1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS Coupe

Introduced in late 1963, the first six 904s were 'works' cars with the following 100 being identical customer cars. The 904s were built rapidly, four or five a day, to meet FIA's requirements of at least 100 to qualify as production GT cars. Porsche contracted with Heinkel, of aircraft fame. To build and wire the 904s which were Porsche's first complete all-fiberglass car. They were designed by 'Butzi' Porsche, head stylist for his grandfather's firm. 904s were robust cars capable of running 4-, 6-, or 8-cylinder engines. The 4-cylinder cars powered by the legendary Dr. Ernst Fuhrmann 4-cam engine, 904 speed, handling, and durability proved overwhelmingly successful at out-lasting their competition to become 4-cylinder 'giant killers' ordered by Porsche racing teams around the world.

In US racing, 904s took National Championships in both 1964 and 1965. In the 904's first European outing, they took a 1-2 victory in Sicily's grueling Targa Florio, a stunning achievement and overall victory for a new GT car. At Nurbrugring the 904 took 3rd overall. At Le Mans: 7th overall, and Index of Performance regarded second overall to overall victory. Through 1965, 904s were Porsche's mainline contender that finished 4-5 overall at Le Mans 1965, winning class again with one entry winning Index of Performance and the other winning Index of Thermal Efficiency as the best overall performance by weight on the least amount of fuel.

This 904, fitted with a later Type 906 6-cylinder engine, came to the United States during 1966 and was campaigned for years by Vasek Polak, noted Porsche dealer in California.

Orders far exceeded the number of production versions made, which was 106. The list price was US $7,245. The 904 marked the beginning of a series of sports cars that culminated in the dominant 917.

The 904's mid-engine layout was inherited from the 718. It was the first Porsche to utilize a ladder chassis and fiberglass body. The drag coefficient was .034 which was quite remarkable for the time.

The original 904 Coupe displaced a 1966cc motor producing 198 horsepower with a weight to power ratio of 5.4. Top speed was 160 miles per hour and 0-60 was achieved in six seconds.

Porsche built 108 examples of the 904 sports car racers between 1963 and 1965 to meet FIA Group 3 regulations. Success was immediate, with a victory at its debut outing in 1963 at the Targa Florio. The following year, the 904 dominated the FIA's two-liter GT class, earning a 24 Hours of Le Mans class victory, and playing an integral role in Porsche securing the Manufacturers' Championship.

This particular Porsche 904 Carrera GTS, chassis 904-028, was completed on February 27th, 1964, and delivered to German racer Gerhard Koch through regional dealer Schultz in Düsseldorf. It wore a silver metallic exterior over blue interior, and was outfitted with seat belts and a sports exhaust.

With Koch behind the wheel, 904-028 won the Rheinland-Pfalz Trophy at the Nürburgring and placed 2nd Overall at the Grand Prix de Paris. He also raced the Porsche at the German GT Championship, Spa 500 Km, and the Angola Grand Prix, finishing 1st in Class and 3rd Overall.

Near the close of 1964, Koch sold 904-028 to Rainer Ising. The following year, Ising placed 1st at Zolder and 3rd at Trier. Teamed with Bernd Degner, Ising finished 1st in Class and 3rd Overall finish at the 82-Hour Marathon de la Route at the Nürburgring.

After the 1965 season, it is believed that Ising offered 904-028 for sale through the Porsche factory. By 1966, 904-028 is believed to have been imported into the United States by Uwe Buehl for Pennsylvania-based privateer Roger Neuman. Neuman campaigned the car on two occasions before trading it back to Buehl, who sold it circa 1968 to Dieter Oest. Oest campaigned 904-028 primarily in SCCA events until early 1969, when 904-028 was retired from competition.

Chassis 904-028 later returned to Buehl, who refinished the car in white and installed a type 901/05 six-cylinder engine built to 906 specifications.

Around 1972, Alexander Pollack from Ann Arbor, Michigan, purchased 904-028 and would retain it for 52 years. During that time, he drove it regularly and preserving its originality. Recommissioning work reportedly included a new dash top manufactured by Syd Baker, an engine rebuild by John Truman, and a repaint in its original Silver Metallic in the late 2000s.

Currently, this Porsche is powered by a 901/05 flat six-cylinder engine paired to a 904 gearbox. It has a manual, spare parts, tool roll, and assorted literature.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2025