1976 Porsche 934 Coupe

The Porsche 934 was a factory-built racing machine that had similar ties to its road-going counterpart, the all-new turbocharged 930. Introduced for the 1976 season, it had riveted GRP fender flares, front air dam, and center-lock BBS wheels. It used 917-type disc brakes for stopper power, rear coil-spring suspension, a full-aluminum roll cage, and a turbocharged flat-six engine delivering 485 horsepower.

31 examples of the 934 were built with most going to private racing teams and campaigned in several different regional and international racing series.

This particular example is the first production example built. It was completed at Porsche's Werk I race shop in late 1975. It was finished in Indischrot (India Red) and used for the model's press presentation at Weisbach. A standard passenger seat was installed in the car's race-prepared cockpit to allow journalists the opportunity to experience the new Group 4 machine.

It is believed that this example was intended for Klaus-Dieter Marker of Hamburg, Germany, but instead sold to Jürgen Kannacher of Kannacher GT Racing in Krefeld. Throughout 1976, Kannacher GT Racing campaigned 0151 in many German National (DRM) and European GT Championship events.

This car's first race took place in March of 1976 at the Belgian Zolder circuit where it was driven by Kannacher to a 3rd place finish. Hartwig Bertrams drove it two weeks later in the 300 Km race at Nürburgring, finishing 9th Overall. Bertrams later teamed up with Le Mans-winning Porsche works driver Gijs van Lennep at the Nürburgring 1000 Km where they drove the 934 to a 5th place finish.

At the close of the 1976 season, Kannacher sold 0151 to Kremer Racing of Köln, Germany, and then raced throughout the 1977 season by Louis Krages to several podium finishes. During this time, the car was repainted in a light gray color, selected from the Mercedes-Benz color chart.

The car returned to the track in 1979 when it was entered in that year's 24 Hours of Le Mans. Driving duties were entrusted to Anny-Charlotte Verney, René Metge, and Patrick Bardinon who drove it to a 3rd in Class behind two other Porsche 934s and 19th Overall.

After Le Mans, the car was sold to a privateer in South Africa. By 1982, it was in the care of a British racing driver named Victor Wilson. Mr. Wilson sold the 934, for £10,250, to Elias 'Skip' Gunnell III of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It remained with him for two decades and saw limited use during that time. It was exhibited on rare occasions, including an outing at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in March of 1999.

The car was sold to the current owner in 2003, about a year after Mr. Gunnell passed away. Soon after the purchase, the new owner's in-house restoration shop, RennSport Racing New Orleans, performed a complete, ground-up restoration. The work included disassembling and stripping the bare tub. It was re-finished in Indian Red livery and equipped with period-correct components throughout.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2020