Automobile pioneer Erwin Komenda
100 Years: 1904 - 2004
How his great contributions as
engineer, researcher and designer became reality? On the occasion of the
hundredth birthday of Erwin Komenda his achievements as Porsche engineer
are described.
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.
       
 
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 18th 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.
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