From Art Center to Automotive Legend: Grant Larson, the Man Who Gave Porsche the Boxster
Leila Sanders here, folks, always excited to dive into the fascinating world of car design. Today, we’re talking about a true legend, a man whose name resonates with every Porsche enthusiast: Grant Larson. This American designer spent 36 years shaping the iconic marque’s future, leaving an indelible mark on the automotive landscape. While he’s best known for birthing the beloved Boxster, his fingerprints are all over some of Porsche’s most celebrated models, including the heart-stopping Carrera GT. Now retired, Larson remains a passionate advocate for the art of car design, and we were lucky enough to snag an interview with him before he embarks on his well-deserved break.
From Audi to Porsche: A Design Journey Begins
Most of you probably know Larson as the “Boxster guy,” but his journey began with a stint at Audi in the mid-80s, a period often overlooked in his story. Curious as ever, I asked him about those early days. “Because nobody ever asked!,” he laughed. “But I mean, the projects I did, well, first of all, it was a really nice studio. A really nice small studio in downtown Munich. Downtown, if you want to call it that, sort of like a trendy area, with a lot of boutiques and stuff like that. It’s called Schwabing in Munich. And so being located there was really nice. It was a group of 14 or 15 people, a lot of English clay modelers and British folks. Martin Smith and J Mays. J Mays is the guy that hired me out of Art Center.”
Larson went on to explain that the team worked on projects for both Audi and Volkswagen, including the Golf MkIII, a Jetta variant, the Audi A4 (then known as the B4), and even a Polo. “I thought the Polo was really nice and had round lamps. It kind of looked like if you chopped the roof off it would look like a Porsche 356 with blurry eyes. That was the final project I did there, and I left because I quit. They usually send you off six weeks before they have these, like, quarterly quitting dates. When I quit, I thought I’d hang around there and finish my A4 model, because Hartmut Warkuss, the chief Audi designer who was based in Ingolstadt, he liked it. But no, they kicked me out the very next day. I never really finished that car.”
The Boxster Dream Takes Shape
Fast forward a few years, and Larson is at Porsche, sketching away when a new project surfaces: a roadster destined to redefine the brand. “We used to call the car “Expo.” It’s called Expo for a German word, for like a showpiece, and we just called it Expo, and all the documents and everything, I think even the fly swatter said Expo. Oh, and we had a dustpan that said Expo. People take it out of your studio, it disappears. I should have kept that dustpan that says Expo on it. But I kept the fly swatter that says 997 on it; the 997 studios fly swatter!
“So anyway, we had this internal name, but the car had no name. These days, you go to agencies, you know, there’s a guy who does a lot of the words like “Twingo” and all that stuff. I’m not sure, but the marketing department had their fingers in it. But the guy who named it was Steve Murkett. And you might know Steve, he did [design work on] the Panamericana concept [in the late ’80s]. He did the Cayenne, and he did some very early 986 and 996 stuff in their early pre-pre-development. So we had all these names, and he wrote that one down. And it was kind of, it doesn’t flow, it’s kind of sharp and punchy. It’s not like [those other Porsche names].”
I could practically hear the conflicting emotions in Larson’s voice as he talked about the compromises that came with sharing parts with the 996 and the inevitable design changes that followed. But true to his nature, he focused on the positives. The Boxster’s success, the exhilaration of seeing his vision come to life, the pride in crafting a car that would become a modern classic.
A Legacy of Passion and Innovation
As we wrapped up our conversation, I couldn’t help but feel inspired by Grant Larson’s passion for design, his dedication to his craft, and his enduring love for the cars he helped create. He’s a true icon of the automotive world, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations of designers and car enthusiasts alike.
The Boxster, the Carrera GT, and countless other Porsche models bear testament to Grant Larson’s genius. He didn’t just design cars; he breathed life into them, imbuing them with soul, character, and a timeless appeal that transcends generations. His story is a reminder that even the most complex machines can be touched by human artistry, passion, and a love for the open road.
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