Cars of the 1970s and 1980s
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Porsche French cars Cars in movies
Chronology : 1970 1972 1979
See also : Porsche French cars Cars in movies
Chronology : 1970 1972 1979
1970 Porsche 917K
2017 SOLD for $ 14M by Gooding
Porsche had never won the 24 hours of Le Mans. A change in regulations announced after the 1968 season by the ACO for the two classes 3 liters and 5 liters is seized as an opportunity. Porsche creates in parallel the models 908 and 917.
The rule for the 5 liter homologation requires that the model is produced in 25 identical units. Porsche's motivation is so intense that they line up their twenty-five 917 in the yard of the factory as early as April 1969. Success is still questionable because the 917 is very difficult to drive. None of them finished the 24 hours of Le Mans 1969 and a driver died during that race.
Porsche immediately conceived the necessary improvements, resulting in two variants of the chassis for each of the two models : K for Kurz Heck and LH for Lang Heck. The short variant is faster in top speed but less stable. Many drivers will prefer the LH.
On August 18, 2017, Gooding sold for $ 14M a historically important 917K, lot 44. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
This car assembled in 1970 was immediately entered in the training and test sessions at Le Mans, Nürburgring and Ehra-Lessien in April and May, demonstrating the exceptional speed achieved by the 917K model.
It is purchased in June 1970 by Jo Siffert who does not use it in competition but leases it for the preparation of the film Le Mans. It is one of three 917K starring in this movie for which they also served as camera cars for shooting at full speed. This 917K was Siffert's favorite car and led his funeral procession in October 1971.
The car was found 30 years later in a Parisian suburb, covered with dust but untouched except for the absence of the engine. The next owner bought an original engine from the same series. The complete restoration was supervised by a former Porsche engineer who still had access to the factory archives of the 917 program.
Please watch the video shared by Gooding.
The rule for the 5 liter homologation requires that the model is produced in 25 identical units. Porsche's motivation is so intense that they line up their twenty-five 917 in the yard of the factory as early as April 1969. Success is still questionable because the 917 is very difficult to drive. None of them finished the 24 hours of Le Mans 1969 and a driver died during that race.
Porsche immediately conceived the necessary improvements, resulting in two variants of the chassis for each of the two models : K for Kurz Heck and LH for Lang Heck. The short variant is faster in top speed but less stable. Many drivers will prefer the LH.
On August 18, 2017, Gooding sold for $ 14M a historically important 917K, lot 44. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
This car assembled in 1970 was immediately entered in the training and test sessions at Le Mans, Nürburgring and Ehra-Lessien in April and May, demonstrating the exceptional speed achieved by the 917K model.
It is purchased in June 1970 by Jo Siffert who does not use it in competition but leases it for the preparation of the film Le Mans. It is one of three 917K starring in this movie for which they also served as camera cars for shooting at full speed. This 917K was Siffert's favorite car and led his funeral procession in October 1971.
The car was found 30 years later in a Parisian suburb, covered with dust but untouched except for the absence of the engine. The next owner bought an original engine from the same series. The complete restoration was supervised by a former Porsche engineer who still had access to the factory archives of the 917 program.
Please watch the video shared by Gooding.
The Le Mans movie was produced by Steve McQueen's company Solar Productions. It is the most authentic depictions of motorsport ever captured. Another involved production company had prevented the actor to participate to the actual event in June 1970, due to the risk of a severe accident.
The plot places his character, driver Michael Delaney, behind the wheel of multiple Porsches over the course of the simulated race. The film was released in 1971.
One of these cars had been built by Porsche in 1969 for the FIA homologation of the 917 and converted to short tail specification 917K by the factory in April 1970.
That example was purchased new by McQueen and Solar and extensively used in the race sequences. Camera mounts and brackets were added. He departed from it after the movie. Afterward the 917K competed in and won off-screen races.
Reestablished in its blue and orange Gulf Oil livery of the movie and submitted in 2024 to a rebuild of its mechanical components and frame, it passed at Mecum on January 18, 2025, lot S237, from the collection of the Porsche-loving comedian Jerry Seinfeld. The V-12 engine is still in matching numbers. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Robb Report reported that Mr Seinfeld sold privately the Porsche after the Mecum auction for a price in the region of $ 25M.
