Going back to the beginning of Porsche/ VW and the man behind it all Ferry Porsche ... The T97's combination of a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine, swing-axle rear suspension, ...

Like the VW it had rear swing axles, although the Beetle used torsion bars. Its water-cooled engine was also quieter and the Renault’s more effective heater was the envy of VW drivers.

Hans Ledwinka is one of the motor industry's unsung heroes. He invented the backbone chassis with fully independent swing axles and rear-mounted air-cooled engine, which he used on the streamlined ...