Innovation to meet ever changing rules and regulations, as well as technology put Porsche in a position of domination in racing during the early 70's. The racing tradition at Porsche began a couple decades earlier and Porsche domination continued through much of the 80's. Porsche continues its racing tradition today, with new innovations and exciting cars built for one thing, speed.

Porsche Racing

The 1950's:

1955 Porsche 356A Speedster: It didn't take long for Porsche's first production vehicle to end up on race tracks. This is a typical period SCCA F production car. These cars are abundant today in vintage racing, although with "cheater" motors and much more than the 76 hp they left the factory with.
Model by De Agostini 1/43
1955 Porsche 550-1500RS: Zora Arcus-Duntov and Auguste Veuillet finished 13th at the 1955 LeMans in this car. Powered by a 1498 cc, DOHC flat-4, 110 bhp, good for 124 mph, the car featured an aluminum body on tubular steel ladder frame.
Model by BRUMM 1/43
1956 Porsche 550A RS Spyder: From its debut at the Nurburgring 1,000km race where it took a class win, the 550A was a winning race car. Its most important victory was probably at the Targa Florio in 1956, where it dominated its Italian competition in the hands of driver Umberto Maglioli.
Model by MAISTO 1/18

1956 Porsche 550A/4 RS Coupe: Entered by Porsche for the 1956 LeMans and driven by Richard von Frankenberg and Wolfgang von Trips, this 550A/4 RS Coupe finished in 5th place behind the much larger engined Jaguars, Aston Martin and Ferrari in the first four positions.
Model by BRUMM 1/43
1959 Porsche-Abarth Carerra GTL: Abarth only built 21 cars on the 356B chassis, making this car one of the rarest Porsches. Using the 4-cam Carerra motor producing 140 hp., the cars had success in the under 2.0L class during the 1960-62 racing seasons, including Le Mans class wins in 1960, 61 & 62. This is the 1960 car driven by Linge & Walter to 10th place overall. Zagato designed and produced the lightweight bodies for one of the loveliest GT's of the era.
Model by METRO 1/43

The 1960's:

1964 Porsche 904 GTS: Entered by Racing Team Holland for the 1964 LeMans, where it finished 8th with Ben Pon and Henk van Zalinge. The 904 had a 1967 cc four-cam, flat four, rated at 180 bhp, and a 160 mph top speed. Produced 1965-65 it was the first Porsche to use a fibreglass body. The 904 marks also the beginning of a series of sports cars that culminated in the mighty Porsche 917.
Model by VITESSE 1/43
1964 Porsche 904 GTS: In my hometown, the Eyerly's were the first family of racing. Harry with his unbeatable Eyerly Special and Mike and his brother Larry who raced Porsche's (they were the local VW dealer). This is a replica of the 904 Mike raced on West Coast tracks in 1964, before he went on to formuala cars (Mike would race in the Tasman series in New Zealand with some success.) A local icon and hero, sadly now gone due to cancer.
Model by DEAUGUSTINI (modified) 1/43
1966 Porsche 906: Targa Florio winners in 1966 Willy Mairesse and Herbert Müller drove this semi-works entry by Scuderia Filipinetti. The Porsche 906 or Carrera 6 was the last street-legal racing car from Porsche. 65 were produced in 1966. This allowed the model to be homologated for racing in the FIA's new Group 4. The engine regularly fitted was the 2.0L 6-cylinder lightweight racing engine with 220 hp and capable of 170 mph. At the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 906 placed 4-5-6-7 behind three Ford GT40 Mk II's.
Model by EBBRO 1/43

The 1970's:

