Porsche is celebrating 75 years since its first sports car arrived in the UK. In 1951, the Porsche 356 made its British debut at the Earls Court Motor Show in London, attracting attention for its sleek design and rear-engined performance.
Despite high import taxes making the cars rare at first, the 356 quickly gained a strong following among UK enthusiasts. Early motorsport success, including at Le Mans, helped build Porsche’s reputation for performance and engineering, and the cars became popular in UK racing and hill climbs.
Porsche’s presence in the UK grew over the following decades. The first right-hand-drive Porsche 911 arrived in 1965 and the brand expanded from a single model to today’s range of six model lines. The UK is now Porsche’s fourth-largest market, supported by 47 Porsche Centres across the country.
The passion for the brand also led to the creation of Porsche Club GB in 1961, which has since become the largest officially recognised Porsche club in Europe.
To celebrate the milestone, Porsche Cars GB will host special events throughout 2026, including participation in the Goodwood Festival of Speed. In what is shaping up to be a special year, 2026 also marks 75 years of Porsche Motorsport around the world.
To contact our Centre, please call 020 3131 8646 or email info@porscheeastlondon.co.uk.
Despite high import taxes making the cars rare at first, the 356 quickly gained a strong following among UK enthusiasts. Early motorsport success, including at Le Mans, helped build Porsche’s reputation for performance and engineering, and the cars became popular in UK racing and hill climbs.
Porsche’s presence in the UK grew over the following decades. The first right-hand-drive Porsche 911 arrived in 1965 and the brand expanded from a single model to today’s range of six model lines. The UK is now Porsche’s fourth-largest market, supported by 47 Porsche Centres across the country.
The passion for the brand also led to the creation of Porsche Club GB in 1961, which has since become the largest officially recognised Porsche club in Europe.
To celebrate the milestone, Porsche Cars GB will host special events throughout 2026, including participation in the Goodwood Festival of Speed. In what is shaping up to be a special year, 2026 also marks 75 years of Porsche Motorsport around the world.
To contact our Centre, please call 020 3131 8646 or email info@porscheeastlondon.co.uk.