Tucked away in an unnamed building near Porsche’s Stuttgart factory lies a secure facility known simply as The Vault. While the public Porsche Museum showcases under 100 vehicles, this private collection houses more than 700 road, race, and rally cars documenting decades of the German manufacturer’s development heritage. The collection began in the late 1950s as a place to store racecars after their final competitions and gradually expanded over the decades, opening for limited tours in 1976.
Accessible strictly by appointment, the facility offers a rare look at vehicles that are normally hidden from public view. Early prototypes created by co-founder Ferdinand Porsche sit alongside development mules, motorsport legends, and unusual engineering vehicles. Curator Alexander Klein oversees this remarkable collection, where selected cars are prepared for special occasions and international shows. Each preserved machine represents a different chapter of Porsche’s engineering, design, racing, and development philosophy.
1. Porsche Type 63 Concept
This Porsche model was developed for the 1963 International Automobiles Ierungs-Ausstellung (IAA) in Frankfurt, Germany. The type 63 concept vehicle was an electric car built to show the public how Porsche could use engineering to make a vehicle more efficient and effective. When compared to similar vehicles, this car used up to 90 percent less energy than comparable cars of the time.
Porsche Type 63 Highlights:
- Created for 1963 IAA
- Introduced an early electric concept
- Used significantly less energy
- Demonstrated innovative Porsche engineering
- Preserved inside Stuttgart collection
This car is one of the many examples of Porsche’s philosophy about the Stuttgart collection. Every vehicle stored in this facility is related to a specific field of human knowledge. By looking at this car, one can see Porsche’s dedication to engineering and efficiency long before these values became commonplace in the automobile industry. While this vehicle may be vastly different from the high-performance sports cars typically associated with Porsche, it represents the company’s willingness to embrace unconventional ideas and engineering solutions.
2. Porsche 924 Carrera GTR (1980)
The 1980 Porsche 924 Carrera GTR is one of the rarest vehicles in the Porsche collection. Only 17 examples of this rare sports car were manufactured by the company. This vehicle was also purpose-built for racing, and the engineering solutions used in its development were largely inspired by the Porsche 935.
Porsche 924 Carrera GTR Highlights:
- Produced in only 17 examples
- Built specifically for racing
- Shared mechanical elements with 935
- Preserved inside Stuttgart facility
- Represents Porsche competition history
When this car is stored in the Porsche vault among the company’s other race cars and racing concepts, it serves as a reminder of the company’s long history of competition and racing innovation. Due to its extreme rarity, the 924 Carrera GTR is an incredibly valuable addition to the Porsche collection. At the same time, this car’s connections to other racing Porsches, including the 935, provide important context to its history and development.
3. Porsche 550 Spyder (1953)
The 1953 Porsche 550 Spyder holds legendary status as one of the most successful race winners of the 1950s. Powered by a 110 hp engine, the lightweight sports car relied on agility and speed to compete successfully in motorsport events throughout the decade. Its compact proportions and racing-focused character helped establish the 550 Spyder as one of the defining early Porsche sports cars.
Porsche 550 Spyder Highlights:
- Built as a lightweight racer
- Powered by 110 hp
- Successful throughout the 1950s
- Connected with James Dean
- Preserved inside Stuttgart collection
The 550 Spyder also became closely connected with popular culture. In 1955, actor James Dean tragically died in a crash while driving his personal 550 Spyder, adding another layer to the car’s historical significance. Within the Stuttgart warehouse, the preserved example represents Porsche’s early sports car racing heritage and the company’s ability to combine lightweight construction with competitive performance. Its racing achievements and cultural history make it one of the most recognizable legends in the collection.
4. Porsche 911 S Type 915 (1970)
Dating from 1970, the Porsche 911 S Type 915 represents an unusual experiment in vehicle packaging. Engineers developed the prototype with the goal of fitting four full adult-sized seats inside the familiar silhouette of the 911. The engineering team successfully managed to accommodate four adults, demonstrating that the classic sports car shape could be adapted in ways that were not immediately obvious.
Porsche 911 S Type 915 Highlights:
- Developed as a 1970 prototype
- Designed for four adults
- Explored alternative 911 packaging
- Never entered full production
- Preserved as rare experiment
Despite the successful packaging exercise, company executives ultimately decided against putting the Type 915 into full production. The concern was that a four-seat 911 could take sales away from other models already offered by the company. Today, the prototype remains preserved inside the Stuttgart collection as an example of an idea that reached the engineering stage but never became a production model. It provides an interesting look at how technical possibilities and commercial decisions could shape Porsche’s product plans.
5. Porsche 935 (1976)
The 1976 Porsche 935 represents another powerful evolution of the 911 architecture preserved inside the facility. Built specifically for sports car endurance racing, this competition machine produced 700 hp from its turbocharged engine. Its extreme performance and racing-focused construction demonstrated how far Porsche could develop the fundamental 911 design when maximum track performance became the priority.
