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The Porsche 904 Story & History
Porsche’s Type 904, officially called the Carrera GTS because Porsche and Peugeot were in dispute over numeric designations with “0” in them, succeeded the RSK Type 718 as the last sports-racing iteration of the 356 series. Developed after Porsche left Formula One in 1962, the 904 (as it soon became popularly known) was also the last full-competition Porsche that could be readily driven on the street. This is the full story.
Porsche 597 “Jagdwagen”, Porsche
When the German Army tender was lost to DKW, Porsche decided to market the product for civilian use, supposedly for hunting. This provided the 597 with a nickname “Jagdwagen”. In addition to the military prototypes around 50 Jagdwagens were produced, but there was no need for such a product in large numbers and the project was terminated.
Buchmann took a Porsche 928, removed all of the "unwanted" crap behind the doors and parts of the roof and created the stunning Buchmann Targa. This is a Targa convertible with an open roof above the seats but still with the B-pillar in tact. This opening is bridged by a Targa-bar which gives the car extra stiffness to compensate for the loss of it by removing the roof. The concept was a stunner.
Porsche 928 Koenig
In the 1980s and 90s, the Munich-based tuning company Koenig Specials GmbH was known for its conversions of top-class sports cars, especially Ferraris. They also turned their attention to the Porsche 928 with a number of cool 928 kits. Popular in the Middle East, these "widebody" kits made the 928 look like a totally different car. It is unknown how many were made and most of the cars were pretty unique in terms of the kit and updates.
Porsche 928 S4 Bonneville Special
When it comes to land speed records speed is measured to the fifth decimal place (hundred thousandths). So when Carl Fausett’s Porsche 928 hit 216.63537 MPH, that was more than enough to capture the title of World’s Fastest Porsche 928 (previously set at 206 MPH). It happend on August 7, 1986 with Al Holbert behind the wheel.
Porsche shipped one of its experimental 'All-aluminum' 928S to the Brumos Racing Team for the 1984 24 hours of Daytona with the instructions not to modify the car in any way. Porsche desired to promote the performance of the 928 in the U.S. The drivers were given specific instructions to just 'drive the car'.
Porsche 928 Long Wheelbase Specials
In collaboration with tuning company AMG, in 1986 Porsche created several long-wheelbase 928 specials. These models had normal 928 headlights until the Porsche 942. One was given as a gift to American Sunroof Corporation founder and CEO Heinz Prechter. The ASC was eventually part responsible for making Porsche 944 S2 cabriolets.
The Max Moritz 'Semi Works' 928 GTR
Porsche's Racing Department never officially entered or prepared a racing 928 for a pure works entry. In order not to offend sensibilities of their traditional 911 customers by openly challenging them with a Works 928GTR offering, Porsche asked Max Moritz Racing, their longtime private racing partner from next door Reutlingen to enter a 928GTR Cup as a 'semi-works' car.