Erwin Komenda
1904 - 1966
Erwin Komenda,
an Austrian, originating from Weyer, was from 1931 to 1966 the chief
designer with Porsche. Komenda was the creator of the most recognized
automobile shape in the world, the VW Beetle. Komenda also designed
the body for the first Porsche sports car, called the Type 356. The
Schwimmwagen and Kübelwagen, (World War II military craft) as
well as the Porsche 550 "Spyder" were all of Komenda's design,
to name but a few. The advocate of streamlined construction was considerably
involved in the shaping of Autounion racing cars, Cisitalia Grand
Prix cars and of course the Porsche 911.
Nationality: Austria
Place of residence: Stuttgart (D) and Weyer /Enns (Upper Austria)
Place of birth/date: April 6th, 1904 in Jauern at the Semmering
(Austria)
Parents: Franz Komenda (machinist in Weyer) and Leopoldine Komenda,
born Wipplinger (upper classes)
Married to Auguste Komenda, born Hauptmann, since 1920
2 children: Ingrid Komenda-Steineck and Erwin Komenda
-Elementary school in
Weyer
-Citizen school in Steyr
-1916 -1920: Four year technical college for iron processing in
Steyr
-1920: Car construction course with Josef Feldwabel in the trade
technological museum Vienna, XX district
1920 -1926: Car bodywork
factory in Vienna XX, construction designer
1927 -1929: Steyrer factory, Upper-Austria: Komendas area of responsibility
extended from the construction office up to the manufacturing facilities.
In Steyr Erwin Komenda came up with the idea of a streamlined small
car with rear motor drive. He worked in Steyr with Bela Barenyi
and Ferdinand Porsche who was the technical director for Steyrer.
Other teammates at Steyrer were Josef Zahradnik, Karl Fröhlich,
Karl Wilfert and Josef Kales. Komenda was so innovative that he
was promoted to the chief designer of the German Daimler-Benz AG
in Sindelfingen. His development project at that time was the Steyr
type XXX that got 300 kg lighter than its predecessors by a new
Komenda design.
1929 -1931: Chief designer for the test and development department
of the Mercedes-Daimler-Benz AG in Stuttgart/Sindelfingen.
1931 -1966: Chief designer and head of the bodywork construction
department at the Porsche construction office. Responsible for calculation
and development technology.
VW® Beetle
Wanderer: Porsche® type 7/8
Porsche® NSU und Zündapp prototype
Porsche® type 60 and 60K10 (A Berlin to Rome Race car used in
1939)
Schwimmwagen and Kübelwagen (World War II military craft)
Wood-gas-generator and division tractors
Autounion Race car in cooperation with Josef Mickl
Porsche® 356. 1946 in Gmünd the first idea of the Porsche
356 are documented in a signed in 1948 by Komenda
356-Variantes and Speedster (American Roadster)
Cisitalia Rennwagen
Porsche® 550 Spyder
Porsche® 904 Designed car body material. The vehicle body was
made of metal reinforced synthetic resin
Porsche® 911 Leader of the car body development department.
Inventor of the 911 body construction (self-supporting vehicle body)
Komenda also developed the Targa security bow.
Komenda was a man who thought technically but brought forth artistic
creations. Over 100 patents show the progressive work of the inventor
Erwin Komenda. Komenda was an active worker up to his early death
in 1966 from lung cancer. His life's work ended with the development
of the great Porsche 911.
To learn more about Erwin Komenda please visit http://www.komenda.at/
Below are the US Patent drawings for the design of the Beetle body
with Erwin Komenda listed as the inventor
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