The August auction will feature a factory-entered Porsche 908 Short-Tail’ racer in the 1968 Spa 1000 Km.
RM Sotheby’s will sell a 1968 Works Porsche 908 “Short-Tail” coupe at its Monterey auction. It is believed to be one of five remaining examples of the original 31.
The 908 K, short for Kurzheck, has a flat-8 3-liter engine producing 350 horsepower. RM will sell chassis 908-010. This is one-half a two-car entry Porsche System Engineering Porsche 911Km.
Vic Elford drove this Porsche, winning the 24 Hours of Daytona with a Porsche 907 in the previous year. This was the marque’s first ever win in a 24-hour endurance race. Jochen Neerpasch was also present, who won Daytona in a Porsche 907 in 1968.
Elford won the race in his 32-lap debut stint. Neerpasch, who had crashed during wet conditions, retired with two laps remaining. The factory retired 908-010 and sold it to private Swiss ownership. It remained there for more than two decades.
It was purchased by Bill Ferren in the United States by Dale Miller, a Porsche racing expert. John Corsen, a noted prototype expert, was responsible for the complete restoration of the car. He prepared it for the 2004 Rennsport Reunion at Daytona.
The 908 “Short-Tail”, Coupe was part of many historic events during its 12th year of ownership. It was also featured in the Porsche By Design exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Art 2013.
It retains its original chassis and a factory 908 engine.
For the August 24/25 sale, Chassis 908-010 will be listed at an estimated $2.3 million to $2.8M. Gooding & Company sold 908-011, which was third in the 1968 Spa 1000Km. It was then listed for $3M.
David Swig, a car specialist, said that the 908 was built to maximize the 3-liter displacement limits set forth by the FIA at that time. This is a significant evolutionary step from the 904, 906 and 907 before it. The model was introduced in 1968 and raced until the 1980s. It had a very long competition life, which is a remarkable feat in endurance racing.
“Chassis 908-010 was one of very few first-series 908s. It pioneered development of the 908/02/03 models. These models went on to be some of Porsche’s most successful and celebrated race cars. In one of Porsche’s last years of official Works competition, 908-010 was driven by two great Porsche team drivers.
Gord Duff, RM global head of auctions, stated that the 908 prototype was a great early highlight for our Monterey sales. This is made even more exciting by its availability during Porsche’s 70th Anniversary year.