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1964 Porsche Platypus

Hans Adam, a BMW service Manager, built the Porsche-powered car, commonly known as the Porsche-Platypus or the Hans Adam Platypus. He would later build the PAM Project Group 7 car.

The Platypus had a fiberglass body resting on top of a chrome-moly space-frame chassis. Power was from a four-cam Porsche engine mounted in the rear. Later, it would receive an Oldsmobile V8 engine. Modifications to the car continued throughout much of its racing career.

Adams was a partner in PAM Automotive and later worked with the Jim Garner race team as the manager.

by Dan Vaughan

Sports Car
Chassis number: 001

Built by P.A.M. (Scooter Patrick, Hans Adam, and Don Mitchell) Foreign Cars of Hermosa Beach, California and raced by Miles Gupton. The Platypus ran at various club events, and several pro races. Including the USRRC series, the Times Grand Prix, the Monterey Grand Prix, and finally the Can-Am series. In 1964, the Platypus was the runner-up West Coast Champion, second only to Frank Monise's Lotus 23B.

This was a time when motorsport was rapidly changing. The Porsche factory Spyders were getting a bit long in the tooth. The smaller shops could build a chassis that was better than the factory efforts using the same reliable engines and transmissions.

Miles Gupton was once described by Hans Adam as 'The original NO FEAR pilot', and was successful enough to get P.A.M. orders for two more Platypuses (Platypi?). One went to Richard Smith of Fresno, California, and the other to Mike Eyerly of Salem, Oregon.

The Platypus is a true 'Special' in that modifications were done as time and money permitted - often after every race weekend. The bodywork of the Platypus is constructed of Fiberglass over a chrome-moly space frame.

The Platypus started life with a series of four-cam Porsche motors, then on to a Porsche 901. It finished its career with an Olds V8 engine. In its current form, it is restored to its 901 2 liter configuration. The Platypus is now back racing in Vintage events up and down the West Coast.