Check out one of the world’s most expensive Porsches, up for auction in Monterey in a few days.
Notice to Porsche enthusiasts! You have in front of you the one who should undoubtedly be one of the 911 most expensive in the world. And for good reason, the German sportswoman sold by RM Sotheby’s in Monterey in a few days is estimated to be between $ 4.5 million and $ 5 million, just that. A totally delusional amount, but which fortunately can not be explained by several reasons. First of all, this 1968 Porsche 911 R is part of an ultra-limited production of only twenty examples worldwide. Created at the end of the 1960s, this variation was inspired by the famous mantra “Light is right” by Colin Chapman, founder of Lotus. Porsche boss Ferdinand Piech then instructed his teams to transform a 911 S Coupé in order to lighten it as much as possible, with the aim of making it run in the GT 2.0 category in competition. The result ? An ultra-light sports car, thanks to the massive use of fiberglass and plastic, while all the elements deemed superfluous were removed.
Also under the hood, a few changes were made to ensure optimal performance. The engineers then grafted him the six cylinders of the mythical Porsche 906 developing 210 horsepower, made from magnesium or aluminum depending on the version. Much more powerful than the 160 horsepower of the production 911 S, it is therefore lighter, which among other things allowed the 911 R to drop to only 816 kilos. Unfortunately, these transformations were not enough to convince the FIA, which refused the homologation of the sports car, forcing the brand to run them in the prototype category. Finally, after a few years in competition, all of the twenty copies of the sports car ended up in collectors’ garages, eight of which had landed in France. Suffice to say that this car is a real rarity, and in particular the version now offered for sale, which is distinguished in particular by its Tour de Corse livery, the car having been entered in several races and rallies.
A turbulent history
Indeed, this one was used for the competition until 1969, year during which its owner Michel Martinach was victim of an accident while driving. The car was then dismantled, the engine and transmission having been sold to another collector, Gérard Darton. Subsequently, many restorations were undertaken on the original chassis, in order to rebuild the car and graft it with a new 2.3-liter ST engine. The car was subsequently sold again, this time to Thierry sabine, who used it as a reconnaissance car for rallies, before selling it to Bertrand Lenoir, who installed under its hood a 2.0-liter unit taken from a 911 T. Its reconstruction was then definitively completed in 2015 by its owner current, with the help of the Porsche teams.
See you on August 14 to find out the final amount of the auction, which could then perhaps exceed five million euros.
Photo : Robin Adams / RM Sotheby’s
Also read on Auto-Moto.com:
New Porsche 911 Safari 2022: adventurous outfit
Porsche 911 Turbo Hybrid: the first pictures and info
Porsche 911 GT3 Touring test: it’s off again for a lap (ing)
Check out one of the world’s most expensive Porsches, up for auction in Monterey in a few days.
Notice to Porsche enthusiasts! You have in front of you the one who should undoubtedly be one of the 911 most expensive in the world. And for good reason, the German sportswoman sold by RM Sotheby’s in Monterey in a few days is estimated to be between $ 4.5 million and $ 5 million, just that. A totally delusional amount, but which fortunately can not be explained by several reasons. First of all, this 1968 Porsche 911 R is part of an ultra-limited production of only twenty examples worldwide. Created at the end of the 1960s, this variation was inspired by the famous mantra “Light is right” by Colin Chapman, founder of Lotus. Porsche boss Ferdinand Piech then instructed his teams to transform a 911 S Coupé in order to lighten it as much as possible, with the aim of making it run in the GT 2.0 category in competition. The result ? An ultra-light sports car, thanks to the massive use of fiberglass and plastic, while all the elements deemed superfluous were removed.
Also under the hood, a few changes were made to ensure optimal performance. The engineers then grafted him the six cylinders of the mythical Porsche 906 developing 210 horsepower, made from magnesium or aluminum depending on the version. Much more powerful than the 160 horsepower of the production 911 S, it is therefore lighter, which among other things allowed the 911 R to drop to only 816 kilos. Unfortunately, these transformations were not enough to convince the FIA, which refused the homologation of the sports car, forcing the brand to run them in the prototype category. Finally, after a few years in competition, all of the twenty copies of the sports car ended up in collectors’ garages, eight of which had landed in France. Suffice to say that this car is a real rarity, and in particular the version now offered for sale, which is distinguished in particular by its Tour de Corse livery, the car having been entered in several races and rallies.
A turbulent history
Indeed, this one was used for the competition until 1969, year during which its owner Michel Martinach was victim of an accident while driving. The car was then dismantled, the engine and transmission having been sold to another collector, Gérard Darton. Subsequently, many restorations were undertaken on the original chassis, in order to rebuild the car and graft it with a new 2.3-liter ST engine. The car was subsequently sold again, this time to Thierry sabine, who used it as a reconnaissance car for rallies, before selling it to Bertrand Lenoir, who installed under its hood a 2.0-liter unit taken from a 911 T. Its reconstruction was then definitively completed in 2015 by its owner current, with the help of the Porsche teams.
See you on August 14 to find out the final amount of the auction, which could then perhaps exceed five million euros.
Photo : Robin Adams / RM Sotheby’s
Also read on Auto-Moto.com:
New Porsche 911 Safari 2022: adventurous outfit
Porsche 911 Turbo Hybrid: the first pictures and info
Porsche 911 GT3 Touring test: it’s off again for a lap (ing)