1970 Porsche 917K: At the end of the 60's, the F.I.A. modified the regulations allowing 5-litre powered prototypes in Group 5. Porsche, which had been competing with it´s 904, 907, 908 and 910 models, decided to design and build a new prototype that would make the most of the new regulations. It would be called the 917. Powered by the Type 912 flat-12 engine of 4.5, 4.9, or 5 litres, the long-tailed version was capable of a top speed of over 254 mph. Porsche hired John Wyer and his JWA Gulf Team, which became the official Porsche team, and also the official development partner. Pedro Rodriguez and Leo Kinnunen drove this car to first place at Monza in 1970.
Model by BRUMM 1/43
1970 Porsche 917K: The Porsche Salzburg team was a de facto second works team under control of members of the Porsche family. In 1970 they won the LeMans 24 hours with the standard 4.5 litre engined car driven by Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood. This was Porsche's first victory at LeMans, a race they would come to dominate up until the late 80's. The 917 has often been acclaimed as the the greatest racing car of all time.
Model by AUTOART 1/43
1970 Porsche 917K: The Martini Racing team also had Porsche support; obviously Porsche made efforts to win races by supporting more than one team. This car driven by Jo Siffert and Kurt Ahrens finished 16th at Kyalami at a non-championship event. The 917 in its first season in '69 proved to be a real handful, or as Brian Redman said "it was incredibly unstable, using all the road at speed." Increasing downforce at the expense of drag, a new short tail was molded which gave the 917 much needed stability.
Model by MINICHAMPS 1/43

1970 Porsche 917K: Vic Elford and Kurt Ahrens drove this Porsche Salzburg entered 917K in the 100km race at Monza in 1970. A tire puncture cost them a win. Elford would drive this car (Ch. 023) to 2nd at Brands Hatch, 3rd at Spa and 4th at Watkins Glen and Zeltwig. This car would also win Le Mans in 1970 (Herrmann/Attwood), a very successful 917K.
Model by BRUMM 1/43
1970 Porsche 917LH: A new low drag version of the 917 was developed for LeMans. The 917LH (Langheck) featured a spectacular new "Long Tail" body including partially covered rear wheel arches which had very low drag, yet better stability than the 1969 version. Two 917 LH were entered in Le Mans, this 4.5L LH was entered by Martini Racing, and driven to 3rd place by Willy Kauhsen and Gérard Larrousse. The spectacular livery of this car which became a hallmark of the Martini cars, gained the nickname of the Hippie Car or the Psychedelic Porsche from the team and media.
Model by IXO 1/43
1970 Porsche 917LH: The other LH was entered was one this one in white and red trim entered by Porsche Salzburg. Driven by Vic Elford and Kurt Ahrens, Elford put the car on the pole. The 4.9 litre engine failed after 225 laps (18 hours) while leading. Both drivers had also been entered on the team's other car, a red and white 917 K with the standard 4.5 litre engine, but they did not drive after their own car failed. Porsche did finish LeMans in 1970 1-2-3, third spot being taken by a Martini 908.
Model by IXO 1/43

1970 Porsche 908/3: The FIA announced in 1967 a change in the rules for the World Championship by limiting the displacement of prototypes to 3000cc. Porsche designed the new 908 with a new 3.0L Flat-8 engine which produced 350 hp. The 908/3 was intended to complement the heavy Porsche 917 on twisty tracks tracks that favored nimble cars, like the Targa Florio. This car was driven by Richard Attwood and Björn Waldegaard to 5th place at the 1970 Targa. The three Gulf 908/3's finished 1-2-5.
Model by BEST 1/43
1970 Porsche 908/3: Vic Elford and Gérard Larrousse continued their success in endurance racing, teaming to win the 1971 ADAC 1000 Km at the Nürburgring. Porsche scored a 1-2-3 finish at this race with the 908/3. This car (Chassis 008) is one of thirteen 908/3's built and also won the Targa Florio in 1970. Like many Porsche racing car designs, the 908/3 did what it was designed for; win. Compared to the much more powerful, but ill-mannered 917, the 908/3 was a much completer package and a lot easier to drive. Signed by Vic Elford.
Model by BEST 1/43
1970 Porsche 908/3: Perhaps the most successful of all Porsche drivers of the early 70's, was Vic Elford. While he did not always win, he was truly a master of both the 908 and 917, consistently being one of the fastest drivers. An accident early in the '70 Targa took he and Hans Herrmann out of contention in the Porsche Salzburg entry. Here Vic inspects the 908/3 before the race.
Model by BEST 1/18

