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Auction archive: Lot number 30Ω

1964 Porsche 904 GTS Chassis no. 904 012 Engine no. 14264 (see text)

Estimate
US$1,400,000 - US$1,600,000
Price realised:
n. a.
Auction archive: Lot number 30Ω

1964 Porsche 904 GTS Chassis no. 904 012 Engine no. 14264 (see text)

Estimate
US$1,400,000 - US$1,600,000
Price realised:
n. a.
Beschreibung:

1,991cc SOHC Flat 6-Cylinder Engine Dual Triple-choke Weber Carburetors Est. 175bhp at 6,800rpm 5-Speed Manual Transaxle 4-Wheel Independent Suspension 4-Wheel Disc Brakes *Raced in period under the Otto Zipper Precision Motor Car banner at prominent North American venues *Previously owned by actor Robert Redford, Steve Earle and Jim Tidwell *Retaining original bodywork, chassis, transaxle and suspension *Documented with factory Kardex, extensive history file, and listed in several marquee books *Rare and desirable example of a Porsche racing legend THE PORSCHE 904 GTS "The final sports racing expression of the Porsche four-cylinder line came in 1964 with the arrival of the 904 GTS Coupe. It not only took the first two places in that year's Targa Florio event but was also second in the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally and scored a host of class wins, in addition to numerous other competition successes." – Jonathan Wood, Porsche: The Legend Having axed its expensive Formula 1 program at the end of 1962—a commitment that placed a heavy burden on the German manufacturer's limited technical resources—Porsche turned once more to sports car racing as a means of improving and marketing its road car range. The Type 356-based Abarth-Carreras had flown the Porsche flag in international GT racing during the early 1960s, but an entirely new design was now deemed necessary to meet the strengthening opposition. A minimum of 100 road-usable cars had to be made to meet the FIA's homologation requirements, a stipulation that made a complex spaceframe design like the Type 718 RSK a non-starter. Therefore, Porsche's Technical Director, Dr. Hans Tomala, started with a clean sheet. Colin Chapman's revolutionary Lotus Elite, with its fiberglass body/chassis, had demonstrated the potential of composite materials for structural use in cars, and this technology was embraced in the design of Porsche's new mid-engined GT racer, the Type 904. Tomala though, opted for a chassis comprising a pair of steel, cross-braced, box sections, to which the fiberglass bodyshell was bonded. The engine and suspension were bolted directly to the steel structure, thereby reducing the transmission of noise and vibration to the passenger compartment—problems that had afflicted the all-composite Elite. Designed by Ferry Porsche's eldest son, "Butzi," the body was manufactured by the Heinkel aircraft company and is widely recognized as one of Porsche's most elegant. The Zuffenhausen firm's recent Formula 1 experience was reflected in the 904's state-of-the-art suspension, which featured double wishbones all round. Although developed at the same time as Porsche's new Type 901 six-cylinder road car (which would enter production in 1964 as the 911) the 904 used the 356 Carrera 2's tried and tested Type 587 2.0-liter four-cam, four-cylinder engine. The new six would not be ready in time in any case, but with an eye on future developments, the 904's engine bay was made big enough to accommodate it, as well as the 2-liter version of the F1 flat eight. In road trim, the 587/2 produced 155bhp, with 180 horsepower available when fitted with the full racing exhaust system. The five-speed transaxle incorporated internals developed for the 911's transmission, but used a different casing that reflected the 904's mid-engined layout. When an example entered in the prototype class at Daytona failed to finish in February of 1964, the 904 was able to make its competition debut in the USA. At Sebring in March, the 904 scored its first international success, the Cunningham/Underwood car winning its class and finishing 9th overall behind a multitude of Ferraris. While the small-capacity Porsches had always struggled to match the pace of the larger-engined opposition on fast tracks, at the punishing Sicilian Targa Florio, which was run along the lines of a tarmac rally, the nimble 2-liter cars were at much less of a disadvantage. Indeed, the German manufacturer had won the Sicilian classic on three occasio