The plot places his character, driver Michael Delaney, behind the wheel of multiple Porsches over the course of the simulated race. The film was released in 1971.
One of these cars had been built by Porsche in 1969 for the FIA homologation of the 917 and converted to short tail specification 917K by the factory in April 1970.
That example was purchased new by McQueen and Solar and extensively used in the race sequences. Camera mounts and brackets were added. He departed from it after the movie. Afterward the 917K competed in and won off-screen races.
Reestablished in its blue and orange Gulf Oil livery of the movie and submitted in 2024 to a rebuild of its mechanical components and frame, it passed at Mecum on January 18, 2025, lot S237, from the collection of the Porsche-loving comedian Jerry Seinfeld. The V-12 engine is still in matching numbers. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Robb Report reported that Mr Seinfeld sold privately the Porsche after the Mecum auction for a price in the region of $ 25M.
1971 Lamborghini Miura
2024 SOLD for $ 4.9M by RM Sotheby's
Ferruccio Lamborghini, an industrialist specializing in tractors, had a passion for fine automobiles. When he launched his business into the latter specialty, he voluntarily went opposite to the strategy of the major manufacturers : Lamborghini sports cars will be perfect, using techniques similar to racing cars, but will remain road vehicles without specific adaptation to track racing.
The Lamborghini Miura P400 (Posteriore 4 litri) is a masterpiece by the coachbuilder Bertone. When the prototype was released in 1965, it was the precursor of the current era of supercars. The prestige of the new brand was immediate.
Lamborghini developed in 1970 a high-end variant, the Miura SV, meaning Super Veloce and so clearly identifying which market was targeted. Out of the some 900 Miuras made, 150 were SVs.
A P400 SV completed in December 1971 and titled 1972 was sold for $ 4.9M by RM Sotheby's on June 1, 2024, lot 366, after an outstanding, concours-quality restoration.
The boss had accepted the SVJ project of a competition variant of the SV. His intention concerning the SVJ was probably to test new solutions which can then be reused in later high-end road cars. When the SV is released in 1971, Lamborghini requires the destruction of the only SVJ prototype. The car escaped the sentence but was destroyed in an accident shortly after.
Discretion was not total, and the SVJ had created some desires. For three years, Lamborghini accepted exceptionally to transform some SV cars into the SVJ configuration. The population of this ultimate Miura does not exceed seven vehicles.
A 1971 P400 SV keeping its engine in matching numbers was sold for $ 4.5M by Broad Arrow on March 8, 2025, lot 225. An SV Speciale with the lubrication and the differential of the SVJ was sold for £ 3.2M by Gooding on September 5, 2020, lot 2.
The Lamborghini Miura P400 (Posteriore 4 litri) is a masterpiece by the coachbuilder Bertone. When the prototype was released in 1965, it was the precursor of the current era of supercars. The prestige of the new brand was immediate.
Lamborghini developed in 1970 a high-end variant, the Miura SV, meaning Super Veloce and so clearly identifying which market was targeted. Out of the some 900 Miuras made, 150 were SVs.
A P400 SV completed in December 1971 and titled 1972 was sold for $ 4.9M by RM Sotheby's on June 1, 2024, lot 366, after an outstanding, concours-quality restoration.
The boss had accepted the SVJ project of a competition variant of the SV. His intention concerning the SVJ was probably to test new solutions which can then be reused in later high-end road cars. When the SV is released in 1971, Lamborghini requires the destruction of the only SVJ prototype. The car escaped the sentence but was destroyed in an accident shortly after.
Discretion was not total, and the SVJ had created some desires. For three years, Lamborghini accepted exceptionally to transform some SV cars into the SVJ configuration. The population of this ultimate Miura does not exceed seven vehicles.
A 1971 P400 SV keeping its engine in matching numbers was sold for $ 4.5M by Broad Arrow on March 8, 2025, lot 225. An SV Speciale with the lubrication and the differential of the SVJ was sold for £ 3.2M by Gooding on September 5, 2020, lot 2.
