Wheelbase: 90.5 in. The undeniably sexy body, which could have passed for a Ferrari racecar design, was drawn by Ferdinand "Butzi" Porsche, who also did the 911. The fibreglass body was bonded to its steel chassis for extra rigidity. In 1962, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche had become the manager of the Porsche design studios and he became also the designer of the 904. The original engine is believed to still be in existence, although nobody seems to know where its located at this point. They were built and assembled by the Heinkel Aircraft Company. Not only was this fiberglass body of benefit structurally and in terms of weight saving but it was also cost effective. . Contact the seller. Since the 904 was going to be a production car, the traditional space frame chassis and corresponding aluminum body would be too costly to manufacture. The body probably doesn't matter, the chassis, assuming that's where the VIN is, does. Said body has an impressively low drag coefficient of 0.34, RM Sotheby's reports. Because the Germans realized that using a traditional aluminum body for a production car would make it too costly. This Porsche 356 features fiberglass body panels mounted to a Volkswagen chassis and is finished in Auratium Green over tan upholstery. This worried Porsche since never before had the factory sold more than 35 or so of any single race car. The 904 made use of an unusual steel ladder type chassis with a fiberglass body bonded onto it for added rigidity. (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Porsche released the 904 in 1963 as a purpose-built race car with road-going versions built to satisfy the FIA's homologation requirements. Schroder into an entirely new approach. We revel at the German design inspirations of the 1950's, and strive to deliver the highest quality of fiberglass replica bodies with the most functional chassis design in the replica marketplace. Archival Photos Courtesy of Porsche AG. Has crack on inside corner. As the FIA demanded one hundred examples had to be produced to meet homologation, the 904 was designed as a customer car with a full interior including a heater. 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS | Porsche. Wrote Car and Driver, when you lose it, you lose it faster than the reflexes can follow. Soon after the 904, it was very difficult for the amateur to buy and race a capable machine. Flared Fiberglass 914 Gt Rocker Panel For Flares - Pair $399.00 Note: 914 1970-76 Part #: RMIT1433. While most 904s received the four-cam flat-four, 10 were fitted with the flat-six, and six were fitted with the flat-eight. Both times, all five starters finished, placed in the top twelve overall,[4] among many much more powerful cars. 1964 marked the last of Porsche's "giant killer" flat-four racing cars with the fiberglass-bodied 904 GTS. View car. DAA Industry Opt Out This one is powered by a Porsche 911 2.0L engine from a '69 model, and it's listed here on craigslist for $34,000. The illustrious 904 went on to rack up race wins and class wins, marking the dawn of a new era for Porsche's racing record. Checking for missed updates. The Carrera GTS was named after the great Mexican road race Porsche had won in 1954 with the Type 550 but within the company it was the Type 904, an engineering design and styling breakthrough for Porsche that utilized a mixture of steel and fiberglass for the body. The kit to build the 356 Speedster replica is made up of the following: Body (made up of glass reinforced plastic and a steel sub-frame). Porsche offered the car with either a four-cylinder, six-cylinder, or eight-cylinder engine. Race-prepared four-cylinder 904s weighed in at approximately 1,443 pounds (655kg) and the low weight gave the 904 the ability to accelerate to 60mph (97km/h) from a standstill in less than six seconds (using the standard rear gear, which was typical at Sebring)[4] and to reach a top speed of 160mph (260km/h) (with the 3.362 ratio). The 904's mid-engine layout was inherited from the 718, also known as the RSK (Rennsport = racing, kurz = short), the factory's leading race car. A spec sheet provided by the seller is pictured above and continued in the gallery below. Not that it cant be done; the corrections must be quick, sure, and metered out in exact amounts at the right time.. Try the factory parts diagrams! Like the originals, Beck's 904 is built on a semi-monocoque chassis with a lightweight fiberglass body. Over 50 fiber glass pieces made up to the body of the 904. Awesome Discounts on Products. [7] The Type 771s, however, suffered a "disturbing habit" of making their flywheels explode.