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Bernd Kahnau, the project manager of the first 911 Speedster
The legendary 356 Speedster had helped Porsche achieve a breakthrough in the American market in the mid-1950s.
For many American Porsche enthusiasts, the 356 Speedster marked the beginning of a lifelong passion for the fascinating sports cars from Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen.
No wonder Porsche has repeatedly considered reviving the exciting Speedster concept.
The first modern-era Porsche Speedster was then unveiled at the IAA in 1987. The new Speedster was originally based on the 911 Carrera 3.2 with its narrow body.
However, the 911 Speedster did not go into series production until the 1989 model year in the Turbolook version.
The design of the new 911 Speedster captivated Porsche enthusiasts around the world. The Speedster had a wide, low-slung stance. The combination of the turbo-inspired look with classic Speedster elements—such as the flat windshield, the hump, and the Fuchs wheels—resulted in a true dream car.
Due to the overwhelming response, the limited edition of the 911 Speedster sold out even before production began. Project manager Bernd Kahnau and his team were responsible for this dream car. Andreas Gabriel
Kahnau began his career at Porsche in 1979. He was no stranger to the company, as his father, Willi Kahnau, had played a key role in establishing production in Zuffenhausen.
Bernd Kahnau initially worked as a production planner for the Porsche 928 chassis assembly line. In 1982, he moved to the Weissach Development Center and joined the project management team for the Porsche 911.
With the completion of the first 911 Speedster, Bernd Kahnau’s career at the Porsche Development Center in Weissach really took off, as the car became a true success story. As a result, Kahnau went on to lead the project for the next generation of the 911 and eventually became the architect of the 993, 996, 997, and 991 generations.
Following the successful launch of the 991 model series, Bernd Kahnau retired.
Im Interview zum Porsche Speedster berichtet Bernd Kahnau davon, auf wessen Idee der 911 Speedster ursprünglich zurückging. Es klären sich viele bisher unbeantwortete Fragen, beispielsweise warum es neben den Fahrzeugen im Turbolook auch 161 Fahrzeuge mit der schmalen Karosserie gab.
LIMITED EDITION „Porsche Speedster Legends 1954 – 2020“
In einer limitierten Auflage von 1954 Büchern erschien das Buch „Porsche Speedster Legends 1954-2020“. Das Buch ist eine Hommage an die schönsten und begehrtesten Porsche-Modelle überhaupt.
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