Content Karl Ludvigsen

On the 26th of May 1957, English cars and a gent from Huddersfield named David Brown attained a long-sought goal. Since the war this short, bespectacled industrialist had spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on machinery to perpetuate the name “Aston Martin.” On that day he had the pleasure of watching his latest Aston racing car trample the cream of Italy’s sports machines on one of the world’s most testing road courses: the Nürburgring.

In Switzerland Ernst and Fritz Beutler made a good living from special bodies on both Volkswagen and Porsche chassis. Ultimately Porsche took a close interest in what the brothers were doing because it had 2+2 ambitions of its own. The Swiss brothers Beutler stepped on the stage of Porsche-car history at the beginning of the first act, when Gmünd-built 356s were being sent to Switzerland, some as completed coupes and some as chassis.