1972 Ferrari 312 PB
2023 SOLD for € 12M by RM Sotheby's
The reference 312, applied to a 3 liter 12 cylinder car, is created by Ferrari in 1966 after the FIA regulations authorized an engine of that volume in Formula one.
The acquisition of Ferrari by Fiat in 1969 re-triggered an interest of the brand in sports cars. The 312P is released in that year for competing in the Group 6 Prototype Sports classification. The change of the engine to a flat V 12 in 1971 does not change the reference at the brand but this car is commonly designated as 312 PB.
The 312 P(B) was redesigned for the 1972 season after the FIA united Groups 5 and 6 including raising the minimum weight from the previous classification. The 312 P(B)'s engine has many similarities in design to the F1 engine, but nearly every part is non-interchangeable with the F1 flat 12.
Used as a works car in 1972 by the Scuderia Ferrari, one of them achieved a podium overall in its four outings, each time with Ronnie Peterson and Tim Schenken : 1st at the 1000 km Buenos Aires, 2nd at the 12 hours Sebring, 3rd at the 1000 km Monza and 1st at the 1000 km Nürburgring. It was retired afterwards.
Accompanied with many spare parts including its original engine, it was sold for € 12M by RM Sotheby's on May 20, 2023, lot 140.
Its achievements contributed to Ferrari's win in the 1972 World Sports Car Championship of Makes. In 1973 its competitiveness was not sufficient against Matra. Ferrari abandoned the sports car racing after that season. The model 312 P(B) as redesigned for 1972 had no successor until 1993 with the 333 SP. Porsche had not followed the changes of the FIA rules.
The image shared by Wikimedia was taken in 2007 at the LM Story event at Le Mans. It is credited with attribution ZANTAFIO56 from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.
The acquisition of Ferrari by Fiat in 1969 re-triggered an interest of the brand in sports cars. The 312P is released in that year for competing in the Group 6 Prototype Sports classification. The change of the engine to a flat V 12 in 1971 does not change the reference at the brand but this car is commonly designated as 312 PB.
The 312 P(B) was redesigned for the 1972 season after the FIA united Groups 5 and 6 including raising the minimum weight from the previous classification. The 312 P(B)'s engine has many similarities in design to the F1 engine, but nearly every part is non-interchangeable with the F1 flat 12.
Used as a works car in 1972 by the Scuderia Ferrari, one of them achieved a podium overall in its four outings, each time with Ronnie Peterson and Tim Schenken : 1st at the 1000 km Buenos Aires, 2nd at the 12 hours Sebring, 3rd at the 1000 km Monza and 1st at the 1000 km Nürburgring. It was retired afterwards.
Accompanied with many spare parts including its original engine, it was sold for € 12M by RM Sotheby's on May 20, 2023, lot 140.
Its achievements contributed to Ferrari's win in the 1972 World Sports Car Championship of Makes. In 1973 its competitiveness was not sufficient against Matra. Ferrari abandoned the sports car racing after that season. The model 312 P(B) as redesigned for 1972 had no successor until 1993 with the 333 SP. Porsche had not followed the changes of the FIA rules.
The image shared by Wikimedia was taken in 2007 at the LM Story event at Le Mans. It is credited with attribution ZANTAFIO56 from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.
1972 Matra
2021 SOLD for € 6.9M by Artcurial
Jean-Luc Lagardère has been Matra's operational manager since 1963 with the position of Directeur général. His mission is to diversify the activities of this company previously focused to the aeronautical and military sector. In 1964 he declares his ambition for Matra to become the leader in automobile competitions within ten years. In the same year, Matra buys the company of the Automobiles René Bonnet.
In a gradual approach, Matra indeed manages to win successively in Formula 3, Formula 2 and Formula 1. In 1969 Jackie Stewart is world champion with a Matra MS 80 equipped with a V8 Cosworth engine. In the following year Matra Sports joins forces with Simca.
