Inflatable Gorillas might help used car lots, but every dealer has been outdone by Porsche’s Anniversary Display. Placed at on the lawn of Goodwood House was a spire holding six significant Porsches. Using a 4.72″ thick steel pole, the six cars were balanced on a star, 170 feet above the grass. Because they were elevated, Porshe sent us a press release with the details of the elevated automobiles.
6. 1978 Porsche 935 Moby Dick
Built to dominate, Type 935 won its first race only 7 laps in front of the 2nd place car. Hans Mezger built a 3.2-liter twin turbo that made 845 horsepower. The top speed of 227 mph was too much for the FIA, so it was restricted to 750 to remain competitive. While the cylinders remained air-cooled, a water jacket surrounded each cylinder head to keep the cams and valves happy during endurance runs.
5. Porsche 962 C
This car would be fine in any direction because it generates more downforce than it weighs. Using a full belly pan and several NACA ducts, the 965 and 962 brought home 7 LeMans Victories and three Manufacturers’ World Championships. This 1987 example is powered by a 3.0L flat six with twin turbos. It makes 700 horsepower and only weighs 1,874 lbs
1962 Porsche 804 F1
The first Porsche with disc brakes also featured other wild innovations. It has a 1.5L flat eight-cylinder engine with dual overhead cams. It allowed this 1,016 lb rocket to reach 167 mph thanks to 180 horsepower.
1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Turbo 2.1
If you are wondering why the rear tires are so wide, it is because the Carrera RSR had a 31.7-gallon gas tank right behind the driver. Mounting the tank where the rear seats were changes the center of gravity to an optimal position. Every other 911 has a front-mounted tank that changes the load on the front suspension as fuel is consumed. The 2.1 turbo made 500 horsepower and offered a 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds. The top speed was limited by the wide rear quarter panels to 186 mph.
1984 Porsche Carrera 4×4 Paris-Dakar
Porsche’s rear engine design has always made it a favorite for off-road adventures, so Type 953 was built for the Paris-Dakar Rally. Using a nearly stock engine, the coil-spring suspension had dual shocks at each corner and 10.6″ of travel. It was the first sports car to win the event, and it proved the performance of 4WD in the 911.
1988 Porsche 2708 Indycar
Another one of Mezger’s masterpiece engines was used to power their 1988 Indycar team. It packs a 2.65L V8 with twin turbos into a one-piece chassis. Made of alternating layers of carbon fiber and aluminum honeycomb, it allowed this 750 horsepower beast to be a dominant force in the ’88 season.
Hopefully, these historic models make it home safely. It makes us wonder what Porsche will do in their next 70 years. Tell us which one you would daily drive in the comments below and stay with us for more coverage of Goodwood.
