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Headline Porsches at RM Auctions Monterey 2012

1963 Porsche 904-6 Carrera GTS at RM Auction Monterey 2012

A selection of Porsche competition and road cars will be among the featured entries at the RM Auctions Monterey 2012 sale, scheduled for August 17–18 in California. Comprising twelve examples in total and spanning 48 years of production, the Porsches on offer are headlined by a group of racing cars from the 1960s through 1980s.

“Whether they’re looking for road or racing cars, Porsche enthusiasts are always extremely discerning as they look for quality cars with good history and authenticity,” says Rob Myers, Chairman and Founder, RM Auctions. “Our annual Monterey auction is a perfect venue for us to showcase the best and we’re delighted to present the ex-Jo Siffert 917/10 along with the tremendously successful 935 and 962 to our clients. The 911 GT1 alongside a number of outstanding road-going cars makes this offering all the more special.”

The featured Porsche for the 2012 RM Auction Monterey sale is a well-documented 1971 Porsche 917/10 Spyder Can-Am Race Car, chassis 917/10-002, that was raced in period by Jo Siffert. Initially tested at the Can-Am course in Weissach, Germany, 917/10-002 made its official racing debut at Watkins Glen. Siffert raced the car in six out of the ten Can-Am races that season, enjoying strong results before his life was tragically cut short. 917/10-002 returned to the factory race department shortly thereafter, where it was rebuilt and modified for the 1972 European Interserie. This time with Willi Kauhsen behind the wheel, 917/10-002 further built on its strong race record, scoring an impressive seven podium finishes from nine starts. The car remained in the care of Willi Kauhsen’s family for the next 25 years, before being treated to a rebuild and restoration that returned the car to its original Can-Am specification. The work was completed by the same individuals who were in charge of its original development at Porsche in the early-1970s and was blessed by Porsche, as evidenced by a letter on file from Mr. Klaus Bishof, a long-time Porsche professional and current head of the Porsche Rolling Museum. Today, with just five owners from new, it has since participated in various demonstration events, including Goodwood and the Oldtimer GP at the Nurburgring (Estimate $2,900,000–$3,500,000).

1971 Porsche 917-10 Spyder Can-Am
1971 Porsche 917-10 Spyder Can-Am – Estimate $2,900,000 to $3,500,000. (Photo: Tim Scott © 2012 Courtesy of RM Auctions)

“The Porsche 917/10 is unquestionably one of the most desirable Porsches ever built and is certainly on a very short list of the marque’s most legendary racing cars,” says Annette Abaci, Car Specialist, RM Germany. “With its unique history that includes none other than Swiss racing great Jo Siffert and a professional restoration carried out to the most exacting standards, we expect this Porsche to garner strong interest from ‘Rennsport’ aficionados at our upcoming Monterey sale.”

Another featured competition Porsche is the fully-documented 1963 Porsche 904/6 Carrera GTS Factory Works Prototype, chassis number 906-002. The second of Porsche’s 904/6 factory team cars, of which only five survive, it is not only one of the limited few developmental prototypes built in 1963, but also one of the few 904/6s to retain its original 906 six-cylinder engine with which it was delivered to its first owner. After its use by the factory, it was acquired by gentleman driver Michel Weber, who went on to race the car extensively, scoring two victories along with multiple podium finishes in the 1966 season. Weber loaned the car to Swiss driving team Scuderia Basilea for the 1967 season before selling it to U.S. Air Force Major Berny Barns. Today, it is offered in completely restored condition, race prepared, and accompanied by numerous spare parts and extensive records (Estimate $1,800,000–$2,200,000).

1963 Porsche 904-6 Carrera GTS
1963 Porsche 904/6 Carrera GTS – Estimate $1,800,000 to $2,200,000. (Photo: Pawel Litwinski © 2012 Courtesy of RM Auctions)

The evolution of Porsche’s racing endeavors through the years will be further illustrated at the 2012 RM Monterey auction via a pair of 1980s era IMSA racing cars — the dominant 1981 Porsche 935 JLP-3 IMSA Racing Car and the championship-winning 1987 Porsche 962 IMSA Camel GT Racing Car.