1970 Porsche 917K: Finishing 3rd in a 1-2-3 sweep by the Porsche 917's at the Brands Hatch 1000 km in '70, driven by Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood, this 917 finished behind its sister Porsche Salzberg car driven by Elford and Hulme and the JW Automotive car of Rodriguez and Kinnunen.
Model by MINICHAMPS 1/43
1970 Porsche 917K: Brian Redman and Jo Sieffert drove this car at Le Mans in 1970, retiring in the 12th hour due to engine problems. This car was later used as the feature car in the movie Le Mans with Steve McQueen. These cars with their 5.0L flat-12 engines are one of my all-time favorote race cars!
Model by AUTOART 1/18
1970 Porsche 917K: At the end of the 1971 season, Porsche announced that it would no longer continue in Group 5 racing. They had successfully vanquished Ferrari and the 512M, conquered LeMans and had won the World Sports Car Championship for three years running. While they would be back in a couple of years, their immediate attentions were focussed on the Can Am. This car ran at Watkins Glen in the 1970 6 hour race, with Gerard Larousse and Marko Van-Lennep and finished 6th. Another wild paint job by the Martini team.
Model by BRUMM 1/43

1970 Porsche 908/2: Rudi Lins and Helmut Marko finished 3rd overall behind two Porsche 917's at the 1970 version of Le Mans, finishing first in class. This is my favorite version and livery configuration of all the 908 variants. The 3.0L 908/02 won the world makes championship for sportscars for Porsche and helped the marque remain on the podium while the 917 was being developed.
Model by SPARK 1/43
1971 Porsche 917K: Vic Elford and Gérard Larrousse won the 12 hr Sebring race with this car in 1971. Elford and Larrousse were paired several times during the '71 season driving for the Martini International team. They won the 1000 km at Nürburgring together, but the season was filled with many disappointing DNF's during a year of 917 & 908 domination. Porsche succeeded by sheer numbers and the fact that one of their cars would stay together long enough to finish. Signed by Vic Elford.
Model by AUTOART 1/43
1971 Porsche 917LH: Pedro Rodriguez and Jackie Oliver drove this car at the 1971 LeMans, with Oliver setting both the pole and fastest lap during the race. The car with a 4.9L engine and the latest aerodynamic LH bodywork failed to finish due to a cracked oil,pipe. LeMans was ultimately won by an older 917K which was part of the Martini entry. As the season wore on, the 917 would continue to feel the pressure not only from Ferrari, but also from Alfa Romeo.
Model by FLY 1/32

1971 Porsche 917/20: A heavily modified car, the 917/20, was built as test-bed for future Can-Am parts and aerodynamic "low-drag" concepts. The 917/20 which had won the test race at Le Mans was painted in pink for the 24 hours race, with names of cuts of meat written in German across it in a similar fashion to a butcher's carcass diagram, earning it the nickname "Der Truffeljäger von Zuffenhausen" (The Truffelhunter of Zuffenhausen) or just plain "Pink Pig". The car did not finish due to fuel injection problems at the 12th hour. It was driven by Reinhold Jöst and Willi Kauhsen.
Model by SCHUCO 1/43
1972 Porsche 917/10: Porsche ended McLaren's dominance of the CanAm series and started their own. After their successes with the 917 mainly in Europe, Porsche instead decided to focus on the North American markets and the Can-Am Challenge. For that series, a larger and more powerful engine was developed, a turbocharged 12-cyl. developing 850hp. This 917/10 entered by Penske Racing, won the 1972 series with George Follmer, after a testing accident sidelined primary driver Mark Donohue. The successor 917/30 dominated CanAm again in 1973.
Model by SOLIDO 1/43

