Porsche, known for its luxurious and high-performance cars, has had its fair share of interesting and notable customers over the years. Among them, few can rival the incredible life story of Jolantha Tschudi, a Swiss amateur pilot and the first female customer of the prestigious Porsche brand.
Tschudi’s journey began when she made her first solo flight at the age of just 18. Her love for flying seamlessly blended with her interest in ethnology, leading her on a remarkable adventure to Africa in December 1946. During this trip, Tschudi aimed to document indigenous cultures that were previously unknown to Europeans. Accompanied by a museum curator, Tschudi embarked on an extraordinary journey, covering over 8,000 miles in a single-engine Stinson airplane, with six emergency landings along the way. This was only the beginning of Tschudi’s African exploration, as she would return to the continent several more times in the future.
Despite her passion for aviation, Tschudi also had a keen interest in terrestrial transportation. In 1948, she made history as the first woman to purchase a Porsche. Her chosen model was a dark blue 356/2 convertible, which she acquired from Bernhard Blank, a Zurich hotelier and one of the first Porsche dealers. During that time, Porsche was still in its early years of production, building its first batch of cars in Gmünd, Austria before shifting production to Germany. Unlike the later 356 models, Tschudi’s convertible had hand-formed bodywork crafted by coachbuilder Gebrüder Beutler.
Tschudi’s acquisition of a Porsche marked a significant milestone for the brand’s engagement with female customers. It highlighted the growing influence of women in the automotive industry and their desire for high-performance and stylish cars. Her purchase served as an inspiration for many women who aspired to break into a traditionally male-dominated field.
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The presentation of Tschudi’s Porsche took place at the 1948 Geneva Auto Show, providing her with the perfect platform to showcase her exceptional taste and love for automobiles. She took her newly acquired Porsche on trips to gliding spots in the Alps, where she belonged to the Swiss national gliding team. Here, she made multiple altitude and distance records, solidifying her reputation as an accomplished pilot.
Unfortunately, Tschudi’s ownership of the Porsche was short-lived. While navigating the Julier Pass in the Swiss Canton of the Grisons, she accidentally hit a curb, causing damage to the vehicle. Subsequently, Tschudi made the difficult decision to sell the damaged Porsche to her brother. Despite parting ways with her beloved car, Tschudi’s legacy as the first female Porsche customer remained indelible.
Following her Porsche ownership, Tschudi’s life took a different turn. After getting married and having two sons, she eventually gave up flying. However, her passion for exploration and knowledge persisted. Tschudi redirected her endeavors towards hunting and ethnographic research, fully immersing herself in these fields. Her commitment to these pursuits allowed her to contribute significantly to the understanding of various cultures and their preservation.
Jolantha Tschudi’s remarkable journey, as the first female Porsche customer, came to an end in 2011 when she passed away at the age of 86. Her pioneering spirit and pursuit of adventure left an enduring mark on the worlds of aviation, automotive, and cultural anthropology. Tschudi’s story stands as a testament to the powerful impact individuals can have when they follow their passions and challenge societal norms, driving progress in diverse domains.
