Within the realm of uncommon Porsche 911s, some sit in a league completely of their very own. Of all of the manufacturing 911s created over the a long time, the 964 Carrera 4 Light-weight – or Leichtbau – should rank among the many rarest. Simply 22 examples have been ever produced, all born of the imaginative and prescient of Le Mans winner and legendary Porsche engineer Jürgen Barth. This automobile, chassis 964 001, is the very first: a museum-grade prototype with distinctive, one-off particulars that set it aside even amongst this rarified group.
Barth, then head of Porsche Buyer Racing, found a cache of spare four-wheel-drive programs from the 953 Paris-Dakar rally automobiles sitting within the motorsport division. These programs have been superior for his or her time, permitting for lively adjustment of front-to-rear torque distribution and on-the-fly manipulation of the rear limited-slip differential’s lock-up. Barth noticed a chance to create a light-weight, all-wheel-drive 911 for buyer motorsport use.
Porsche chosen customary 964-series physique shells, faraway from the principle manufacturing line, and subjected them to seam welding for elevated rigidity. Commonplace panels have been changed with lightened options. The drivetrain from the 953 Dakar automobile was put in, mated to a short-ratio five-speed gearbox and paired with a naturally aspirated 3.6-litre flat-six producing 265bhp – the identical engine that might go on to energy the Carrera RS. The ensuing automobile weighed simply 1070kg and delivered extraordinary efficiency, with understated styling that hid its motorsport potential.
Chassis 001 is essentially the most vital of the 22. Because the manufacturing facility prototype, it features a wealth of distinctive, one-off options. These embrace early prototype gauges and labelling, a bespoke Matter roll cage, and particular 934-style ‘lollipop’ seats – which might go on to affect designs utilized by RUF – trimmed in period-correct new outdated inventory materials. Most of the engine and auxiliary system fixtures differ from the manufacturing automobiles, providing a novel perception into Porsche’s growth course of.
Even the four-wheel-drive management labels seem handmade, with embossed tape straight from a Eighties stationery drawer. From its uncommon fittings to its understated character, 964 001 exemplifies the experimental creativity of Porsche’s motorsport division at its finest.
This automobile has recognized possession from new and an impeccable provenance. It was initially offered to Kerry Morse, a detailed buddy and collaborator of Barth himself. It later handed by the palms of notable American collectors together with Frank Gallogly of Englewood, New Jersey; Dr. William Jackson of Denver, Colorado; the Ingram Assortment; and Matthew F. Ammirati of Bridgehampton, New York.
Acquired by the present proprietor in 2017 and imported into the UK in 2022, the automobile has lined simply over 1,000 miles from new. Its odometer stays in kilometres. The drivetrain is completely unique and matching, the paint stays factory-applied and in wonderful situation, and the inside structure is full and proper. Although the unique seats have been retrimmed, they use the precise right materials and patterns.
In 2024, the automobile underwent a full service at Richard Tuthill, together with new Bridgestone tyres.
As a part of the sale, the automobile comes with a bespoke report by Jürgen Barth himself, compiled after a private go to to see chassis 001 once more within the UK. Reunited with the machine he helped create, Barth recounted the story of its growth and its journey. These recollections are actually captured in a doc that provides much more weight to this automobile’s already historic standing.
In brief, chassis 001 isn’t just the primary and best of the Carrera 4 Leichtbau automobiles. It’s a reference instance – pure, unique and storied. A cornerstone in any Porsche assortment, and a once-in-a-generation alternative. It’s at the moment being supplied on the market with Kiklo Areas within the UK.
