Steve Jobs loved Porsche so much he modeled the revolutionary Macintosh after his own 928
Published on Aug 26, 2025 at 1:40 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Aug 26, 2025 at 1:40 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs loved Porsche and its cars so much that he modeled the revolutionary Macintosh after his own Porsche 928 sports car.
Jobs is best known for co-founding Apple, which gave us products such as the iPhone, iPod, and, of course, the Macintosh.
He also had a love for all things Porsche, and his 928 was one of his prized possessions. So much so, in fact, that he decided the Macintosh should be modeled after the sports car.
With that in mind, the Apple design team got to work trying to bring the Porsche 928’s flowing curves into the new Mac.
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How did the Macintosh resemble the Porsche 928?
At the time of the Macintosh’s invention, Jobs had a silver Porsche 928 in his garage.
One thing the Apple co-founder noted was how the sports car had flowing curves, as well as tight panel gaps.
These were the qualities Jobs wanted to replicate in Apple’s new device.
He mirrored the philosophy of Porsche with some elements of the computer system.
For example, the Macintosh 128K had a fanless case, allowing it to run in total silence.
That echoed the grand touring element of the sports car.
However, the lack of a fan meant the Macintosh could regularly overheat!
The computer also had a molded carry-handle built into the rear, similar to the 928’s hatch cut-out.
Jobs kept on incorporating elements of the sports car
One thing Jobs noted about earlier designs for the Mac was how boxy they were.
This is why the original Mac concept by Jef Raskin was never seriously considered by the Apple co-founder.
Steve Jobs then used the car as a benchmark for the curvaceous design of the Mac.
Apple launched the Macintosh 128K in January 1984, with a Super Bowl advert directed by Ridley Scott that cost between $370,000-$900,000.
But in the first weekend it was on sale, Apple sold $3.5 million worth of Macs.
While the computer system wasn’t a direct copy of the Porsche, it was clear that the German sports car had some influence on its design.
In 2025, both a 928 and an original Macintosh are very desirable collectible items.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