1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 2.8: Rule changes made the Porsche 917 obsolete at the end of 1972. Developing a new prototype race car was not an option for Porsche, so instead they concentrated on Group 4 and the new European GT chamionship. Using the 911 as the basis, the Carrera RSR 2.8 was developed for the '73 season. The cars were successful from the beginning, proving to be quick with their 308 bhp and 175 mph top speed. This car was driven by Herbert Müller and Gijs van Lennep during the 1973 season.
Model by SOLIDO 1/43
1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.0: The Carrera RSR 3.0 prototype was sold to select racing teams, and scored outright wins in several major sports car races of the mid 1970s. Al Holbert was the head of the Porsche North America's Motorsports Division and also ran his own racing team. These cars used the 2993 cc 911/75 engines, which developed 330bhp, weighed significantly less than the 2.8 RSR and are fantastically quick. Eight cars were built. Holbert drove this car to the 1974 Trans-Am championship.
Model by MINICHAMPS 1/43

1976 Porsche 935/76: Rolf Stommelen and Manfred Schurti drove this Martini Racing entry to 4th place overall and first in class (Grp. 5) at Le Mans in 1976. Porsche won Le Mans that year with Ickx and van Lennep in a 936. This car finished just ahead of Derek Bell driving the Mirage GR8 that won the previous year.
Model by EBBRO 1/43
1976 Porsche 935/76: The racing version of the Porsche 930 (911 Turbo), prepared for FIA-Group 5. The engine was a 2.85 L 560 hp version of the regular 3.0 L flat-6, which ran in the 4.0 L class. Jacky Ickx/Jochen Mass and Rolf Stommelen/Manfred Schurti, piloted the factory cars that year. Stommemel/Schurti finished 1st at the Watkins Glen 6h in '76. Luso made one of the very first models of the 935.
Model by LUSO 1/43
1976 Porsche 935 K1: This 935 is chassis number 930-770-0903, is the first factory built 935 to be supplied to Kremer Racing and was mainly driven by Bob Wollek. It finished 3rd at the 1977 Daytona 24 Hours and raced at the LeMans in 1977, 1978 and finished 3rd in 1979. Besides running Porsches, the team was also known for their tuned Porsche race cars that they both raced and sold to other teams who could not gain the best equipment from the factory.
Model by POLITOYS 1/43

1977 Porsche 936/76: Built to compete in the World Sportscar Championship as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans under the Group 6 formula of 3.0L. Powered by an air-cooled, two-valve 540 hp single-turbocharger, flat-6 engine of 2140cc (the equivalent of 3.0L with the 1.4 handicap factor.) The spaceframe chassis was based on the 917, with many of the parts also coming from that car. Driven by Rolf Stommelen to 3rd place at Nurburgring.
Model by TROFEAU 1/43
1977 Porsche 936/77: Jürgen Barth, Hurley Haywood and Jacky Ickx finished 1st at LeMans in 1977. From 1976 to 1981, the factory entered Porsche 936 won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times with Jacky Ickx ('76, '77, '81). Unlike the later 956, Porsche did not intend to sell the 936 to customers, wanting them instead to use the 935 (which occupied the first four places at Le Mans in 1979), and the old 908 which were still around, updated to turbo engines and new 936-like aerodynamics.
Model by SOLIDO 1/43
1977 Porsche 936/77: Another variation of the 1977 LeMans winner. The detail level of mass produced die cast cars over a thirty year period can be compared here. The older Solido used water slide decals that were applied once you purchased the model. The current IXO model clearly shows the tampo markings applied today, which don't tear or yellow with age.
Model by IXO 1/43

1978 Porsche 935/78 Moby Dick: Manfred Schurti and Rolf Stommelen drove to 8th place at the 1978 LeMans and 1st place at the Silverstone 6 hr. Because of its shape, with a long front and rear optimised for low drag, the 935/78 was often nicknamed Moby-Dick. The engine was enlarged to 3.2L and equipped with two turbochargers, increasing its output to 950 hp and good for 223 mph at LeMans, faster than the Group 6 cars with smaller engines.
Model by CARRERA 1/32
1977 Porsche 935/77A: Dick Barbour entered this car, which he co-drove with Paul Newman and Rolf Strommelen to 2nd place and first in the IMSA class at Le Mans in 1979. The 935/77A was a further development of the 935 for 1977, the single turbo was replaced by two KKK units, and the body was changed. This car would also win the 1981 24 Hours of Daytona with Bobby Rahal and Brian Redman at the wheel with owner Bob Garretson, and would also win the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1983. All told, this 935 logged over 70,000 miles racing.
Model by IXO 1/43