For endurance, Matra's learning is a bit slower. In 1972, after several years of failure, the Matra team enters four cars at Le Mans. The race is won by an MS 670 fitted with the 1972 version of the Matra Sports V12 engine. It was piloted by Henri Pescarolo and Graham Hill. The latter thus becomes the only motorsport champion to have won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 500 miles of Indianapolis and the Formula 1 World Championship.
Matra's victory revives French motorsport. Introduced for Formula 1 in 1968, the V12 played an important role in the popularity of the brand. Lagardère wanted its noise to be a roar, which spectators cannot ignore each time a Matra passes through Mulsanne straight.
This car ended its racing career in the following year but was retained by the company. Its many modifications are consistent with the period configuration. It was sold for € 6.9M from a lower estimate of € 4M by Artcurial on February 5, 2021, lot 5. Please watch the video shared by the auction house and discover therein the howl of the Matra, described by Artcurial as a fabulous symphony.
Matra Sports largely won its challenge and ceased competition after the 1974 season but supplied engines to Ligier until 1978. Lagardère became Chairman and CEO of Matra in 1977.
In a gradual approach, Matra indeed manages to win successively in Formula 3, Formula 2 and Formula 1. In 1969 Jackie Stewart is world champion with a Matra MS 80 equipped with a V8 Cosworth engine. In the following year Matra Sports joins forces with Simca.
For endurance, Matra's learning is a bit slower. In 1972, after several years of failure, the Matra team enters four cars at Le Mans. The race is won by an MS 670 fitted with the 1972 version of the Matra Sports V12 engine. It was piloted by Henri Pescarolo and Graham Hill. The latter thus becomes the only motorsport champion to have won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 500 miles of Indianapolis and the Formula 1 World Championship.
Matra's victory revives French motorsport. Introduced for Formula 1 in 1968, the V12 played an important role in the popularity of the brand. Lagardère wanted its noise to be a roar, which spectators cannot ignore each time a Matra passes through Mulsanne straight.
This car ended its racing career in the following year but was retained by the company. Its many modifications are consistent with the period configuration. It was sold for € 6.9M from a lower estimate of € 4M by Artcurial on February 5, 2021, lot 5. Please watch the video shared by the auction house and discover therein the howl of the Matra, described by Artcurial as a fabulous symphony.
Matra Sports largely won its challenge and ceased competition after the 1974 season but supplied engines to Ligier until 1978. Lagardère became Chairman and CEO of Matra in 1977.
1972 Porsche 917/10
2012 SOLD for $ 5.8M by Mecum
In the early 1970s, the cars competing in endurance racing change their look and increase their speed. The development of the Porsche 917 in Spyder bodywork is a great success, both in terms of engineering and sport.
In 1972, Porsche subcontracted to Penske Racing the participation in the competitions. Their goal to dominate the prestigious series of events known as the Can-Am (Canadian American Challenge Cup) met a total success.
Driven alternately by the two Penske drivers, George Follmer and Mark Donohue, this serial number 917/10-003 actually won in 1972 no fewer than five of nine races counted for the Can-Am which was the best track record of the Porsche 917 model. It was sold for $ 5.8M by Mecum on August 18, 2012. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Porsche had dominated the Can-Am in 1972 with the 917/10. Its engineers did even better in 1973 : the Porsche 917/30 Can-Am Spyder was later elected by a committee of experts as the greatest racing car of all time. Its participation to competition was provided by the drivers of the Penske team including Mark Donohue.
With its 5.4-liter engine, 917/30 has an unsurpassed power. Compared to the 917/10, its aerodynamics is improved and a clever system of temporary acceleration raising up to 1500 bph enables to instantly leave any competitor behind.
This ultimate model of motor racing is indeed extremely rare despite its dominant performance : only six chassis were built.
001 is a prototype that had ensured the transition from 917/10 to 917/30. All feats in competition including the speed record of 355 km/h in closed circuit were achieved either by 002 or (mostly) by 003. Both are currently owned by Porsche but 002 was badly damaged in a crash at Watkins Glen.
004 was originally intended for the Penske team but the uninterrupted performance of 002 and 003 did not appeal for a spare unit. No longer needed in 1974 due to the fuel limitation imposed from the oil crisis, it is bought, admired and exhibited by the Porsche importer in Australia without entering a race.
