911R prototypes

[nick-moss]

This subject popped up in another thread. According to Paternie's little red book there were 3 911R prototypes based on 67 cars, 307670/1 and 305876, the rest had 68 VINs:

[pwd72s]

If memory serves, the "silver weenie" was a '67...pretty rare bird indeed. It raced in the '67 (I think) Sebring race, Gary Wright at the wheel... Alan Johnson won in a sister car...I might be off on the year, but remember Gary telling me of a fading engine costing him the race, later backed up by reading a letter written by Terry B., who managed Porsche Cars Northwest...I'll post the pic again here...I think these cars deserve a seperate thread...

[Homemade 911]

PWD72 (et al):

Was this "silver weenie" an all-steel car?

If not... how much of it (bumpers, hood, etc) was fiberglass?? I'm just curious as to the mix of fiberglass and steel on this obviously a "non-911R" configuration. How about the engine...any specs available?

A related question to all: Were the early "rally" cars all steel as well? how about any fiberglass/steel mix on those?

cheers
Thom Kuby

[nick-moss]

All the later Porsche rally cars I have seen were all steel (they needed to be for strength). The 1969 Tour de Corse (which was more of a race) 911R was a lightweight car. These had GRP front wings, bumpers, top and bottom of dashboard, tail light assemblies, front lid and engine cover. Some doors were GRP, some aluminium.

[andyjboy]

There were actually 4 prototypes built in addition to the 20 'production' models.

I have personally witnessed the ground-up restoration of prototype #3 & have provided Ernie Wilberg with detailed pictures of both prototypes #3 & #4 for display on his excellent website:

http://www.pbase.com/911r

I'm sure it won't be long before Ernie chimes in here...

[pwd72s]

As far as I know, the silver weenie was all steel. But as it's race carreer went on, things "evolved"...as race cars tend to do. For example, I believe that is 2.0 engine "evolved" into a 2.5 by the time it ran it's last race...also, I don't think the term "prototype" was used when it was built, but could be wrong here..

[bob tilton]

this MAY OR MAY NOT be an interesting article from excellence feb 92 that MAY OR MAY NOT contribute to this discussion. i know for sure that i enjoyed the read.