The Porsche 906 or Carrera 6 was the last street-legal racing car from Porsche. A total of 65 were produced in 1966, allowing the model to be homologated for FIA’s new Group 4 Sports Car category although the 906 would also compete in modified form in the Group 6 Sports Prototype class.
A successor to the Porsche 904, and designed under Ferdinand Piëch’s new regime at Porsche R&D, the 906 replaced the boxed steel structure of the 904 which used the fiberglass body for extra structural strength with a tubular space frame and unstressed fiberglass body. The fiberglass itself was laid up by hand, producing consistent results, instead of the uneven spraying technique used on the 904.
The result was a car that weighed 1,300 lb, approximately 250 lb lighter than the 904/6. The engine regularly fitted was the 901/20 6-cylinder lightweight racing engine with 220 hp and carburetors, although some examples that were raced by the factory team received fuel injected 8-cylinder engines, especially in hillclimbing events where Porsche competed with Ferrari Dinos for the European championship.
Unlike previous racing Porsches, the 906 body was tested in a wind tunnel, resulting in a top speed of 170 mph at Le Mans, quite fast for a 2-liter engine car. It shows already a close resemblance to future Porsche racing cars. As in the Mercedes-Benz 300SL, gull-wing doors were fitted, and the engine at the rear was covered with a large Plexiglas cover.
In its debut in the 1966 24 Hours of Daytona, the Carrera 6 finished 6th overall, and won its class against Ferrari Dino 206 Ps. At the 12 Hours of Sebring, Hans Herrmann/Gerhard Mitter finished fourth overall and won the class, as at the 1000 km of Monza.
The 1000 km at Spa were disappointing, as were the 1000 km Nürburgring where the Dinos were only beaten by the Chevrolet V8-powered Chaparral. A privately entered 906 secured an overall victory at the 1966 Targa Florio when the factory cars failed.
At the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 906 placed 4-5-6-7 behind three Ford GT40 Mk IIs, outlasting all of the previously dominant V12 engined Ferrari Ps.
1966 Porsche 906 Carrera 6 For Sale
Details: Seller Jan Luehn does not disclose the asking price. Car is located in Germany.
Seller Comments: “This specific car was bought new from the factory by the first owner as a semi-Works car as one of the cars to be sold in to the UK. The car has a fully documented history including races at the Targa Florio in 1966,
the Springbok series in South Africa and various successful races at the Sports car World championship as Spa, Nürburgring, Mugello, Brands Hatch, Silverstone and Monza. Later the car also raced at SCCA events in the USA.”
“The car is fully documented since new including all the races and ownerships. The Carrera 6 is today presented in perfect condition throughout. It is fitted with a correct 2-litre factory race engine and the matching gearbox. The brakes have been reconditioned, every rose joint replaced, the dampers serviced with new springs and a new wiring loom was made in the USA, an exact copy of the original loom. All parts that got replaced in due course have been saved and are still with the car. The 906 also comes with many spare parts (full list on request) as well as a full set of moulds to reproduce the main body parts easily. Furthermore it will be sold including the original aluminum/steel wheels plus two sets of American magnesium wheels as well as the original quick lift jack and the extremely rare original FIA plastic luggage container which sits over the gearbox.”
“We are now selling the car including a large history file, various original race programs, films and correspondence documenting its full history. The Carrera 906 is eligible for the most prestigious events worldwide as the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Le Mans Classic, Tour Auto or similar.”
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[Source: Jan Luehn; Wikipedia]
A slight error in the text….the 906 was not the last of the street legal Porsche racing cars. That was the previous 904. The 906 was the successor to the 904 and as such…the 906 was the first of the racing-only ( *non* street legal) racing Porsches that followed.
Dear Mr. Ferch!
I do not believe this, because 906 Types are fitted with 15 inch rims and tyres for street purposes, 910 types, very similsar to 906 types, are fitted with 13 inch rims and tyres for racing purposes. Additionally Rudi Lins from Austria posses a 906 type licensed for street use, in Austria.
The 906 had 15 inch wheels because they were leftover from the 904. Rather than scrap the parts, they were used until the 910 was introduced. The 910 was basically a 906 with Lotus suspension and 13 inch wheels. The 904 was the last of the series designed for street use.
The fiberglass itself was laid up by hand, producing consistent results, instead of the uneven spraying technique used.