We went to Germany!

... and as long as we were there...  :)

So I turned 50. Yup. -Big number. As a way of celebration, my insanely cool wife thought it would be great to go to Stuttgart and tour the Porsche museum. -Does she rock, or what?

 We were BLOWN away. So many cars. So much innovation! I think what is so very magical to me about this place is that it is a living document to the Porsche family and motoring. That is, every single car there runs and drives (and is done so on a regular basis) -as Ferry Porsche believe in the spirit of motoring and movement. That an automobile literally moved you forward, in life.

A truly inspiring trip.

From 356's to 959's to 993's to 996's, 911's, 912's, 918's, we saw them all! It was mind bending to see decade after decade of technology, merged with design from one family.

The original wind test aluminum 356.

the "People's Car" designed and built by the Porsche family during WWII

Serial number 356-001. Cr Porsche's personal car. -The very first 356 cab.

An alternate design for the 356 cab, the all-fiberglass "LOLA" styled Porsche for Le Mans and a few other original first production run 356's... it was like walking into a dream...

Ahhhhhhhhh The shape that literally makes my heart skip a beat. The "901" (changed to 911 as Puegot owned 901) in all her glory. Simple, classic. The perfect car.

The odd cross-bred 914 w VW.

Also on hand, the first production TARGA. Named after the famous race.

A "duck back" 911 sc. And one of my favorites: Ferry Porsche's sister's personal car: the very first 011 (930) turbo. She was a painter and used this car as her personal driver. Often driving up into the mountains to paint. As evidence, there is still oil paint on the dashboard from when she painted from inside the car.

The "drag" test. Aerodynamic importance illustrated. As at about 120 mph the pressure down is equal to gravity, thereby allowing the vehicle to drive upside down.

The 924 and a 911 sc.

And one of the more timeless front engine Porsche's: the 928. Designed at a time when Porsche believed that rear-engined vehicles would be shut down for a variety of reasons, the 928 was meant to replace the 911. This of course never happened.

Porsche designed the engine for new breed of Harley Davidson motorcycles.

The very first Speedster cab in pearl white.

*GASP* the mighty 959. Never built to be legally on U.S. roads, as only 50 were made just for "test" purposes and had no regard for DOT regulations. It was built to test new engine and tech for the next generation of the 911. -Of course that did not stop both Jay Leno and Bill Gates from purchasing one. And with a price tag of about 500k no wonder the 50 in existence only went to the uber wealthy.

The very first Boxster (named after the pistons criss crossing ("boxing") versus in the typical "V" ("V-8") form. I saw this very vehicle unveiled at the New York Auto Show -and people went crazy!

A beautiful 930 turbo Carrera S

The last iteration of the 928: the 928 S4 GT (Grand Touring)

Thought to outrun the police in Germany when they are driving a 911 as well...

The prototype for the new (at the time) 911/996

A quick "coolest driving video game in the world" for the boys (all Porsche's).

And of course the amazing Carrera GT

Paul Newman's team: "Toys for Big Boys"


And the very latest iteration of the most exigent vehicle in motoring: the new 911. :)

-still makes my heart skip.

I could go on for days and days...

Truly, a trip I will never forget. :)

Drive. Happy.