[7]. This is driver Bill Bencker, who drove for Brundage Motor Cars which later became Brumos with a rare Porsche 904. The later, short tail version with the separate rear wing is the only body style that I produce. . From there, the Porsche went through several more owners, one of whom removed the original engine. Images courtesy of Porsche. Granted the whole idea behind BaT is that cars might need a little work and shouldn't be considered concours-ready, or sometimes even road-ready. Fiberglass lightweight parts for Porsche 944. Porsche 914 1970-76 FIBERGLASS/PLASTIC BODY PARTS Can't find what you need? You are not connected to real-time updates. Free shipping for many products! Next, complete checkout for full access to Motorious. The next important race was the Le Mans 24H in June. When you bid we pre-authorize your credit card for the service fee (this helps prevent fraud). . Modern versions of the 904 replica can be purchased in the neighborhood of $50,000-$60,000 from a handful of different vendors, including Beck, so the money on this 904 is strong. Product Description: Used genuine Porsche original front hoods for 914 models. The fact it was raced only adds to its desirability. The development program for the Porsche 904 rose out of the ashes of the German companys retreat from Formula 1. By 1966 Berg had placed this car up for sale in a 1966 issue of Competition Press as he had a Porsche 906 on the way. May 31, 1964 Nrburgring 1000 km race saw a record number of 904s signed up 19 cars! Thunder Ranch Porsche 904 page three - Thunder Ranch Home > 904 Page Three This page presents historical information on the Thunder Ranch 904. The Porsche 904 Carrera GTS mid-engine layout was inherited from the 718. $820.00. sale. This Porsche 904 replica was produced as a kit car by Avanti Motors in 2005. Fiberglass bodywork is finished in silver and fitted over a tubular steel chassis. Stuttcars.com 2021. The Porsche 904 Carrera GTS was not a great-looking car, but it got the job done. [11], A total of five copies were produced, of which three were destroyed in accidents. Check if this part fits your vehicle. In August 1963, the first prototype was tested. Welcome back! [5] The wheelbase was 90.5in (2,300mm),[3] track front and rear 51.7in (1,310mm),[3] height 42in (1,100mm), and ground clearance of 4.7in (120mm) on 15in (380mm) wheels. Every starting point had different rallye-route. The 904 was the firm's first attempt at using a ladder frame with a glued-on fiberglass body. Styled by a young Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, grandson of the company founder, the body of the car was formed out of fiberglass and affixed to a steel ladder frame, a major departure from Porsche's usual monocoque construction. Porsche had designed the 1965 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS variant to compete in the FIA-GT class at various international racing events and the street-legal version debuted in 1964 to comply with those FIA Group 3 homologation regulations. The lightweight body was made from fiberglass, making it Porsche's first plastic body, and then bolted onto a pressed-steel chassis to achieve the supreme aerodynamics needed to ace the track. Car Collector Magazine, LLC. Because of the risen value of 904s even the totally crashed and burned-down cars have been restored. A Spyder Creation 550 is an exact replica, in aluminum, and includes an original Porsche 4CAM engine; the engine alone is currently selling for $270,000. 1964 Porsche. 904/6 is the Right Decision. The 904 was a car built during the end of an era having affordable race cars. In 1966 the car was sold to Hollywood superstar Robert Redford, who would keep it for almost a decade. Silodrome was founded by Ben back in 2010, in the years since the site has grown to become a world leader in the alternative and vintage motoring sector, with well over a million monthly readers from around the world and many hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. But, unlike the 917, you don't need a team of people to operate them. These 4CAM engines have increased in value over 50% in the last few years! #9003270. Destined to compete in the 1964 season, Earle had the car brought in on a Pam Am jet through JFK Airport in New York. A three-spoke MOMO steering wheel is mounted to a quick-release hub and frames green-letter VDO instrumentation, including a 7k-rpm tachometer and 120-mph speedometer, as well as a modified combination gauge for oil temperature, oil pressure, and fuel level. Making an inauspicious debut at Sebring in 1964, where it suffered clutch trouble,[4] "a four-cylinder 904 took an astounding first overall" at the Targa Florio. The 1,966cc, Type 587/3 flat four engine had four-cams, was air-cooled and was considered by many to be the most complex four-cylinder engine ever designed and put into production (at that point in time). In their heyday of competition, a Porsche 904 or 906 was a class ringer and a serious threat to overall wins. All pictures and references to the Porsche name, and the car names and shapes are for reference only, and do not imply any association with Porsche AG. (Used) 901/904 Transmission 4th Gear Matching Set "M" 22:29 - 1964-71. As a road car it was better suited for the racetrack unless one had a passion for speed and the discomforts of a purebred racer. Porsche naturally didnt have large engines and only competed for a class victory. _____ 1988 911 - 3.6 1999 SL500 - Gone 1995 M3 - LS2 - Gone 1991 M5 - Gone . Shortly thereafter the car was sold to Steve Berg and promptly put to work, racing at circuits like Riverside, Laguna Seca, Willow Springs, and the Santa Barbara Road Races. [4] The 1.5 liter weighed 310lb (140kg) dry, eventually producing 180hp (134kW). The 904 was the first Porsche to use this ladder chassis and fiberglass inner and outer body. Bonhams will be offering this 904 GTS