1964 Porsche 904 GTS
- Engine
- Four-cam 587/3-type flat-four (Fuhrmann)
- Colour
- Silver Metallic over Blue
Porsche 904 GTS chassis 036, delivered new on 27 February 1964 in Silver Metallic over Blue, represents one of the most thoroughly documented examples of the model in existence. First owned by Udo Schütz, who went on to become a Porsche factory driver partly on the strength of his results in this very car, it claimed 10 victories across German hillclimb and circuit events in 1964–65, highlighted by an outright class win and first-privateer finish at the 1965 Nürburgring 1000 km. Subsequently raced in Austria by Rudi Lins and in the United States, the car passed through several American owners before a full restoration, and later appeared at the Tour Auto, Le Mans Classic 2002, and Le Mans Classic 2018.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate €2,000,000 – €2,250,000
- 1964-02-27 →Factory deliveryUdo Schützfull documentation
Took delivery of the car new from the factory, competed extensively in hillclimbs and circuit racing across 1964 and 1965. Sold the car in the winter of 1965/1966 following 31 competitive appearances.
- 1967 →Private saleWerner Frankpartial documentation
Based in South Elgin, Illinois; raced the car at the USRRC Road America 500 with co-driver Horst Kwech, which proved to be its last period competitive outing.
- 1969 → 2001Acquisition unknownFour successive US ownerspartial documentation
The car passed through four separate American owners during this span. A full restoration was completed prior to the final owner in this chain relinquishing custody.
- 2001 →Acquisition unknownBobby Rahalpartial documentation
Renowned racing figure who had the car race-prepared for historic competition; entered it in the 2002 Tour Auto and the 2002 Le Mans Classic.
- → 2019Acquisition unknownPrevious owner, noted historic racing competitorpartial documentation
Well-regarded in historic motorsport circles; competed with the car at the 2018 Le Mans Classic before parting with it in 2019.
- 2019 →Private saleCurrent vendorpartial documentation
Acquired the car following the 2018 Le Mans Classic appearance; offering it at auction in its current well-presented condition.
- Date unknownPrivate saleRudi Linspartial documentation
Austrian driver who continued using the car in a comparable programme of hillclimbs and circuit races, winning the 1966 Austrian Mountain Championship in the process.
Competition
- 1964World Sportscar Championship1964 Rossfeld HillclimbDriver: Udo Schütz5th in class
First WSC outing for Schütz with the car; the event was a hillclimb discipline.
- 1964-08-011964 German Grand Prix support raceDriver: Udo SchützDNF — left the road
Car exited the circuit at the Nürburgring and rolled into undergrowth; damage led to a suspected rebuild around a replacement chassis closer in specification to the 904/6.
- 1965World Sportscar Championship1965 Nürburgring 1000 kmDriver: Udo Schütz11th overall, 1st in GT 2.0 class
Co-driven by factory pilot Anton Fischhaber; top privateer finisher, beating all Ferrari GT entries including the factory 275 GTB Speciale, a 250 GTO, and several 250 LMs.
- 19651965 Rossfeld HillclimbDriver: Udo Schütz8th overall, 5th in class
Contested roughly three weeks after the Nürburgring 1000 km; finished ahead of both factory-entered Cobras.
- 1966World Sportscar Championship1966 Swiss Mountain GP, Sierre-MontanaDriver: Rudi Lins5th overall, 2nd in class
Final WSC appearance for the car; Lins drove competitively despite the 904's advancing age relative to newer machinery, and went on to win the 1966 Austrian Mountain Championship.
- 1967United States Road Racing ChampionshipUSRRC Road America 500Driver: Werner Frank9th overall
Co-driven by Horst Kwech; represented the car's final outing in contemporary period competition.
- 20022002 Tour Auto
Entered during Bobby Rahal's ownership following race preparation for historic events.
- 20022002 Le Mans Classic
Competed under Bobby Rahal's ownership as part of the car's return to active historic racing.
- 20182018 Le Mans Classic
Entered by the previous owner, a prominent figure in historic motorsport; the car was sold to the current vendor shortly after this event.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1964RepairPorsche
Following the Nürburgring accident on 1 August 1964, the car is widely believed to have been reconstructed at the Porsche factory incorporating a replacement chassis built closer to 904/6 specification.
The external damage appeared minor, but the rebuild is considered significant; the resulting car is effectively a hybrid between the original 904 and 904/6 spec.
- 2002Mechanical
The car was race-prepared to allow entry in the 2002 Tour Auto and Le Mans Classic following its earlier full restoration.
Carried out during Bobby Rahal's ownership.
- —Restoration
A comprehensive restoration was carried out prior to Bobby Rahal acquiring the car around 2001, returning it to a high standard.
The work was completed before Rahal's ownership; the restoring party is not identified in the available records.
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