1988 Porsche 962C Coupe

This late-production Porsche 962C was built with distinctive bodywork with a short tail section and separate rear wing. It was sold new via Porsche North America to Bruce Leven and his Bayside Disposal Racing Team. Over the course of his career, his team would capture three overall victories at the 12 Hours of Sebring (in 1981, 1987 and 1988) and six victories during the 1987 IMSA GT Championship season.

The first outing for 962-139 was at the IMSA Columbus 300 Km in October 1988, where it was driven during practice sessions by Ludwig. Near the end of the month, it made its official competition debut at the IMSA Del Mar 2 Hours in Southern California, where Ludwig placed 2nd Overall. 962-139 reappeared at Daytona wearing its new Havoline Star livery. Driven by Ludwig, James Weaver, and Sarel van der Merwe, the Porsche finished 4th Overall in the grueling 24-hour race.

This Porsche placed 8th at the IMSA Miami 3 Hours, and placed 3rd overall at the 12 Hours of Sebring, where it was driven by Weaver and Dominic Dobson. Jochen Mass placed 8th overall at the 1989 IMSA Portland 300 Km and a DNF at the IMSA San Antonio 2 Hours.

For the 1990 season, the Porsche wore Texaco livery, with black bodywork and the red Havoline Star emblazoned on the nose and tail sections. It qualified on pole position at the 24 Hours of Daytona, and with Wollek, van der Merwe, and Dobson at the helm, it placed 3rd overall. The car's final outing in period was at the 12 Hours of Sebring in March 1990, where engine troubles forced an early retirement.

The Porsche remained in Mr. Bruce Leven's private collection for over twenty-five years. In 2011 and 2015, he entered the 962C in Rennsport Reunion IV and V at Laguna Seca and raced it in The Stuttgart Cup Race for 956, 962, GT1, WSC, and RS Spyder models.

When Mr. Leven passed away in September 2017, the Porsche was sold to its current caretaker and used sparingly. It raced in 2018 at the Monterey Motorsports Reunion and was used occasionally for track days.

The Porsche is powered by a 2,994cc DOHC water-cooled flat 6-cylinder engine with Bosch Motronic fuel injection, twin KKK turbochargers, and develops an estimated 700 horsepower at 8,200 RPM. There is a five-speed manual transaxle and four-wheel ventilated disc brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2022