Anniversary of Porsche's first car today
Geneva show saw 356 No.1 start a dynasty
Today is the 56th anniversary of the first public showing of the first car to carry Ferdinand Porsche's name and was introduced at the 19th International Automobile Show in Geneva.
After serving a two-year prison sentence for his participation as an engineer in Hitler's regime, Ferdinand Porsche and his son Ferry went to work on a car that would carry the Porsche name.
The Porsche prototype, named the 356, was a sports-car version of the Volkswagen that Porsche had designed at Hitler's request. Its rounded lines, rear engine, and open two-seater design set the standard for all Porsches to come.
The classic design and the incomparable engineering of Porsche cars attracted customers at a record pace. In 1950, Ferdinand Porsche celebrated his 75th birthday. 
He had risen to fame as an engineer for Mercedes; he had developed the Volkswagen; and he had finally put his name to his own car.
A year later, Porsche suffered a stroke from which he would never recover. He died in January of 1952. Ferry Porsche, Ferdinand's son, built the Porsche Company into the empire it is today.
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