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The 3-liter flat-8 air-cooled Porsche sports-racing prototypes made their racing debut in the FIA World Championship of Makes in 1968. Their predecessor was the Typ 907 model that was powered by a rear-mounted 2.2-liter flat-8 engine offering 270 horsepower. The new 3-liter engine brought that horsepower figure to an impressive 350 BHP at 8400RPM.
The Porsche 908 began as a closed endurance-racing Coupe that minimized aerodynamic drag on fast-venue tracks. From 1969, the 908 were mainly a lightweight open-cockpit Spyder. Porsche's racing ambitions extended to outright victory in the FIA World Championship competition.
Porsche produced a total of thirteen 908/03 chassis. The first five examples were assigned to test and development use centered upon the factory's Weissach research facility outside Stuttgart. The 908/03 models were even shorter than the 908/02, and weighed a mere 500 kg. In 1971, vertical tail fins were added to the cars and their 1-2-3 finish in their home 1000Km race at the Nurburgring cemented the 908/03 models reputation.
Of the thirteen constructed, only chassis number 003 was deployed in serious competition, finishing second in the 1970 ADAC 1,000Kms. Between 1970 and 1971, no more than five 908/03s were ever fully assembled and running at any one time. In fact, just eight of these cars' bespoke transaxles were manufactured in period.
In 1972, the FIA World Championship of Makes introduced new regulations which make the Porsche 908/03 obsolete. Instead, they began a second career with several examples eventually be reconfigured with turbocharged 6-cylinder engines and would race on through the mid-1970s. Many of the early 908/03 chassis were stripped and stored, and salvaged components were then built into later machines.
This example, chassis 908/03-002 was used purely for extensive testing and development during the 1970-71 period. It was tested at their test circuit at Weissach. It was later stripped, dismantled and placed into storage. It was later located and acquired by Dale Miller - formerly curator of the Collier Collection in Naples, Florida. He bought both this car's bare frame and that of its sister '004' almost simultaneously, this one from an associate of the factory and the other from former works mechanic-turned-Porsche preparer R.O. 'Paddy' O'Grady.
Restoration of the car soon began. Some of the parts were manufactured, and by the time of the program's completion, he had made eight 908/03 transaxles.
Of all the surviving Porsche 908/03s in existence, only one retains an original body-panel set, and that is chassis number 009 - currently residing in the Porsche Museum.
This example, chassis 002, wears a re-made body with a factory original transaxle. It has a proper-specification flat-8 engine, period brake caliper components, and re-make brake rotors. The seats are 're-done' the half-shafts are original, and the instruments are new but correct.
The current owner has campaigned chassis 002 extensively in US vintage racing over the past 14 years. In 2005, the owner shipped the car to the Targa Florio Storica event on the island of Sicily, running the car upon the circuit for which it was designed.By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2014
The Porsche 908 began as a closed endurance-racing Coupe that minimized aerodynamic drag on fast-venue tracks. From 1969, the 908 were mainly a lightweight open-cockpit Spyder. Porsche's racing ambitions extended to outright victory in the FIA World Championship competition.
Porsche produced a total of thirteen 908/03 chassis. The first five examples were assigned to test and development use centered upon the factory's Weissach research facility outside Stuttgart. The 908/03 models were even shorter than the 908/02, and weighed a mere 500 kg. In 1971, vertical tail fins were added to the cars and their 1-2-3 finish in their home 1000Km race at the Nurburgring cemented the 908/03 models reputation.
Of the thirteen constructed, only chassis number 003 was deployed in serious competition, finishing second in the 1970 ADAC 1,000Kms. Between 1970 and 1971, no more than five 908/03s were ever fully assembled and running at any one time. In fact, just eight of these cars' bespoke transaxles were manufactured in period.
In 1972, the FIA World Championship of Makes introduced new regulations which make the Porsche 908/03 obsolete. Instead, they began a second career with several examples eventually be reconfigured with turbocharged 6-cylinder engines and would race on through the mid-1970s. Many of the early 908/03 chassis were stripped and stored, and salvaged components were then built into later machines.
This example, chassis 908/03-002 was used purely for extensive testing and development during the 1970-71 period. It was tested at their test circuit at Weissach. It was later stripped, dismantled and placed into storage. It was later located and acquired by Dale Miller - formerly curator of the Collier Collection in Naples, Florida. He bought both this car's bare frame and that of its sister '004' almost simultaneously, this one from an associate of the factory and the other from former works mechanic-turned-Porsche preparer R.O. 'Paddy' O'Grady.
Restoration of the car soon began. Some of the parts were manufactured, and by the time of the program's completion, he had made eight 908/03 transaxles.
Of all the surviving Porsche 908/03s in existence, only one retains an original body-panel set, and that is chassis number 009 - currently residing in the Porsche Museum.
This example, chassis 002, wears a re-made body with a factory original transaxle. It has a proper-specification flat-8 engine, period brake caliper components, and re-make brake rotors. The seats are 're-done' the half-shafts are original, and the instruments are new but correct.
The current owner has campaigned chassis 002 extensively in US vintage racing over the past 14 years. In 2005, the owner shipped the car to the Targa Florio Storica event on the island of Sicily, running the car upon the circuit for which it was designed.By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2014
By 1970, Porsche developed a new racing weapon, the 908/03. This particular Porsche proved to be Germany's favorite racing car. This Porsche 908/03002 was a factory works car for testing. It was driven and tested by Paul Frere. It has a 3 liter boxer 8-cylinder engine with 350 horsepower at 8400 RPM and a Type 910 fully synchronized five-speed gearbox. The chassis is a space frame aluminum. The weight is 1100 pounds, 0 to 62.5 mph in just 3.8 seconds. The top speed is approximately 172 mph.
The Martini livery on this car raced at the Nurburgring in 1971. It was driven by Gijs van Lennep and Dr. Helmut Marko. They finished 3rd. It has been totally restored and is raced in historic races by the current owner.
The Martini livery on this car raced at the Nurburgring in 1971. It was driven by Gijs van Lennep and Dr. Helmut Marko. They finished 3rd. It has been totally restored and is raced in historic races by the current owner.
2014 Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,800,000-USD $2,300,000
Lot was not sold
Recent Sales of the Porsche 908/3
(Data based on Model Year 1971 sales)
Porsche 908/3s That Failed To Sell At Auction
1971 Porsche 908/3's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
| Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 PORSCHE 908/03 SPYDER | 908/03-002 | 2014 Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction | $1,800,000 | $2,300,000 |
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1971 Porsche 908/3
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