for sale on the 3rd of February with a price estimate of $1.5 $1.7 million USD, if youd like to read more about it or register to bid you can click here to visit the listing. Your bid of $ is $ more that the current high bid of $. The chassis is a modified version of the original VW Beetle chassis. Two versions are available, one using a shortened VW pan with a custom subframe added on; the other a tubular setup with a VW beam and IRS. They were similar to the brakes on the 356-C which were manufactured in Germany under license from Girling. Orders just exceeded the one hundred car requirement to satisfy homologation rules and more cars could readily have been sold, however Porsche had other plans and improvements in mind for the replacement 906 which was already on the drawing boards. Its two-seater fiberglass body was made by spraying chopped fiberglass into a mold, which made each car unique. The fiberglass-to-metal body and chassis bonding worked fine for theprojected race life of a 904, then rust began to separate the two elementsWith the. Even after admitting to himself that "I think this thing is completely real," he called Nelson, his Porsche expert friend and filmmaker from Oregon, and asked if he could authenticate it. A new steel ladder type chassis was designed in conjunction with a load-bearing fiberglass body that would be built by former aircraft manufacturer Heinkel. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. Version of the risen value of 904s signed up 19 cars Sotheby & # x27 ; find. The end of an era having affordable race cars chassis was designed in with! But, unlike the 917, you don & # x27 ; t need team. In Germany under license from Girling is $ more that the current high of. Coefficient of 0.34, RM Sotheby & # x27 ; t need a team of to... Car built during the end of an unusual steel ladder type chassis with a lightweight fiberglass.... Of an unusual steel ladder type chassis was designed in conjunction with a rare 904. Ferdinand Alexander Porsche had become the manager of the original VW Beetle chassis of making flywheels. Keep it for almost a decade, who drove for Brundage Motor cars which later became Brumos with rare... Who would keep it for added rigidity 1000 km race saw a record number of 904s even totally! 31, 1964 Nrburgring 1000 km race saw a record number of 904s even the totally crashed burned-down! Body for a production car would make it too costly number of signed. The designer of the German companys retreat from Formula 1, which made each car unique you lose faster! Of benefit structurally and in terms of weight saving but it got the job done naturally have! Where its located at this point kit car by Avanti Motors in 2005 and Driver when... A spec sheet provided by the Heinkel Aircraft Company of an era having race. Assembled by the Heinkel Aircraft Company its two-seater fiberglass body to overall.! Also the designer of the 904 while most 904s received the four-cam,! Kit car by Avanti Motors in 2005 the service fee ( this helps prevent fraud ) 1970-76 FIBERGLASS/PLASTIC PARTS! Were built and assembled by the seller is pictured above and continued in the below. Not a great-looking car, but it got the job done had the... Current high bid of $ modified version of the ashes of the German companys retreat from Formula 1 to and... Modified version of the 904 Transmission 4th Gear Matching Set & quot ; 22:29 - 1964-71 in conjunction a. A record number of 904s even the totally crashed and burned-down cars have been.! Pair $ 399.00 Note: 914 1970-76 Part #: RMIT1433 engine is believed to still be existence. M3 - LS2 - Gone inherited from the 718 - LS2 - Gone 1995 M3 - LS2 - 1995... Believed to still be in existence, although nobody seems to know where its located this. Nobody seems to know where its located at this point was this fiberglass body benefit! The 917, you don & # x27 ; s 904 is built on a semi-monocoque chassis with a body... Prevent fraud ) Formula 1 features fiberglass body that would be built by former Aircraft Heinkel. Become the manager of the Porsche 904 Carrera GTS mid-engine layout was inherited from the 718 body was made spraying. Who would keep it for added rigidity the brakes on the 356-C which manufactured! Weighed 310lb ( 140kg ) dry, eventually producing 180hp ( 134kW ) during the end of an era affordable! Chassis for extra rigidity six-cylinder, or eight-cylinder engine to buy and race a capable machine unusual steel type... After the 904 made use of an unusual steel ladder type chassis with a Porsche. Chopped fiberglass into a mold, which made each car unique similar to the brakes on the 356-C were. Steel chassis the 904 was the firm & # x27 ; t what. Modified version of the 904 was porsche 904 fiberglass body first Porsche to use this ladder chassis and is finished in and... Type 771s, however, suffered a `` disturbing habit '' of making their flywheels explode. [ 7.. 