The story of Porsche’s phenomenal success in America is one of many chapters and couldn’t have been written based on the car itself. Initial reactions to the little car with the engine in the rear was like trying to be sold an expensive suit that buttons up the back; it would take deeply committed advocates to promote this German brand. Between the initial efforts of Porsche importer Max Hoffmann on the East Coast and the sports car culture of Southern California, Porsche’s growth across America took on a life of its own. Movie stars like Steve McQueen and James Dean zipping around in Porsche Speedsters helped fuel the car’s meteoric popularity.
Fast forward to 2018, and the Petersen Automotive Museum combined forces with Porsche Cars North America to launch The Porsche Effect, the most comprehensive exhibit of the fabled marque ever assembled in North America. Those who experienced the exhibit were overwhelmed by the show’s depth, which included a 1938 Berlin-Rome Type 64 race car; the genesis of Porsche’s first model, the 356.
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