One of Robert Redford's former prized possessions is going up for auction with the 1964 Porsche 904 GTS set to be sold at Bonham's Les Grandes Marques du Monde a Paris on February 3. The iconic sports car has a rich history, which the prospective buyer can relive with its extensive documentation and paperwork.
The origin of the 904 GTS can be traced back to 1962 when carmaker Porsche decided to abandon its expensive Formula One program. During this period, Doctor Hans Tomala, who was Porsche's technical director, developed a brand-new technology that saw the suspension and engine directly bolted to the car's steel structure.
It was a fantastic innovation as this reduced the transmission of vibration and noise to the car's passenger compartment. This technology was adapted into the Type 904, a mid-engined GT racer.
The car up for sale was originally sold to Steve Earle, the founder of Monterey Historic Races at Laguna Seca. The said 904 was actually used as a race car by Otto Zipper's Precision Motor Cars during this period. Classic and Sports Car reported that Earle had the car shipped on a pallet to New York's JFK Airport with the Porsche placed on a PanAm plane.
Earle then sold the car to another owner, who used it for racing through 1965. The car was sold to Redford in 1966. Redford might have seen the car in action on the West Coast, leading the Hollywood star to purchase the vehicle eventually. The Porsche stayed in his possession for ten years before selling it to a Belgian collector.
The 1964 904 GTS was one of the last cars fitted by Porsche with a 4-cylinder engine. That engine is nowhere to be found, though, with the car's engine being upgraded to a flat 6-cylinder with a single overhead camshaft after Redford sold it in 1976.
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The 904 GTS up for auction remains in excellent condition, with the said Porsche set to arrive at the auction with the same transaxle, bodywork, and chassis. It has a new engine, though, with the 904 GTS being outfitted with a Type 587/3 Carrera motor. This 904 GTS also has been equipped with Dunlop tires. The car has a silver metallic paint finish with the interiors upholstered with blue cloth.
The current owner and Bonham's are targeting a huge payday with the 1964 Porsche 904 GTS expected to sell for around $1.5 to 1.7 million US dollars. That price may still be a bargain considering the car is both a piece of North American and Porsche racing history. Add to that the fact that only 110 models of the 904 GTS were created to satisfy the FIA requirements, meaning the car is 1/110. A rare find to say the least.
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