Porsche Toyed With The Idea Of Making Their Own Corvair

Remember a few days ago when I wrote about how Chevy sort of made the Porsche 911 before Porsche did? Kind of, in a very specific and not particularly accurate way? Sure you do. It was a big day for all of us. Well, now, in a bit of healthy, decades-out-of-date parity, it seems that Porsche had a hand at making some cars that we could call quite Corvair-like, if we wanted to.

And, I assure you, we want to. Just because it’s fun.

These cars were design studies for a possible Porsche four-door sedan of some type, designed and built by Carrozzeria Ghia, who had been doing design consultation for Porsche at various times, and, of course, for Porsche’s sibling company, Volkswagen, where they most famously designed the lovely Karmann-Ghia.

Want to watch an old video I did about the Karmann-Ghia? Sure you do:

Okay, back to these Porsche sedans; Porsche had been toying with the idea of a less-sporting car for some time, and had even partnered with Studebaker to experiment with some compact four-door, rear-engined sedans in the mid 1950s, part of a project Porsche called Type 542:

These cars featured rear-mounted V6 engines, with air, water, and a combination air-water cooling systems. The V6 was something of a departure for Porsche, as was the larger four-door bodystyle. These were very technically interesting and I think nice looking sedans, but Studebaker wasn’t in the best financial shape and the project never really went anywhere.

A few years later, in 1960, Porsche seemed to return to exploring the idea of a four-door sedan of some type, and Ghia came up with some clean – perhaps even a little too clean? – designs. Here’s the first one, a fairly straightforward three-box sedan design:

I actually think it’s quite handsome in an understated way. I like the split bumpers and the way there was no compulsion to try to make a fake dumb grille; also note how the front trunk lid cutline goes down to the bumper, for easy loading of stuff or getting small animals to jump in there.

The Corvair came out in 1959, so this is a pretty close contemporary. These used 356 engines and drivetrains, and the styling was under the leadership of Ghia’s Sergio Sartorelli.

A second version, from 1962, was this striking fastback design. It almost has a Tatra 613/700 feeling to it, with that long roof and dramatically-sloping rear.

It’s a little lower and sleeker than the Tatra designs, though, and the Tatra 613 didn’t come out until 12 years later, so I hardly think that was an influence.

The rear is interesting, with lots of chrome-decorated air intakes, and quad exhausts exiting through the bumper, a novel touch that Porsche was also using on the 356.

The front end here, with its quad round headlamps surrounded by chrome cartouches, is somewhat reminiscent of the Corvair, but maybe a little closer to the Corvair’s second generation, which was released in 1965.

The fastback version looks to be pretty large for a Porsche of the era, and seems roughly mid-sized by American standards. That trunk up front looks like it would have been quite roomy, and the interior feels very American:

Bench front seats! Has there ever been another Porsche with a front bench seat?

In 1966, Volkswagen exhibited both design concepts to the press (with another prototype between them, one that would evolve into the Type 4), as part of a big display showing how much they have been exploring successors to the legendary Beetle. Would these concepts have been considered to be VW-branded as well? It’s not clear.

Porsche wouldn’t have a four-door sedan or fastback until the 2009 Panamera, and even then those were front-engined, not rear. It’s odd to think about Porsche having a family car-type offering, but certainly not unwelcome. I love the idea of these cars, and a reality where large rear-engined family cars were a thing is a reality I think I could have a pretty good time in.