005 and 006 have been much later assembled with smaller engines, 5 and 4.5 liters respectively.
Carefully maintained by its successive collectors and repainted in the livery of Sunoco which had been the main sponsor of the Penske team, 004 was sold by Gooding for $ 4.4M on March 9, 2012 and for $ 3M on March 11, 2016, lot 044.
The overwhelming success of the Porsche 917 had killed the suspense in the Can-Am events. This is not the only reason for the ephemeral career of the 917 : the oil crisis also forced the organizers of car racings to cut the costs.
In 1972, Porsche subcontracted to Penske Racing the participation in the competitions. Their goal to dominate the prestigious series of events known as the Can-Am (Canadian American Challenge Cup) met a total success.
Driven alternately by the two Penske drivers, George Follmer and Mark Donohue, this serial number 917/10-003 actually won in 1972 no fewer than five of nine races counted for the Can-Am which was the best track record of the Porsche 917 model. It was sold for $ 5.8M by Mecum on August 18, 2012. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Porsche had dominated the Can-Am in 1972 with the 917/10. Its engineers did even better in 1973 : the Porsche 917/30 Can-Am Spyder was later elected by a committee of experts as the greatest racing car of all time. Its participation to competition was provided by the drivers of the Penske team including Mark Donohue.
With its 5.4-liter engine, 917/30 has an unsurpassed power. Compared to the 917/10, its aerodynamics is improved and a clever system of temporary acceleration raising up to 1500 bph enables to instantly leave any competitor behind.
This ultimate model of motor racing is indeed extremely rare despite its dominant performance : only six chassis were built.
001 is a prototype that had ensured the transition from 917/10 to 917/30. All feats in competition including the speed record of 355 km/h in closed circuit were achieved either by 002 or (mostly) by 003. Both are currently owned by Porsche but 002 was badly damaged in a crash at Watkins Glen.
004 was originally intended for the Penske team but the uninterrupted performance of 002 and 003 did not appeal for a spare unit. No longer needed in 1974 due to the fuel limitation imposed from the oil crisis, it is bought, admired and exhibited by the Porsche importer in Australia without entering a race.
005 and 006 have been much later assembled with smaller engines, 5 and 4.5 liters respectively.
Carefully maintained by its successive collectors and repainted in the livery of Sunoco which had been the main sponsor of the Penske team, 004 was sold by Gooding for $ 4.4M on March 9, 2012 and for $ 3M on March 11, 2016, lot 044.
The overwhelming success of the Porsche 917 had killed the suspense in the Can-Am events. This is not the only reason for the ephemeral career of the 917 : the oil crisis also forced the organizers of car racings to cut the costs.
1975 Ferrari 312 T
2019 SOLD for $ 6M by Gooding
Despite his sensational success in the production of sports cars, the track remains the main goal of Enzo Ferrari. However, after the victory of John Surtees in 1964, the Formula One world championships of constructors and drivers escape sustainably his Scuderia.
Reasons for these issues were varied : funding difficulties, poor selection of some drivers, difficulty in developing a competing engine against the Ford Cosworth. In 1969 40% of Ferrari was sold to the FIAT group.
Agnelli is impatient. In 1973 he forces Enzo Ferrari to share his decisions with a young manager, Luca di Montezemolo, who cancels some blunders. Mauro Forghieri returns to his position as technical director. Back in the Scuderia, Clay Regazzoni makes Niki Lauda hired in 1974.
Forghieri had designed the Ferrari 312B in 1971. In 1975 its evolution 312T finally gives the supremacy to the Scuderia, thanks to a transversal gear box which improves the distribution of the masses. The two 312Ts driven in that year by Lauda and Regazzoni in the Grand Prix cumulate pole positions and wins. Ferrari and Lauda are world champions. Three other cars had been built.
Like many models of that period, the 312T is ephemeral. Obsolete in 1976 after a change in the rules for prohibiting the spectacular air box behind the cockpit, it is replaced by the 312T2. The T refers to the transverse gearbox.
