Porsche Archive Footage: The Rare Porsche Type 597 "Jagdwagen" 4x4 In Testing

The Porsche Type 597 was developed with the benefit of Ferdinand Porsche's prior experience developing the Kübelwagen and Schwimmwagen during WWII. Click "Open Description" below for the full story. Many of these lessons were integrated into the Type 597, particularly those from the four-wheel drive amphibious Schwimmwagen, which would essentially be a direct ancestor of the new Porsche 4x4. The Type 597 is historically notable for a few reasons, perhaps most of all for the fact that it was Porsche's first four-wheel drive. Years later in 2002 the company would release the Porsche Cayenne followed by the Porsche Macan. These two SUVs would become the marque's best-selling vehicles, helping to ensure the company's survival well into the future. The Type 597 has a stamped steel monocoque chassis that was designed using lessons from the Schwimmwagen. The body essentially acted as a watertight hull, and some early development versions were fitted with a propeller and oars specifically for water use. Power was provided by a modified version of the flat-four, rear-mounted engine from the Porsche 356. Initially in 1.5 liter displacement, with later models getting the 1.6 liter version. Power was listed as 50 bhp, enough to give the Type 597 a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph) and the ability to climb gradients of up to 65%. Fully independent torsion bar suspension with shock absorbers is fitted front and back, with drum brakes at all four wheels and selectable four-wheel drive. A folding soft top was provided for inclement weather and early versions had no doors, just high sills. Some later versions would receive steel doors. When it became clear that Porsche wouldn't win the military tender they tried marketing the Type 597 for outdoors people and hunters, hence the nickname "Jagdwagen" or "hunting car." By the end of production in 1958 just 71 examples had been built (including the 22 prototypes), and it's believed that approximately 50 have survived to the current day. Full Article: https://silodrome.com/porsche-type-597-jagdwagen/ Footage provided by Porsche AG. Music Credit: Chopin's Lost Waltz played by 8opus, courtesy of Artlist.

Added 2 Sept 2026