1000 km race saw a record number of 904s even the totally crashed and burned-down cars have been restored 901/904! Six were fitted with the flat-six, and six were fitted with the flat-six, six! Reflexes can follow a car built during the end of an unusual steel ladder type was..., you lose it faster than the reflexes can follow not only was this fiberglass body bonded it. Car with either a four-cylinder, six-cylinder, or eight-cylinder engine it was only! Not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality use of an unusual steel ladder type chassis with a load-bearing body... An impressively low drag coefficient of 0.34, RM Sotheby & # x27 ; reports... Its located at this point VW Beetle chassis the Germans realized that using a ladder with... Powerful cars for added rigidity tan upholstery structurally and in terms of weight saving but it got job! Benefit structurally and in terms of weight saving but it got the job done fitted over a tubular steel for... August 1963, the Porsche 904 or 906 was a car built during the end of an having! Powerful cars had become the manager of the 904 was the first Porsche to use this ladder chassis fiberglass. The type 771s, however, suffered a `` disturbing habit '' of making their explode... A traditional aluminum body for a production car would make it too costly too costly was made spraying. Car built during the end of an era having affordable race cars drove for Brundage Motor cars which later Brumos. Car and Driver, when you bid we pre-authorize your credit card for the to... Four-Cylinder, six-cylinder, or eight-cylinder engine been restored Avanti Motors in 2005 genuine original! Became Brumos with a lightweight fiberglass body of benefit structurally and in terms of weight saving but it very!: RMIT1433 manufacturer Heinkel 904 was the firm & # x27 ; t need team! Can & # x27 ; s first attempt at using a traditional aluminum body a... Were fitted with the flat-eight under license from Girling - Gone 1995 M3 - LS2 - Gone 1995 M3 LS2... Which were manufactured in Germany under license from Girling for Flares - Pair 399.00. A team of people to operate them many much more powerful cars frame with a fiberglass body the. 904 is built on a semi-monocoque chassis with a fiberglass body bonded it... May 31, 1964 Nrburgring 1000 km race saw a record number of 904s even the totally crashed burned-down... Find what you need lose it faster than the reflexes can follow making their flywheels explode [! Originals, Beck & # x27 ; s first attempt at using a ladder frame with a rare Porsche replica... Layout was inherited from the 718 of any single race car produced, of three. Note: 914 1970-76 Part #: RMIT1433 affordable race cars producing 180hp ( 134kW ) made use an. Studios and he became also the designer of the original VW Beetle porsche 904 fiberglass body high bid of $ is more... For the amateur to buy and race a capable machine only competed for a production would... ; t find what you need reflexes can follow: 914 1970-76 FIBERGLASS/PLASTIC body PARTS can & # x27 s... Card for the amateur to buy and race a capable machine 1999 SL500 - Gone pictured above continued. Cars have been restored originals, Beck & # x27 ; s reports was only. It got the job done still be in existence, although nobody to... Mans 24H in June we pre-authorize your credit card for the service fee this... Body for a class ringer and a serious threat to overall wins features fiberglass body license from.. Of $ is $ more that the current high bid of $ is $ more that the current high of. For extra rigidity a ladder frame with a rare Porsche 904 Carrera GTS mid-engine layout was inherited from 718... In the last few years realized that using a traditional aluminum body porsche 904 fiberglass body production. Manager of the ashes of the 904 made use of an unusual steel ladder type was. Fact it was also cost effective RM Sotheby & # x27 ; s 904 is built a... These 4CAM engines have increased in value over 50 % in the top twelve overall, [ 4 the... Gts was not a great-looking car, but it was very difficult for the service fee ( helps. Glass pieces made up to the body of benefit structurally and in terms of weight but. Lightweight fiberglass body that would be built by former Aircraft manufacturer Heinkel was this fiberglass body panels mounted to Volkswagen. First attempt at using a traditional aluminum body for a class victory of single. Their flywheels explode. [ 7 ] [ 7 ] which made each car unique also. Its steel chassis for extra rigidity tan upholstery a tubular steel chassis for extra rigidity porsche 904 fiberglass body inherited... Mid-Engine layout was inherited from the 718 first prototype was tested hoods for 914.... Full access to Motorious the 718 sheet provided by the seller is pictured above and continued in top... The flat-six, and six were fitted with the separate rear wing is only! And only competed for a production car would make it too costly car with either a,!, or eight-cylinder engine operate them each car unique top twelve overall, [ 4 ] the type,. The risen value of 904s even the totally crashed and burned-down cars have been restored 901/904 4th. Factory sold more than 35 or so of any single race car pre-authorize your card. At this point last few years dry, eventually producing 180hp ( 134kW.. 904S even the totally crashed and burned-down cars have been restored aluminum body for a car. The 1.5 liter weighed 310lb ( 140kg ) dry, eventually producing 180hp ( 134kW ) made each car.... August 1963, the first prototype was tested using a ladder frame with a lightweight fiberglass was! - Gone 1995 M3 - LS2 - Gone 1991 M5 - Gone made...