1970 PORSCHE 911 R RECREATION

This Porsche 911 R Recreation is offered in excellent condition, and is a beautifully finished tribute to one of the rarest and most coveted 911s of all time. The car is now powered by a 2.0-litre air-cooled flat-six, driving the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. The odometer indicates 31,491 miles, though this is not warranted.

Having notched up significant motorsport successes in the mid-1960s with the 911 S, including fifth place overall on the 1965 Rallye Monte-Carlo and a class win in the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, Ferdinand Piëch recognised the potential of a lightened and more focused variant, which could dominate in GT class racing.

Taking the 911 S as the basis, as much weight was stripped from it as possible. The body panels over its steel shell were replaced with fibreglass items, glass windows were swapped for Plexiglas, and solid metal panels and trims were drilled to save even more weight. Insulation and sound-deadening materials were discarded, and even the rear lights were changed to simpler units. By the end of the process, the dry weight had been reduced to a little over 800kg - and it remains the lightest 911 to date. Its engine was effectively carried over from the Carrera 906.

While the intention was to homologate the 911 R, just 20 production cars were built, so it remained restricted to the prototype class, and had little chance of success against the pure-bred mid-engined racers. Nevertheless, the 911 R would go on to achieve greatness, taking the outright win in the 1967 Marathon de la Route, as well as winning the 1969 Tour de France and the 1969 Tour de Corse in the hands of Gérard Larrousse.

This particular car left the factory as a 1967 model year 911 S (as denoted by the chassis number shown in the door shut). In recent years, it has undergone a transformation to its current appearance, and has been owned by the vendor for the last seven years.

It now features lightweight fibreglass panels, a 911 R style front bumper, cooling duct inserts in place of the horn grilles, and 911 R style circular tail lights. Rubber fasteners hold the engine lid in place, while the twin sports exhaust tail pipes give the car a true ‘Sports Purpose’ aesthetic. All of the window seals were also replaced during the rebuild and modification. The car has been driven and enjoyed since the rebuild, and as such there are a few small stone chips around the front end, and some chips at the trailing edge of the driver’s door.

Inside, the faithful replica appearance continues with classic style bucket seats, trimmed in black leather and with corduroy cloth centre panels - and Schroth safety harnesses for both driver and passenger. The rear seat backs have been deleted, a half roll cage has been installed, and its vinyl-covered door cards have pull strap releases. Ahead of the driver is a dished OMP steering wheel finished in Alcantara, and a full complement of period VDO instrument dials is also present. There are no known faults, and all of the switchgear works as it should.

The most recent maintenance was carried out in December 2020 at CarTech Knowledge GmbH in Ismaning, Germany. This consisted of a routine service as well as refurbishment of the transmission. Other recent services on file were in October 2018 and September 2016. Its wheels are fitted with period type semi-slick tyres, which are reported to be in good condition.

This Porsche 911 R Recreation is a striking homage to the exceptionally rare lightweight 911 that set the template for every focused GT model and Rennsport Porsche that the company has since produced. Finished in the period-correct Continental Orange hue, with a pared-back interior and benefiting from recent mechanical attention, this is a custom-built classic that would be a credit to any collection, and a thrill to drive on the road or track.

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