Porsche 935 Highlights:
- Built for endurance racing
- Produced around 700 hp
- Used turbocharged engine technology
- Developed advanced aerodynamic design
- Became a motorsport icon
The 935 established a strong reputation on racing circuits around the world, pushing the boundaries of aerodynamic design while demonstrating the flexibility of the 911 platform. Its wide stance and powerful engine were central to its competition character. Inside the Stuttgart warehouse, the race car sits alongside other Le Mans contenders and prototype racers, providing a direct reminder of Porsche’s technical achievements during the 1970s and the company’s dedication to motorsport development.
6. Porsche Panamericana (1989)
This unique Porsche concept car was unveiled in 1989 as a design experiment. Panamericana was a bold, futuristic creation that utilized an open-top design. The design of this car could have easily evolved into a production model, but it was not put in to production. Instead, it was stored in Porsche’s collection so that future designers could continue to learn from it.
Porsche Panamericana Highlights:
- Unveiled as 1989 concept
- Featured futuristic open-top design
- Never reached series production
- Tested new styling ideas
- Influenced later Porsche models
Its unusual proportions and distinctive styling gave Porsche designers the freedom to experiment with ideas that were not yet ready for a production car. These design elements helped shape the company’s approach to future sports cars, with some influences appearing in later models such as the 993-generation 911 and the Boxster. Although the Panamericana never entered series production, it became an important design study that showed how experimental concepts could influence Porsche’s future styling direction.
7. Porsche 959 Wind Tunnel Mule (1982)
Inside the Porsche vault is an interesting glimpse at how Porsche engineers worked to make their cars faster, lighter, and more agile. The 959-wind tunnel mule represents an important point in the development of this high-performance sports car. Unlike a production model, this particular 959 showcases all of the modifications that were made to the bodywork to improve the aerodynamics of the car. Notes concerning these modifications can also be found on the bodywork of this car.
Porsche 959 Wind Tunnel Mule Highlights:
- Built as aerodynamic testbed
- Developed during 1982
- Featured handwritten engineering notes
- Supported high-speed stability testing
- Bridged testing and production
By studying this car, one can get a better appreciation for how Porsche engineers worked to make small modifications to their vehicles. These modifications were necessary if they wanted to improve the power, speed, and agility of their cars. When it comes to the 959, engineers used this wind tunnel mule to test and tweak their designs before putting them on a production vehicle. As a result, the final design of the 959 is better than it might have been otherwise.
8. Porsche 911 Turbo Prototype (1973)
Among the historic vehicles preserved inside the vault is the very first 911 Turbo ever built. Constructed in 1973, this special Porsche was created as a birthday present for Louise Porsche, giving the vehicle both technical and personal significance. It represents an important milestone in the development of forced-induction performance within the classic 911 silhouette.
Porsche 911 Turbo Prototype Highlights:
- Built as first 911 Turbo
- Constructed during 1973
- Created as birthday present
- Introduced turbocharged performance heritage
- Preserved as family history
The special vehicle combined luxury craftsmanship with high-output turbocharged engineering and established a formula that would define Porsche’s flagship performance models for generations. Its preservation inside the Stuttgart collection allows the technical milestone to be appreciated alongside its personal history. Rather than being simply another important prototype, the car connects Porsche’s engineering development with the company’s family heritage, making it a particularly meaningful piece within the vault.
9. Porsche 928 Tyre Tester
When it comes to unique vehicles, few are as unusual as the modified 928 that was built as a special tyre tester. This modified 928 was used for many years before being put in to storage. When building this vehicle, Porsche engineers made numerous modifications to the standard 928 design to help isolate and test noise from the tyres.
Porsche 928 Tyre Tester Highlights:
- Modified specifically for testing
- Analyzed and isolated tyre noise
- Used massive noise-suppressing mufflers
- Served for decades
- Recently retired from service
In order to modify this 928 for the purposes of noise isolation, engineers had to make some unusual changes to the standard design. By doing so, they ensured that they would be able to hear specific sounds coming from the vehicle. This allowed them to analyse and identify particular noise patterns for the purposes of further development. Due to this car’s unique mission and unusual modifications, it holds an important place in the Porsche collection.
10. Porsche Schlepper Tractor (1959)
Inside the Porsche vault sits a piece of machinery that seems to have little to do with sports cars or racing. The red Schlepper tractor was built in 1959 and powered by a 1.6 litre two-cylinder diesel engine. This vehicle is just one example of the many engineering marvels that were built by Porsche’s chief engineer, Ferdinand Porsche. In this instance, however, Schlepper’s practical design and powerful engine were put to different ends.
Porsche Schlepper Tractor Highlights:
- Built as 1959 tractor
- Powered by diesel engine
- Used 1.6-litre two-cylinder power
- Featured practical engineering design
- Preserved inside Stuttgart vault
The Schlepper tractor showcases all of the skills that made Porsche a leader in the automobile industry for many years. Inside the vault, this tractor sits alongside electric cars, racing cars, prototypes, and many other vehicles. All of these vehicles represent Porsche’s innovation and engineering mastery. By storing all of these vehicles in its vault, Porsche showcases the company’s long history and legacy.