On August 16, 2019, Gooding sold for $ 6M a 312T raced by Lauda in 1975, lot 031. It began its career by winning the Silverstone Trophy, which is not counted in the world championship. Qualified five times in pole position in the Grand Prix of the championship, it won in France. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Reasons for these issues were varied : funding difficulties, poor selection of some drivers, difficulty in developing a competing engine against the Ford Cosworth. In 1969 40% of Ferrari was sold to the FIAT group.
Agnelli is impatient. In 1973 he forces Enzo Ferrari to share his decisions with a young manager, Luca di Montezemolo, who cancels some blunders. Mauro Forghieri returns to his position as technical director. Back in the Scuderia, Clay Regazzoni makes Niki Lauda hired in 1974.
Forghieri had designed the Ferrari 312B in 1971. In 1975 its evolution 312T finally gives the supremacy to the Scuderia, thanks to a transversal gear box which improves the distribution of the masses. The two 312Ts driven in that year by Lauda and Regazzoni in the Grand Prix cumulate pole positions and wins. Ferrari and Lauda are world champions. Three other cars had been built.
Like many models of that period, the 312T is ephemeral. Obsolete in 1976 after a change in the rules for prohibiting the spectacular air box behind the cockpit, it is replaced by the 312T2. The T refers to the transverse gearbox.
On August 16, 2019, Gooding sold for $ 6M a 312T raced by Lauda in 1975, lot 031. It began its career by winning the Silverstone Trophy, which is not counted in the world championship. Qualified five times in pole position in the Grand Prix of the championship, it won in France. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
1979 Ferrari 312 T4
2024 SOLD for € 7.7M by RM Sotheby's
The model used by Ferrari in 1979 in Formula One is the 312 T4, which is the third evolution of the 312 T of 1975.
For competing with Lotus, the T4 monocoque was designed to be as narrow as possible, to take advantage of ground effects, but this was limited by the width of the flat 12 engine. That model was very effective. It won 6 Grand Prix in 1979, three for Jody Scheckter (Belgium, Monaco and Italy) and three for Gilles Villeneuve. Scheckter won the drivers' championship and Ferrari its fourth constructors' championship in 5 seasons.
Scheckter purchased to Ferrari in 1982 the car of his three 1979 wins. After a rebuild of the engine, he drove it in Bahrein in 2010 at the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Formula One.
This car has never been driven by anyone other than Scheckter. Left in its T4 configuration, this Ferrari remains extremely original. Consigned by Jody Scheckter, it was sold at Monaco for € 7.7M from a lower estimate of € 5.25M by RM Sotheby's on May 11, 2024, lot 226.
The photo of the car with Scheckter in 1979 at Monaco is shared by Wikimedia, with attribution crazylenny2, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
For competing with Lotus, the T4 monocoque was designed to be as narrow as possible, to take advantage of ground effects, but this was limited by the width of the flat 12 engine. That model was very effective. It won 6 Grand Prix in 1979, three for Jody Scheckter (Belgium, Monaco and Italy) and three for Gilles Villeneuve. Scheckter won the drivers' championship and Ferrari its fourth constructors' championship in 5 seasons.
Scheckter purchased to Ferrari in 1982 the car of his three 1979 wins. After a rebuild of the engine, he drove it in Bahrein in 2010 at the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Formula One.
This car has never been driven by anyone other than Scheckter. Left in its T4 configuration, this Ferrari remains extremely original. Consigned by Jody Scheckter, it was sold at Monaco for € 7.7M from a lower estimate of € 5.25M by RM Sotheby's on May 11, 2024, lot 226.
The photo of the car with Scheckter in 1979 at Monaco is shared by Wikimedia, with attribution crazylenny2, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
1982 Porsche 956
2015 SOLD for $ 10.1M by Gooding
The FIA never has an easy task. Its categories and its racing regulations are a continual compromise, ever changing, with a concern for safety while reducing the fuel consumption and maintaining appealing sport features for the public.
The creation of the Group C, scheduled in 1981 and released in 1982, marks a return of prototype racing to its highest prestige. Porsche is very enthusiastic.
