Stuttgart special: inside Porsche’s magnificent museum

Enter the German marque's heritage masterpiece

Porsche opened its first museum in 1976, but it was a modest affair that housed just 20 cars – hardly fitting for one of the greatest names in sports cars. 

Not until 2009 did the German marque create a more suitable home for its collection of 300 historic cars – but it was worth the wait.

Even before you view its contents, the dramatic €100m structure – situated close to the Porsche HQ in Stuttgart – proves an arresting treat for fans of modern architecture, a monochromatic building of angular elegance ‘floating’ on three huge pylons. 

The real joy for Porsche fans, though, is found inside the museum – and, as befits a brand known for technological advancement and driving performance, it’s an astonishing place.

Past cars in a future space

Step through the museum doors, walk past the stylish café and not-too-pricey gift shop, and you’ll enter a 5600m² space that’s nothing if not futuristic – a sci-fi set adorned with everything from fabled Porsche racing machines to 911s in police guise.

Space to shine

Some 80 exhibits are housed in the space, with the seamless white theme and considered lighting producing a calm, reflective atmosphere that lets the many exhibits shine – just as the 718 W-RS Spyder does above.

Demonstration of downforce

Exhibits inside the museum spiral chronologically, with some vehicles situated on raised platforms, against walls and even on the ceiling – as with this Le Mans-winning 962C.

No limits exhibits

What’s more, despite many of the storied machines being worth millions, almost all of them are arranged so that you can get up close, with no barriers – as you can see with the 911-based Type 915 four-seater pictured above.

Porsche before the brand

The layout also gives visitors the option to opt out of the pre-’48 machines, which aren’t Porsche-branded – but that would be unwise as there are some fascinating gems on show, including the Ferdinand Porsche-designed VW and Mercedes machines pictured.

Early examples

Other early vehicles include a 1939 Type 64 – a forerunner of Porsche’s first production car, the 356 (pictured in SL Coupe guise) – and the Cisitalia Type 360 Porsche designed for Italian racer Piero Dusio. 

The full fleet

Naturally, the museum also presents all of Porsche’s production cars, as well as a host of competition models – including an awesome set of 917 racers.

All on display

If racing isn’t your thing, there are plenty of charming oddities to entertain – from studies for a full four-seater 911 to a four-door 928 built for Ferry Porsche, not to mention his flat-eight 914 – as well as the German marque's well-stocked and artfully suspended trophy cabinet.

A raft of rolling stock

Most of the exhibits are pristine, fully driving cars that are used at national and international events and regularly rotated from the marque’s central stock of 300 heritage machines.

Storied but not static

What’s more, every day at 2pm visitors to the museum can catch a car being run, as well as watching technicians at work in the adjacent restoration shop. 

Just like its cars: perfectly balanced

Spend a day wandering around the Porsche museum and the feeling is of an intimate display that is neither as overwhelming in size as, say, the Mercedes collection, nor as tiresomely ‘interactive’ as some exhibitions can feel.

Something for everyone

While Porsche anoraks will find plenty to keep them fully sated – from the 804 Formula 1 machine pictured to rare prototypes to every kind of road car – even the casually interested will be thoroughly entertained. 

No reason not to go

In fact, whether you’re in it for the history, the cars, the architecture or the iconic liveries – there’s no disputing the beauty of Carrera RSR’s Martini paint job – the Porsche Museum is well worth a visit. 

It’s open 9am to 6pm, Tuesday to Sunday and costs just €8 for an adult ticket. Bargain.