The ex- John Paul Sr. and Jr. and Derek Bell 1981 Porsche 935 JLP-3 IMSA Racing Car, chassis number JLP-3 was commissioned by father and son driving team, John L. Paul Sr. and Jr. for endurance racing. This 1982 IMSA Camel GT Championship winner is the only car to have won both the Daytona 24 Hours and the Sebring 12 Hours in the same year (1982). It also racked up an unprecedented seven consecutive victories from Pocono in September of 1981 through Charlotte in May of 1982. Furthermore, from Sebring 1981 through Daytona 1983, it recorded nine wins and sixteen podium finishes out of a total of twenty-seven races. It is eligible for participation in all foreign and domestic IMSA GT vintage events, including the Monterey Historics (Estimate $1,300,000–$1,800,000).

1981 Porsche 935 JLP-3 IMSA Racing Car
1981 Porsche 935 JLP-3 IMSA Racing Car – Estimate $1,300,000 to $1,800,000. (Photo: Pawel Litwinski © 2012 Courtesy of RM Auctions)

The 1987 Porsche 962 IMSA Camel GT Racing Car, chassis number 962DR1(RLR 202), also boasts a strong racing pedigree. Powered by a turbocharged 3.2-liter engine and prepared for IMSA sprint events, it finished third overall at the fifth round of the 1988 Championship at West Palm Beach. Throughout the remainder of the 1988 season, DR1, as it was known, took two more podiums, including Porsche’s final win of the season at San Antonio, breaking Nissan’s eight-race winning streak. As the points-leading 962 of the 1988 season, DR1 is credited with clinching Porsche’s final IMSA Manufacturers Championship, beating Nissan by one point. DR1 was retired at the end of the 1988 season before later being campaigned in selected IMSA events during the 1990 and 1991 seasons. It has since been entered in several exhibition events, including two Rennsport Reunions (Estimate $1,200,000–$1,600,000).

1987 Porsche 962 IMSA Camel GT Racing Car
1987 Porsche 962 IMSA Camel GT Racing Car – Estimate $1,200,000 to $1,600,000. (Photo: Pawel Litwinski © 2012 Courtesy of RM Auctions)

In addition to the racing Porsches, RM’s Monterey auction will also lift the gavel on a series of road-going cars from the German manufacturer, including a 1998 Porsche 911 GT1 ‘Straßenversion’, chassis number WP0ZZZ99ZWS396005. The homologated road-going street version of the 1997 GT1 race car, the Straßenversion’s performance is still impressive with zero-to-sixty times of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 194 mph. One of approximately 25 built, the example on offer was completed in January 1998 and delivered to its first owner in Germany before becoming the only example known to be imported into the United States (Estimate $1,250,000–$1,400,000).

Other notables Porsches on offer at the 2012 RM Auction Monterey sale include:

  • 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Lightweight (Est. $350,000–$450,000);
  • 2004 Porsche Carrera GT, just two owners from new (Est. $320,000–$360,000);
  • Matching-numbers 1960 Porsche 356 Roadster (Est. $200,000 – $250,000);
  • Matching-numbers 1963 Porsche 356B 1600 S Cabriolet, restored in original Slate Gray with red leather (Est. $125,000–$165,000);
  • 1971 Porsche 911 “R/T” Coupe, a recreation of the 911 R, Porsche’s first purpose-built 911 racer (Est. $90,000–$110,000); and,
  • Pair of Porsche’s 356 speedsters, including a matching-numbers 1957 Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster (Est. $120,000–$150,000), and a 1956 Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster, finished in Stone Gray with green upholstery (Est. $190,000–$250,000).

The RM Auctions Monterey sale returns to the Portola Hotel and Monterey Conference Center, August 17–18, 2012. A roster of approximately 120 automobiles will be on offer at the auction. For more information, contact an RM specialist at +1 519 352 4575 or visit www.rmauctions.com.

[Source: RM Auctions]