Porsche’s new chief designer given complete freedom with the “Hippie”

In April 1969, Anatole Lapine was hired as the new chief designer at Porsche. Just one year later, the native-born Latvian made his first artistic mark in motorsport with the long-tail Porsche 917 driven by Gérard Larrousse and Willi Kauhsen: the green and purple waves painted on the “hippie” car with around 1,500 spray cans created a psychedelic effect.

While the paintwork caused some consternation in parts of the executive floor, racing team owner Hans-Dieter Dechent and those responsible for his sponsor Martini & Rossi were thrilled. The fast “hippie” also made waves in the motor racing scene: while Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood achieved the first overall victory for Porsche at Le Mans in 1970, Larrousse/Kauhsen secured second place.

56 years later, AGH & Friends is commissioned by Pon Porsche Import to design a unique racing livery. The head designer of AGH & Friends doesn’t have to think about it for long, it will be the “hippie’”. But then on a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 and the Volkswagen ID.Buzz. View the result here.