Peter Schutz, Executive Who Saved a Signature Porsche, Dies at 87
FRANKFURT — Peter Schutz, a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany who became the only American to serve as chief executive of the German sports
car maker Porsche, where he was credited with saving the company’s signature 911 model from oblivion, died on Oct. 29 in Naples, Fla.
His wife, Sheila Harris-Schutz, said the cause was complications of Alzheimer’s disease.
After the war, Ferry Porsche used modified Volkswagen Beetle engines
and chassis as the basis for the first Porsche sports cars, which evolved into the 911.
Among sports car connoisseurs, Mr. Schutz is best remembered for blocking plans in
1981 to end production of the 911 model, which remains the quintessential Porsche.
The man who hired Mr. Schutz for the job, Ferdinand Porsche Jr., better known as
Ferry, had joined with his father in designing tanks for the German war machine.
