Porsche 904 Carrera GTS Coupe : 1964

Although it was officially named Carrera GTS, it opened a new chapter in Porsche's sporting history under the internal designation 904. The 904, designed by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche (known as "Butzi"), anticipated, from a technical point of view, much that did not become the norm in racing car manufacturing until later: mixed steel/plastic construction, low weight, small frontal area.

It was the first Porsche with a plastic body and 100 examples had to be built in order to qualify for the GT class. This was followed by a further 20 vehicles, of which 16 were assembled. The rest provided the parts for the spare parts store.

The 904 GTS displayed in the Porsche museum had, as a works car, an eight-cylinder two-litre engine and joined the line-up at Le Mans in 1964 and in 1965 driven by Mitter/Davis.

Exactly five months after it was presented, Porsche achieved its fifth victory in this classic race on 26 April 1964 with the production 904 at the Targa Florio. Antonio Pucci and Colin Davis snatched victory ahead of Linge/Balzarini in an identical 904. Further victories followed: at the Tour de France, at the 1,000 kilometre race around the Nürburgring, in the Le Mans 24 hour race and in the following Reims 24 hour race. The 904 proved its roadworthiness at the Monte Carlo rally in 1965, where Eugen Böhringer still came in second despite a totally snow-covered course. The 904 fitted with four, six and eight-cylinder engines was not only a very successful racing car of the early 1960s, to this day it is still regarded as one of the most attractive.

Engine: Four-cylinder twin-valve induction engine (Boxer), air-cooled, four overhead camshafts.
Power: 180 HP at 7.800 RPM.
Displacement: 1.966 cc.
Fuel system: Two Weber downdraft carburettors, 110 litre fuel tank.
Transmission: Five-speed gearbox, locking differential.
Chassis: Sheet-steel box-type chassis with plastic body, coil springs, disc brakes.
Dimensions & Weight: Wheel base 2.300 mm.
Length: 4.090 mm.
Height: 1.065 mm.
Weight: 530 kg.
Performance: Top speed approx. 263 km/h.
Chassis No. of the Porsche museum car: 904 008.

(source: Porsche)