Porsche’s oneman powerhouse

If you love Porsche engines, chances are you love them because of Hans Mezger’s engineering genius

Hans Mezger, who passed away on 10 June, was one of the most dedicated and successful engineers in the history of a company stuffed with dedicated, successful engineers. Over the course of a 37-year career he fended off job offers from all sides, telling us in a 2012 interview: ‘Porsche was my first company, and my last.’

Mezger was born on 18 November 1929 in Ottmarsheim, a village north of Stuttgart. After studying mechanical engineering at Stuttgart university, Mezger joined Porsche on 1 October 1956, starting his career in diesel engine development (yep, really).

From then until his retirement in 1993, Mezger’s success was relentless. He pretty much perfected the flat-six engine configuration synonymous with the marque’s 911 sports car, his mastery of the motor such that, to many, his is known simply as ‘the Mezger’.

Motorsport achievements included an instrumental role in the development of the iconic 917 racer and pioneering turbocharging in racing (not to mention its translation to the road, in the form of the 930-generation 911 Turbo).

‘When we developed the Turbo, we expected only 400 cars to be built [to meet FIA rules]. But it’s been so successful that we’ve never stopped,’ said Mezger. It’s a mark of the lasting impact of his creation that today Porsche’s fast EVs wear the Turbo name, despite not having engines…

Mezger’s crowning achievement? Perhaps the 1.5-litre TAG-Porsche V6s, which rampaged through mid-’80s turbo-era Formula 1, cleaning up in the back of the McLarens of Niki Lauda and Alain Prost.

Long after retiring, he still owned a 911 Carrera 3.0 in Glacier White. The man bled Porsche.