Electric revolution

Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria engaged a young national serviceman, Ferdinand Porsche, as his driver. Jacob Lohner was coachbuilder to the monarchy in Vienna-Florisdorf and wanted to make battery-electric cars. So, in 1896 he hired assistant manager of the Vereinigte Elektrizitäts-AG to design one. It was the same Ferdinand Porsche, and his master stroke was to make the wheels electric motors.

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Porsche Prize for Clark

It was 1964 before I got to grips with a Porsche like the one Clark drove. When I joined the road test staff of The Motor I compiled the report on a 1600SC. Its 95bhp doesn’t sound much now but 112mph felt quick in a small wieldy coupe with the engine at the wrong end. It was years before Porsches shed their eccentricity. Americans especially didn’t feel they were getting their money’s worth in a sports car unless it felt dangerous and difficult.

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