Porsche is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year and the company is marking the occasion by building a replica of its first sports car.
While it seems odd that the company wouldn’t restore the original model, the automaker says the “original condition of the ‘No. 1’ Roadster is lost and can no longer be restored.” The company went on to say the model’s bodywork originally took two months to complete and time hasn’t been kind to the car. The roadster changed hands “many times over the years” and was subject to damage, repairs, modifications and conversions.
It’s sad that such an important model wasn’t kept in original condition, but Porsche is doing its best to right the wrongs of history. As part of their effort, Porsche created a new body which is “very close to the original” and built using the same materials and techniques.
In order to ensure the car is authentic as possible, experts from the Porsche Museum took 3D scans of the roadster and then superimposed design drawings from the 1948 model on top of them. Porsche said this revealed a “number of deviations” so they continued their research by examining old photos, drawings and journals.
Porsche’s attention to detail didn’t stop there, as the company also wanted to paint the replica the original color. Unfortunately, the car was repainted multiple times so they had to take samples from underneath the dashboard to create the closest match as possible.
While the replica aims to be authentic, it doesn’t have an engine or a rear axle. Instead, it’s simply a “show car” that was designed to reveal how the original model would have looked.