The effort of the engineers focuses on innovations of chassis, suspension and bodywork including an aluminum monocoque. Despite a similar engine to that of the 936, the Porsche 956 perfectly meets the intent of the FIA to promote a modernized range of vehicles.
The model 956 along with its further evolution as the 962 is so far ahead of its competitors that Porsche completely dominates the World Endurance Championship for five consecutive years.
Porsche designed the 956 for their own prestige. Ten cars are prepared for the official drivers of the brand and are sponsored by the Rothmans cigarette company. Twelve other units are made for the market.
First races, first triumphs: in May 1982, the 956-001 wins the 6 hours of Silverstone. A month later, the model 956 takes the first three places at Le Mans.
Second at Le Mans in 1982, the 956-003 won its last four races of that year. Its victory at Le Mans in 1983 will be the greatest feat of its prestigious career. Appreciating a few minutes before the end of the 24 hours that the engine is going to expire, Al Holbert manages to keep a short lead ahead of another 956 driven by Derek Bell. It is interesting to note that the 956 cars got the top eight positions in that race.
956-003 was sold for $ 10.1M by Gooding on August 15, 2015, lot 050. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
The creation of the Group C, scheduled in 1981 and released in 1982, marks a return of prototype racing to its highest prestige. Porsche is very enthusiastic.
The effort of the engineers focuses on innovations of chassis, suspension and bodywork including an aluminum monocoque. Despite a similar engine to that of the 936, the Porsche 956 perfectly meets the intent of the FIA to promote a modernized range of vehicles.
The model 956 along with its further evolution as the 962 is so far ahead of its competitors that Porsche completely dominates the World Endurance Championship for five consecutive years.
Porsche designed the 956 for their own prestige. Ten cars are prepared for the official drivers of the brand and are sponsored by the Rothmans cigarette company. Twelve other units are made for the market.
First races, first triumphs: in May 1982, the 956-001 wins the 6 hours of Silverstone. A month later, the model 956 takes the first three places at Le Mans.
Second at Le Mans in 1982, the 956-003 won its last four races of that year. Its victory at Le Mans in 1983 will be the greatest feat of its prestigious career. Appreciating a few minutes before the end of the 24 hours that the engine is going to expire, Al Holbert manages to keep a short lead ahead of another 956 driven by Derek Bell. It is interesting to note that the 956 cars got the top eight positions in that race.
956-003 was sold for $ 10.1M by Gooding on August 15, 2015, lot 050. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
1985 Porsche 959
2018 SOLD for $ 6M by RM Sotheby's
The Paris-Dakar rally was prestigious for its countless safari-style difficulties through 14000 km in France, Spain and Africa. In 1984 it was won by Metge and Lemoyne in a Porsche 953 with four-wheel drive, a great novelty for the brand. The suspension has also been improved.
Jacky Ickx, who had won the previous edition with a Mercedes-Benz, is also a regular driver for Porsche, including the 956, a model for endurance well suited for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Under his influence Porsche realizes a new development for the Paris-Dakar.
Three prototypes were built in 1985 and three more in 1986. A seventh car was reclassified as Porsche 961 prototype for Le Mans. These cars are an improvement of the 953 with an electronic control of the four-wheel drive. They do not constitute a new reference but benefit from the modernization efforts of the 959 and enter that range.
In 1984 the three entered 953 had finished the Paris-Dakar. 1985 is less glorious when none of the three 959 finish. In 1986 the three new Porsche 959 are 1st, 2nd and 6th overall.
Two of the six 959 Paris-Dakar remain in private hands with only one of them in working condition. This car was one of the three Porsche entered in the 1985 rally where it was driven by Metge and Lemoyne. Retired afterward from competition, it remains highly original. It was sold for $ 6M from a lower estimate of $ 3M by RM Sotheby's on October 27, 2018, lot 196.
Jacky Ickx, who had won the previous edition with a Mercedes-Benz, is also a regular driver for Porsche, including the 956, a model for endurance well suited for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Under his influence Porsche realizes a new development for the Paris-Dakar.
