Sixty years ago a Porsche was a rare sight and its uniqueness united seven owners. By 1952 the group of enthusiasts founded the Porsche Club Hohensyburg in Westphalia, Germany with a common goal to ‘unite all Porsche drivers in friendship and comradeship’.
The following year the club expanded internationally to Belgium and soon after in 1955 a private group of American Porsche customers, who were providing each other with technical support, evolved into the Porsche Club of America. That has grown into one of the largest organization in the world.
For six decades, the history of Porsche has been associated with the worldwide enthusiasm of the Porsche Club scene. Sixty years ago, on May 26 1952, seven passionate Porsche drivers founded the Porsche Club Hohensyburg in Westphalia, Germany. According to its articles of association, the common goal of this first club was to ‘unite all Porsche drivers in friendship and comradeship’. The creation of this first club was the foundation stone for a long and unique success story that has become a global phenomenon.
In the early Fifties, it was rare to encounter a Porsche on the open road. This resulted in a greater sense of solidarity between owners – and not just in Germany. The Porsche Clubs’ international adventures began in 1953 with the founding of the Porsche Club Belgium. Two years later, a private group of American Porsche customers, who were providing each other with technical support, evolved into the Porsche Club of America. Today, this represents the largest Porsche Club organization in the world.
On the other side of the pond, British enthusiasts of the Stuttgart sports car marque founded the Porsche Club Great Britain in 1961. Which developed into the largest Porsche Club organization in Europe.
Together, the 640 officially recognized Porsche Clubs with their approximately 181,000 members from more than 75 countries currently are the world’s largest automotive brand club.
The Porsche Clubs live the Porsche brand, seven days a week and 365 days a year, and the high degree to which Club members volunteer their time in celebration of the marque makes them important brand ambassadors. In appreciation of this dedicated work, the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart is honoring the 60th anniversary of the Porsche Clubs with a special exhibition.
From May 26 to August 26, the Porsche Museum will be looking back on six decades of exciting Club activities. Not only will Club members’ special vehicles be on show but photographs, documents and small exhibits will also relate their personal stories and experiences.