1970 Porsche 914/6 Targa

The Porsche 914/6 was envisioned as a budget-friendly alternative to the 911, and between 1969 through 1972, a total of 3,350 examples were built. The standard trim proved an inadequate competitor, however, the GT conversion kit gave privateers the competitive edge they desired. The GT kit added 911 S brakes, an additional front oil cooler, wider wheels, steel fender flares, several body panels rendered in fiberglass, extra chassis reinforcement, a plexiglass rear window, a lightweight interior, and a padded leather steering wheel. A 2.0-liter Carrera 6 engine boosted output to 212 horsepower and was backed by a five-speed dogleg transmission of the contemporary 911 S, which was modified with the input shaft, exchangeable second gear, and limited-slip differential from the Porsche 904.

At the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1970, a 914/6 GT placed 6th overall and won the 2.0-liter GT class. This accomplishment was made even more impressive considering its 45th place start off the grid.

This particular example chassis 32, the first of 16 factory-prepared 914/6 examples produced in 1970. After completion at Porsche's Werk 1 facility in Zuffenhausen, the car was delivered new to Swiss resident Gustav 'Gusti' Schlup, vice president of the vibrant Ecurie Biennoise racing team.

It is believed that this example is the first of the 16 customer examples built, however, its delivery date was delayed due to the evolving list of requirements added by its owner. Among the list of options were a 110-liter fuel tank, additional dash-mounted gauges for fuel and transmission oil temperature, and thicker anti-roll bars.

The car was delivered to Schlup via distributor AMAG in early May of 1970. The car raced in thirteen races across Europe during the 1970 and 1971 seasons, including endurance events at Hockenheim, Spa, Charade, Norisring, and Mugello. Accolades achieved by the Porsche include a 2nd place finish at the Payerne Airport race on May 16th of 1971.

Ecurie Biennoise sold the car to the Swiss-registered racing outfit of Formula 1 driver Jo Bonnier in December of 1971 and soon entered the care of its next Swiss custodian, Jean Baptiste Canonica. The car participated in the 1972 2.0-liter European GT Championship with the support of Porsche Club Romand. It raced through November with notable entries at Hockenheim, Monza, Jarama, Estoril, Zolder, Zandvoort, and the Nürburgring. Among the accolades earned was a 3rd-place class finish on September 3rd at the annual Nürburgring 500 KM Eifel Cup.

after the 1972 season, the car was sent to Marcel Willemin in Geneva for an exhibition piece in his dealership. While there, the car was observed by the current owner, who purchased the car from Canonica via Willemin in September 1980. It soon received a restoration with the body being stripped to bare metal and repairing minor damage suffered during its racing career. The exterior was refinished in Guards Red, and the 2.0-liter Carrera 6 engine was removed and placed into dry storage. A 2.7-liter 911/83 unit from a Carrera RS was installed in its place. The 2.0-liter engine has since been completely rebuilt to factory specifications and the chassis was refinished in its period-correct Tangerine exterior and Ecurie Biennoise livery.

Over the past four decades, the car has been used sparingly. The car currently has an integrated roll cage, original lightweight Scheel seats, detachable fiberglass panels twin-plug ignition 2.0-liter engine, and 914/6 GT aluminum brake calipers.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2021