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1949 Gm?nd Porsche shows the birth of an icon

The Austrian village of Gmünd is more than just difficult to pronounce; it's also the birthplace of the Porsche brand. Before the company ever started building sports cars at its current home base near Stuttgart, the fledgling business completed several vehicles in the tiny town in Southern Austria. In this video, former Pikes Peak International Hill Climb champion Jeff Zwart takes a look at a 1949 Gmünd coupe to see how the company has evolved since its earliest days.
The thing to note about the Gmünd-built Porsches is their absolute design simplicity. The phrase "form follows function" gets bandied around a lot, but it really means something when you look at these early cars. However, the minimalism was partially out of necessity. The vehicles were meant to be sporty but certainly weren't rockets. Power came courtesy of a modified Volkswagen Beetle engine, and anything extraneous would have slowed the models down. Scroll down to watch Zwart go back in time to Porsche's beginnings.

You will spend hours playing with this Lego Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Owning an actual Porsche 911 GT3 RS is out of the price range for many enthusiasts, but a new Lego kit lets you park a massive example of Porsche's road-going racecar on your desk. At $299.99, it's not cheap, but this looks to be among the coolest Lego models ever. The Lego 911 GT3 RS comes in a giant box and includes a huge instruction manual. In addition to showing you how to build the car, it also has details about the real one. You definitely need ample free time to finish this kit, though. The 2,704 pieces let you build a working replica of the PDK gearbox, including reverse, and the finished model measures about 22 inches long and nearly 10 inches wide. According to Lego, the kit goes on sale online on June 1. To whet your appetite, check out the video above showing off the Porsche and its packaging. The clip below puts the model sports car next to the real thing. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. 42056 Porsche 911 GT3 RS Ages 16+. 2,704 pieces. US $299.99 - CA $349.99 - DE 299.99ˆ - UK GBP249.99 - DK 2599.00 DKK *Euro pricing varies by country. Please visit shop.LEGO.com for regional pricing. Discover the iconic Porsche 911 GT3 RS! Experience the iconic Porsche 911 GT3 RS with this authentic LEGO® Technic replica. Inside the box you'll discover a special collector's book chronicling the history of LEGO Technic and Porsche GT cars, together with 4 original-design rims bearing the RS emblem. The sets of elements are boxed, and the building sequence gives an insight into the real-life vehicle's assembly process. The model features detailed, orange bodywork, red suspension springs, detailed headlights, taillights, brake calipers and rims with low-profile tires. The accessible cockpit features a detailed dashboard, working gearbox, steering wheel with gearshift paddles, racing seats and a glove compartment containing a unique serial number. Functions include opening doors and hood with storage compartment and suitcase, and an opening rear lid that houses a detailed flat 6 engine with moving pistons.

Porsche Cayman GTS in track battle with 996 GT3

Here's your tough question of the day: Would you rather drive a new Porsche Cayman GTS or a slightly older, 996-era Porsche 911 GT3? Certainly, both cars have their plusses. The Cayman is the more modern proposition, sure, but the GT3 is, well, a GT3. So yes, it's a tough decision.
If you're one of the lucky souls that have to make that choice, then this video from Evo should prove pretty helpful. It's a track battle, starring Jethro Bovingdon with a new GTS and an old GT3.
Calling the GTS "fantastically agile" and "fast, but it's also hilariously good fun," Bovingdon bangs home a solid lap time of 1:05.2 before switching to the GT3. It's remarkable to see just how dated the 996-generation 911 looks after viewing the newer Porsche, and from where we sit, it's further proof that the old car's headlights are something that's best forgotten. Styling qualms aside, though, can the GT3 keep up with its racy younger cousin?