of 50 miles which is pretty impressive for a vehicle produced well over a century ago. The Phaeton also featured a Lohner alternating vehicle body, allowing it to be used in both summer and winter.

The C.2 Phaeton was one of Porsche’s first major projects and underscored his fascination with electricity. As a teenager, he was even able to install a functioning electrical system in his parents’ house.

Displaying the C.2 Phaeton at the Porsche museum was an elaborate project that took over a year to execute, with several modifications made to the museum’s layout. The car is mounted in front of an infinity mirror that gives the impression it’s travelling from the past to the future – a nod to the car’s forward-thinking drivetrain. The effect is enhanced by a series of LED rings, mirrors and a cosmic soundtrack that, in the carmaker’s own words, help the ‘the story of Porsche’s DNA.’

As mentioned earlier, the Egger-Lohner C.2 Phaeton is now on permanent display at the Porsche Museum, located in Stuttgart. It is one of the most important pieces of Porsche’s history and joins other legends like the Porsche 356 ‘Number 1’ Roadster and the Porsche 911 GT1.