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