The 1980's:

1982 Porsche 956L: The Porsche 956 was a Group C sports-prototype racing car introduced in 1982 for the FIA World Sportscar Championship. The engine is the same as the one used in the Porsche 936, the Type-935 2.65L turbocharged Flat-6, producing approximately 635 hp. Jacky Ickx and Derrick Bell set the pole at the 1982 LeMans with this 956LH. They led the race for the entire 24 hours, eventually taking the overall win - their third win together. It was a 1-2-3 finish for Porsche.
Model by VITESSE 1/43
1982 Porsche 956: The Group C era will be a time of Porsche´s greatest successes in motorsport. With the models 956 (1982-1984) and 962 (1985-1989), Porsche wins five team, manufacturers‘, and drivers‘ world championships. These sportscars also secure six Le Mans victories. Jackie Ickx and Jochen Mass won at Brands Hatch. Unforgettable for Ickx´s final spurt to victory and world champion status at Brands Hatch, where in the last hour he reels in Riccardo Patrese who leads by almost one lap.
Model by QUARTZO 1/43
1983 Porsche 956L: Porsche domintaed Le Mans in 1983, taking the first 8 places with the 956. This entry by John Fitzpatrick Racing failed to finish, but is sister car finished 5th. Driving this entry were John Fitzpatrick, David Hobbs and Dieter Quester. The Fitzpatrick team were the World Sportscar Endurance Champions in 1983.
Model by MINICHAMPS 1/43

1983 Porsche 956L: Private teams were sold the 956 beginning in 1983 and this one was sold to Reinhold Joest, who would have great success with Audi at LeMans in the late 90's. Joest teams would win LeMans four times for Porsche, their most successful private team. Bob Wollek and Thierry Boutsen, beat the Porsche works team to the chequered flag at Monza 1000 km in this car. Wollek also wins the German Sportscar Championship.
Model by QUARTZO 1/43
1985 Porsche 962C: Built by Porsche as a replacement for the 956 and designed to comply with IMSA's GTP regulations, the 962 was introduced at the end of 1984 and raced by private owners. Powered by the Type-935 2.8L flat-6 with a single turbocharger Driven by AJ Foyt, Bob Wollek, Al Unser and Thierry Boutsen to a win at 24 hours of Daytona in 1985.
Model by SPARK 1/43
1986 Porsche 959 Paris-Dakar: With a distance of 13,000 kilometres, the Paris-Dakar marathon is one of the toughest in history. Rene Metge and Dominic Lemoyne finished 1st in this 959, specifically designed for the rally. The 959 features a six-cylinder boxer engine with a 2,849 cc capacity and two-turbo chargers. The power output is stated at around 400 bhp.
Model by NOREV 1/43

The 1990's on:

1996 Porsche 911 GT1: In spite of its name, the car actually has very little in common with the 911, its floorpan was taken from the 956/962 Group C car. In addition, the GT1 featured a water-cooled, twin-turbocharged and intercooled, four valve per cylinder flat-six in a mid-mounted position and making about 600 hp. Designed for competition in the GT1 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the GT1 was also raced in the FIA GT Championship, in which this car was raced at both Sebring and Laguna Seca in 1997.
Model by HIGH SPEED 1/43
2004 Porsche 996 GT3-RSR: The 996 GT3-R was first made available to privateers for the 1999 racing season. The GT3-RSR made a sequential gearbox available for the first time and mated to the 3.6L engine producing 440hp, it was a potent package! Over the years, the 996 variants won many races, including class wins at Le Mans, Daytona and Spa. This car in Brumos Racing livery and was driven by Dario Franchitti and Gunnar Jeannette in a IMSA GT3 race at Barber Park.
Model by MINICHAMPS 1/43

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