911R prototypes

[andyjboy]

Kurt – the 4 ‘R’ prototypes did not form part of the ‘production’ series of cars but were based on 1967 911S chassis.

However, this is often the case with Factory prototypes which are based on/derived from regular production models – the later Carrera RS had a series of ‘prototypes’ (at least 8 or 9) that were built on 1972 911S platforms & did not form part of the ‘production’ series (911 360 XXXX VIN).

In terms of the R prototypes, as stated earlier, I have witnessed the ground-up restoration of R#3 which competed in a variety of different specifications (including running with a Sportmatic transmission) & which has been restored to the specification in which it won the 1967 Marathon de la Route (including std production F&R lamps) :

[Jens]

Andy, is this the car? Sportomatic, Vic Elford...?

[andyjboy]

Yes, Jens - same car.

[pwd72s]

The "prototypes", as far as I know, were NOT called that in their time. In this regard, Kurt is spot on. I have in my possession a copy of a letter written by one of the men present when the deal was struck for the factory to build these early "rally" (really race) cars. They were designed to take a loophole in the USA SCCA regs then in place that would qualify them as "sedans". One of these cars, the "silver weenie",was shipped to the Northwest, c/o what was then known as Porsche Cars Northwest. I know where the car is, in pieces, right now. It was advertised in a P-car oriented publication for $150K, in pieces, oh...I'd guess 18-20 months ago? I'm staying mum about the current owner...just in case I win a lottery. How'd I get the letter copy? I had my negatives of pics taken "back in the day" and the current owner wanted photos...we kind of made a swap. He got prints, I got photocopies. The letter tells an interesting tale...Porsche execs wondering how to get P-car fans in the USA out of their 356's, which they rightfully loved, and into the then new 911 model. SCCA racing was a tool...
Keep in mind the USA and the European racing scenes were quite different back in the mid 60's....

[Jens]

Thanks for showing the photo Andy. It's great to add living color to the old days.

[Jens]

Kurt:

"In all, according to the experts, Porsche would construct 24 911Rs: 4 prototypes and 20 "production" machines. The project began in the second quarter of 1967 when Piech's engineers pulled 4 911S bodyshells from the assembly line and stripped them down to bare metal. What they put back was far less than what they took out.

Replaced by fiberglass look-alike components were the front and rear deck lids, as well as the front and rear bumpers, and the two fron fenders. On the prototypes, aluminum was used for the doors (on the production cars, these would be in fiberglass also), while plexiglass was employed for the side and rear windows to go along with a windshield of thinner glass."

Quoted from Oursler's "Porsche Racing Cars, a History of Factory Competition"

[pwd72s]

Kurt:

"In all, according to the experts, Porsche would construct 24 911Rs: 4 prototypes and 20 "production" machines. The project began in the second quarter of 1967 when Piech's engineers pulled 4 911S bodyshells from the assembly line and stripped them down to bare metal. What they put back was far less than what they took out.

Replaced by fiberglass look-alike components were the front and rear deck lids, as well as the front and rear bumpers, and the two fron fenders. On the prototypes, aluminum was used for the doors (on the production cars, these would be in fiberglass also), while plexiglass was employed for the side and rear windows to go along with a windshield of thinner glass."

Quoted from Oursler's "Porsche Racing Cars, a History of Factory Competition"

And to think...all of us trying to beat the auto-X times of the silver weenie? We were dumb enough to think it was just a "race prepped" 1967 911S...Guys, you GOTTA understand the times...it wasn't "making history"...it was just playing with cars.

[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.

[bob tilton]

pg 2 from the article

[bob tilton]

last page from the article