CAFÉ RACER 76

Images: RM Auctions by Simon Clay

This late-run Porsche 904 Carrera GTS is a stunning example of Porsche’s return to sportscar racing. It sold at RM Auctions’ Arizona Sale for $1, 650, 000

The car, 904-107, was built in 1965 as one of the last four-cylinder second-series 904s ever built.

Built with road equipment it is one of just four second-series cars to enjoy a reinforced chassis, centre-filling tank, short doors with pull-up plastic windows, upgraded brakes and reshaped tail with ‘Kamm’ ducktail. It is accepted that more time was spent building and perfecting the cars built late in the series, so each example was treated to an immaculate finish.

Originally shipped to Iceland, the car was sold in 1967 to Autohaus Walter von Hoff, and then again to Dr. Carl Armstrong, who was an amateur racing driver at the time.

Armstrong fetched the car in New York City and drove it home – which, barring today’s New York City traffic, sounds magic. He did most of his own race preparation, and painted the car light metallic blue before racing it extensively in SCCA Central Division events in ’68 and ’69.

The pair won the A Production race at Waterford Hills in Michigan twice in 1968 and came second in class in another event there. They won at Steel Cities and secured fourth at Mid-Ohio in that same year.

During this stage of the car’s racing career the Type 587/3 four-cam motor developed a habit of head gasket failure, so Armstrong’s brother fabricated a new set. The transaxle case also suffered damage during a race and was replaced with a 911 unit.

1969 saw the pair return to the track several times, but Armstrong ended up purchasing a 906 and selling this car to Robert Fergus.

Fergus prepared it for road use, repainting it white and installing (gasp) carpets and comfortable seats. It was not in his care long, however, and George ‘Jerry’ Reilly soon purchased it, fitting a correct 904 transmission and 911 S competition motor, and returning the car to its original silver.

Reilly entered the car in track events at Lime Rock Park, but didn’t race it extensively.

In 2001 he returned the car’s original four-cam 904 engine, 99 088, and sold it to Cal Turner, who reignited its race career. It was during this period in a race at Summit Point that the four-cam motor seized and was replaced with another 911 engine.

The car was sold again in 2005 and treated to a thorough restoration with the goal of retaining as much of the car’s original parts as possible.

It’s now in great condition and road worthy. Power is generated by a 911 motor from between ’66 and ’67 with triple-throat downdraft Weber 40IDA carbs. Its original Nadella axle shafts, Eberspacher gasoline heater, fuel surge tank, coconut-fiber matting and ’64-dated steel and alloy competition wheels are still with the car.

It has gained additional reinforcing steel tubing around the rear suspension at some point in its racing adventures, but is an original car in lovely condition. It’s even sold with a correct 1964 Type 587/3 904 engine, currently mounted on a stand.

Desirable, beautiful and fast, with a longstanding competition history and streetable sensibilities, this is the kind of historic racer we all dream of.