Porsche's ground-breaker

Despite the experience gained by Porsche developing highly successful mid-engined racing sports cars such as the 550 and 718, the 904 GTS was an entirely new concept for the company. Designed by FA Porsche, the 904 had a body shape that was hugely advanced for the time, featuring a low-drag nose leading to a sleek roof line and ending with a Kamm tail. The chassis was of cutting-edge design, consisting of a steel frame strengthened with bonded fibreglass panels. The only major component of the 904 that was a mainstay of the factory racing programme was the Fuhrmann 587/3-type four-cam engine. Today Porsche is arguably the most successful manufacturer in sports car racing, and a decisive model for this success was the 904.

The ground-breaking 904 achieved a spectacular 1-2 finish at the 1964 Targa Florio, taking class wins at every major race during the 1964 and 65 seasons due to a combination of outright speed and outstanding reliability. Thanks to the 904, Porsche won Division II of the World Sportscar Championship twice, and further contributed to the victorious 1966 campaign.

This car, originally delivered in February 1964, was finished in Silver Metallic over Blue and specified with a sports exhaust. The first owner was a young Udo Schütz, a talented racer who would become a Porsche factory driver thanks to his performances in this 904. Less than two months after delivery, Schütz debuted his 904 in hill climbs, a discipline he would compete in regularly alongside the DARM Championship (German Circuit Championship), taking 10 overall or class victories during 1964 and 1965. His first appearance in the World Sportscar Championship would be at the 1964 Rossfeld Hillclimb, where Schütz achieved a 5th in class finish. On 1 August 1964, Schütz was racing this 904 in a support race for the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring when it left the track and rolled into the undergrowth. Despite the damage not looking severe, it is widely believed that the car was rebuilt at Porsche around a new chassis that was closer in specification to a 904/6.

Schütz’s next appearance in the World Sportscar Championship would be the pinnacle of this 904’s career at the 1965 Nürburgring 1000 km. Sharing with Anton Fischhaber, a Porsche factory driver, they crossed the line as the first privateer home behind Works entries from Ferrari, Porsche, and Shelby American, finishing 11th overall and 1st in the GT 2.0 class. Remarkably, the pair beat all of the Ferrari GT cars, including the factory 275 GTB Speciale, Sutcliffe’s 250 GTO, and all of the 250 LMs. Three weeks later, this 904 competed again at Rossfeld, finishing 8th overall and 5th in class, impressively ahead of the two Works Cobras.

This beautiful 1964 Porsche 904 GTS is available as part of RM Sotheby’s Paris auction on the 1st February 2023. Photos © Vecchio / RM Sotheby’s