Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, the design chief credited with the classic 911 sports car and grandson of the carmaker's founder, has died.

Porsche AG said Porsche was 76 and died today in Salzburg, Austria.

Porsche, known as F.A. by his colleagues, was head of the Porsche design studio in the early 1960s when the company developed the sleek 911 sports car that remains its brand-defining product.

The car is now in its seventh version. He served as board chairman from 1990 to 1993.

Porsche was the son of former Porsche Chairman Ferry Porsche, who died in 1998.

He was the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, who started the company as a design and engineering firm in the 1930s.