Erwin Komenda Porsche Designer

Erwin Komenda

How his great contributions as engineer, researcher and designer became reality?

Erwin Komenda was from 1931 to 1966 chief of the Porsche body designing department. Komenda was the creator of the most recognized automobile shape in the world - the VW Beetle and Porsche 356.

	Erwin Komenda and his daughter Ingrid; 1949.
	Years go by. Marriage, family, children, grandchildren. Finally, in 2004, Ingrid`s long held Porsche dream becomes reality. Click here to read more about Erwin Komenda, his beloved daughter Ingrid, her husband and a brand new Porsche Boxster. The story appeared in the Austrian Christophorus on Dezember 2004.

Komenda drafted the plans for the bodywork of other successful German cars like ‘swimming car’ and 'Kübelwagen', the Cisitalia racing car, the Porsche 356, the Porsche 550 "Spyder" and was remarkable involved in the development of the Porsche 911.

Erwin Komenda’s drawing, dated the 18^th of January 1936, had special significance for the development history of the Beetle. For the first time, Komenda finalised the shape of the Volkswagen, with the headlights integrated into the wings.

Komenda also designed the shape of the Porsche 356, however, as the corresponding patent applications show, over the years the chief designer was caught up more and more in technical details of many Porsche projects.

The "Erwin Komenda Porsche Designer Web Site" is dedicated to the preservation, history, knowledge and enjoyment of Erwin Komenda's construction and design work. Including Erwin Komenda's Porsche Patent collection and many unknown Porsche photos the web site gives background information to Porsche history and technology.