PORSCHE, FERDINAND

born Sept. 3, 1875, Maffersdorf, Austria died Jan. 30, 1951, Stuttgart, W. Ger. Austrian automotive engineer who designed the popular Volkswagen car. Porsche became general director of the Austro-Daimler Company in 1916 and in 1923 moved to the Daimler Company in Stuttgart. He left in 1931 and formed his own firm to design sports and racing cars. Porsche became deeply involved in Hitler's project for a "people's car" and with his son Ferdinand, known as Ferry, was responsible for the initial design of the Volkswagen in 1934. During World War II the Porsches designed military vehicles, notably the Tiger tank. After the war the elder Porsche was imprisoned by the French for a time. In 1950 the Porsche sports car was introduced.