Auction archive: Lot number 30Ω
Auction:
Datum:
17 Jan 2019
Auction house:
Bonhams London
Scottsdale, The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa 6902 East Greenway Parkway Phoenix AZ 85254 Tel: +1 415 391 4000 Fax : +1 415 391 4040 motors.us@bonhams.com
Beschreibung:

1,991cc SOHC Flat 6-Cylinder Engine Dual Triple-choke Weber Carburetors Est. 175bhp at 6,800rpm 5-Speed Manual Transaxle 4-Wheel Independent Suspension 4-Wheel Disc Brakes *Raced in period under the Otto Zipper Precision Motor Car banner at prominent North American venues *Previously owned by actor Robert Redford, Steve Earle and Jim Tidwell *Retaining original bodywork, chassis, transaxle and suspension *Documented with factory Kardex, extensive history file, and listed in several marquee books *Rare and desirable example of a Porsche racing legend THE PORSCHE 904 GTS "The final sports racing expression of the Porsche four-cylinder line came in 1964 with the arrival of the 904 GTS Coupe. It not only took the first two places in that year's Targa Florio event but was also second in the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally and scored a host of class wins, in addition to numerous other competition successes." – Jonathan Wood, Porsche: The Legend Having axed its expensive Formula 1 program at the end of 1962—a commitment that placed a heavy burden on the German manufacturer's limited technical resources—Porsche turned once more to sports car racing as a means of improving and marketing its road car range. The Type 356-based Abarth-Carreras had flown the Porsche flag in international GT racing during the early 1960s, but an entirely new design was now deemed necessary to meet the strengthening opposition. A minimum of 100 road-usable cars had to be made to meet the FIA's homologation requirements, a stipulation that made a complex spaceframe design like the Type 718 RSK a non-starter. Therefore, Porsche's Technical Director, Dr. Hans Tomala, started with a clean sheet. Colin Chapman's revolutionary Lotus Elite, with its fiberglass body/chassis, had demonstrated the potential of composite materials for structural use in cars, and this technology was embraced in the design of Porsche's new mid-engined GT racer, the Type 904. Tomala though, opted for a chassis comprising a pair of steel, cross-braced, box sections, to which the fiberglass bodyshell was bonded. The engine and suspension were bolted directly to the steel structure, thereby reducing the transmission of noise and vibration to the passenger compartment—problems that had afflicted the all-composite Elite. Designed by Ferry Porsche's eldest son, "Butzi," the body was manufactured by the Heinkel aircraft company and is widely recognized as one of Porsche's most elegant. The Zuffenhausen firm's recent Formula 1 experience was reflected in the 904's state-of-the-art suspension, which featured double wishbones all round. Although developed at the same time as Porsche's new Type 901 six-cylinder road car (which would enter production in 1964 as the 911) the 904 used the 356 Carrera 2's tried and tested Type 587 2.0-liter four-cam, four-cylinder engine. The new six would not be ready in time in any case, but with an eye on future developments, the 904's engine bay was made big enough to accommodate it, as well as the 2-liter version of the F1 flat eight. In road trim, the 587/2 produced 155bhp, with 180 horsepower available when fitted with the full racing exhaust system. The five-speed transaxle incorporated internals developed for the 911's transmission, but used a different casing that reflected the 904's mid-engined layout. When an example entered in the prototype class at Daytona failed to finish in February of 1964, the 904 was able to make its competition debut in the USA. At Sebring in March, the 904 scored its first international success, the Cunningham/Underwood car winning its class and finishing 9th overall behind a multitude of Ferraris. While the small-capacity Porsches had always struggled to match the pace of the larger-engined opposition on fast tracks, at the punishing Sicilian Targa Florio, which was run along the lines of a tarmac rally, the nimble 2-liter cars were at much less of a disadvantage. Indeed, the German manufacturer had won the Sicilian classic on three occasio

Auction archive: Lot number 30Ω
Auction:
Datum:
17 Jan 2019
Auction house:
Bonhams London
Scottsdale, The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa 6902 East Greenway Parkway Phoenix AZ 85254 Tel: +1 415 391 4000 Fax : +1 415 391 4040 motors.us@bonhams.com
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