Where did the 901 project number come from?

[RWebb]

We all know where the 911 came from, but how did they wind up with the initial number, 901?

In Porsche 911: History of the Legendary Sports Car, Leffingwell says VW used a computer to search the parts numbers and that was the beginning of the only sequence available.

True?

[porwolf]

Originally Posted by RWebb

We all know where the 911 came from, but how did they wind up with the initial number, 901?

In Porsche 911: History of the Legendary Sports Car, Leffingwell says VW used a computer to search the parts numbers and that was the beginning of the only sequence available.

True?

Did not Porsche originally want to call their new, 1963, 6-cylinder cars 901 models? But then were sued by Peugeot who already had a "901" model in mind. Thus the change to 911?

[sc_rufctr]

I thought the project number for the car was 901 so therefore the car became the 901 and then after the court case with Peugeot they changed it to the 911.

Peugeot claimed that the zero in the middle of three numbers was "their trademark" for naming their cars.
I'm not sure they ever actually won the case or was it even finalized? Does anyone know for sure?

[winders]

See here: http://press.porsche.com/50years911/pdf/PM_Die_Anfaenge_des_Porsche_911_GB.pdf

To quote:

How the 911 got its name

When deciding on the name for the new model, Porsche initially based their choice on the Volkswagen spare part number ranges. In view of possible future cooperation with the VW plant, the new Porsche was to be compatible with the number ranges used there. As the 900 numbers had not yet been allocated in Wolfsburg, the decision-makers at Zuffenhausen chose 901 for the six-cylinder version and 902 for a subsequent four-cylinder car. On 12th September 1963 the great day had arrived – Porsche presented the prototype of the 901 at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt/Main. However, there was still a long way to go before the vehicle was ready for series production and another year passed until the Porsche engineers had developed the 901 from the prototype phase to series production. The car was then launched on the market in October 1964.

In September 1964, the Porsche 901 was presented at the very important Paris Motor Show. However, the show caused an unexpected problem for Porsche. At the beginning of October 1964, the astonished Porsche management received an objection from the French manufacturer Peugeot which indicated that the type name 901 was in violation of French copyright and trademark protection laws. This initially caused bemusement all round as the model name that Porsche traditionally based on the relevant design number had, in the case of the Type 901 as well, been rigorously researched by the development department. Just one German lorry producer used the name 901, which was not viewed as a problem for Porsche. But Peugeot stated that they had been using three-digit numbers with a zero in the middle since 1929 and therefore owned the legal rights to all similar number sequences in France.

There was nothing left for Porsche to do than rename the 901 right in the middle of the model launch phase. On 22nd November 1964, after considering many different options including using an affix such as “GT”, Ferry Porsche decided to rename the vehicle “Type 911”. The decision was based on very practical considerations. Brochures, price lists and manuals as well as the type number on the rear and on the glove compartment lid were already being finalised, meaning that using the typeface already created for the number “1” twice was the simplest solution. There was just not enough time to create a new number, let alone completely new lettering. In 1964, no one could have guessed that this 911 emergency solution would one day become world-famous.

[wayner]

I think the original question was:

"Where did the 901 number come from?" (not the 911 number).

My understanding was that 901 was just the next number in porsches engineering project sequence.

I have always been told that Porsche was primarily an engineering company, and as an engineering company, Porsche used sequential project numbers. One number could be a studebaker steering box, and the next number might have been an internal project that they did once in a while (perhaps a car or Porsche transmission - a project 356, and then some years after a number of engineering projects for other companies, a project 550).

VW beetles have always been known as a type1. I though this was because the beetle was one of their first projects?

I'd be interested in hearing if there is more to it than that.

[Geronimo '74]

What I always heard is that Porsche didn't want to be seen as a newb in the engineering world and gave his first project no. 7.
Leading others on to believe his firm already completed six previous jobs. So the first six numbers do not exist.
Making the 356 actually the 348...

Interesting link

All Porsche internal production numbers? [Archive] - Early 911S Registry

[wayner]

I love some of the projects that sites lists

133 S Snow Tractor
135 wind turbine
136 wind turbine
137 wind turbine
138 VW Typ 128 variation
139 Typ 138 variation
142 tank truck
151 VW transmission
152 VW transmission
153 Skoda motor for tractor
155 typ 87 with snow wheels
156 typ 166 for rail tracks
157 like 156
158 experimental motor
160 VW monocoque
162 VW monocoque for typ 87
164 6wheeel with 2motors typ 82
166 swimm wagen
170 motor for ship
171 motor for ship

[winders]

Originally Posted by wayner

I think the original question was:

"Where did the 901 number come from?" (not the 911 number).

I was providing a reference to answer the 911 number question that was being speculated about....

[winders]

For the OP:

Porsche Type List