Three prototypes were built in 1985 and three more in 1986. A seventh car was reclassified as Porsche 961 prototype for Le Mans. These cars are an improvement of the 953 with an electronic control of the four-wheel drive. They do not constitute a new reference but benefit from the modernization efforts of the 959 and enter that range.
In 1984 the three entered 953 had finished the Paris-Dakar. 1985 is less glorious when none of the three 959 finish. In 1986 the three new Porsche 959 are 1st, 2nd and 6th overall.
Two of the six 959 Paris-Dakar remain in private hands with only one of them in working condition. This car was one of the three Porsche entered in the 1985 rally where it was driven by Metge and Lemoyne. Retired afterward from competition, it remains highly original. It was sold for $ 6M from a lower estimate of $ 3M by RM Sotheby's on October 27, 2018, lot 196.
1989 RUF CTR Yellowbird
2025 SOLD for $ 6.1M by Gooding
Auto Ruf was founded by Herr Ruf in 1939 as a service garage in Bavaria. Their business was extended to manufacture after the successful design of a bus car in 1955. In 1977 his son and successor began enhancing the Porsche 911 in small series without involving the Porsche company.
In 1987 the RUF CTR, based on the narrow bodied 911 Carrera 3.2, is the pioneer of the modern trend for high performance cars offered in limited series by specialized brands, preceding Pagani created in 1992 and Koenigsegg in 1994. CTR means Group C Turbo Ruf. They are powered by a specifically designed 3.4 liter air-cooled flat six engine with twin turbochargers.
A CTR immediately captured the record as the world's fastest production car with a top speed of 339 km/h, overcoming the Ferrari F40.. The model achieved a perfect visibility in 1989 in a successful testing event managed on the Volkswagen test track by Road and Track magazine. The sharp contrast of its bright yellow paint over the gray sky delighted the photographers, stealing the show against a Ferrari Testarossa, a 288 GTO and a Porsche 959. From then the model was nicknamed Yellowbird whatever the real color of the car.
29 CTR were assembled by Ruf on chassis purchased to Porsche, plus more than 20 on cars brought by customers.
A black painted 1989 Yellowbird with 52,000 km from new was sold for $ 1.02M by RM Sotheby's on August 25, 2018, lot 223.
A 1989 CTR Yellowbird with less than 1,700 km from new was sold for $ 6.1M by Gooding on March 7, 2025, lot 118. It is illustrated in first position in the pre sale press release shared by the auction house. It had been preserved in a time capsule condition for three decades in a climate controlled facility and keeps its original blossom yellow livery. Its options include the Leichtbau specification and the six-speed RUF gearbox.
In 1987 the RUF CTR, based on the narrow bodied 911 Carrera 3.2, is the pioneer of the modern trend for high performance cars offered in limited series by specialized brands, preceding Pagani created in 1992 and Koenigsegg in 1994. CTR means Group C Turbo Ruf. They are powered by a specifically designed 3.4 liter air-cooled flat six engine with twin turbochargers.
A CTR immediately captured the record as the world's fastest production car with a top speed of 339 km/h, overcoming the Ferrari F40.. The model achieved a perfect visibility in 1989 in a successful testing event managed on the Volkswagen test track by Road and Track magazine. The sharp contrast of its bright yellow paint over the gray sky delighted the photographers, stealing the show against a Ferrari Testarossa, a 288 GTO and a Porsche 959. From then the model was nicknamed Yellowbird whatever the real color of the car.
29 CTR were assembled by Ruf on chassis purchased to Porsche, plus more than 20 on cars brought by customers.
A black painted 1989 Yellowbird with 52,000 km from new was sold for $ 1.02M by RM Sotheby's on August 25, 2018, lot 223.
A 1989 CTR Yellowbird with less than 1,700 km from new was sold for $ 6.1M by Gooding on March 7, 2025, lot 118. It is illustrated in first position in the pre sale press release shared by the auction house. It had been preserved in a time capsule condition for three decades in a climate controlled facility and keeps its original blossom yellow livery. Its options include the Leichtbau specification and the six-speed RUF gearbox.
