As noted by renowned Porsche historian Karl Ludvigsen, the Type 907 was “much more than an interim model that gave birth to the 908,” and instead enjoyed “a splendid career all its own.” Nowhere was that achievement more clearly demonstrated than at the 24 Hours of Daytona in February 1968, where chassis 907-005 secured its place among the most important Porsche endurance racers.
Introduced in the summer of 1967, the 907 reflected Piëch’s determination to elevate Porsche’s racing program through increasingly sophisticated engineering solutions. Built around a lightweight tubular spaceframe utilizing a right-hand-drive layout and clothed in one of the most aerodynamically efficient bodies yet produced by Porsche, the Langheck – or long-tail – 907 was developed specifically for high-speed circuits like Daytona, Monza, and Le Mans.
The car’s fiberglass bodywork was the result of extensive wind tunnel testing and represented a major leap forward in aerodynamic efficiency. Compared to its predecessor, the 910, the 907’s long-tail configuration reduced drag by approximately 25%, resulting in a drag coefficient of just 0.27 – then the lowest Porsche had recorded for a full-size competition car. Its extraordinarily long, tapering rear bodywork, deeply curved windscreen, and exceptionally narrow cockpit created an otherworldly silhouette unlike anything previously produced in Zuffenhausen.
Beneath the streamlined body lay one of Porsche’s most advanced and sophisticated racing engines. The Type 771 flat-eight, derived from the firm’s short-lived Formula 1 program and developed by Hans Mezger and Hans Hönick, represented the ultimate evolution of Porsche’s four-cam, aircooled racing lineage. Enlarged to 2.2 liters for the 1968 season, it produced approximately 270 hp at nearly 9,000 rpm, all while retaining the durability required for endurance racing.
Constructed for the 1968 World Championship season, 907-005 was retained by the factory and entered as part of Porsche’s expanded assault on international endurance racing. The revised FIA regulations had created a genuine opportunity for Porsche to compete for outright victory, as the dominant Ford and Ferrari prototypes of previous seasons had largely disappeared from the stage.
At Daytona, Porsche fielded four works 907 Langhecks supported by a large contingent of engineers and mechanics. The event also showcased the experimental spirit of the Piëch era, including driver-cooling systems inspired by aerospace technology and custom-molded seats tailored to individual drivers.
As the race developed, Porsche’s combination of efficiency, reliability, and speed steadily asserted itself. When attrition eliminated many of the leading contenders, 907-005 emerged at the front of the field. Driven primarily by Vic Elford, Jochen Neerpasch, and Rolf Stommelen – and later joined by Jo Siffert and Hans Herrmann during the closing stages – the works Porsche completed 673 laps to secure a commanding overall victory. Remarkably, it covered a greater distance than the previous year’s winner – a four-liter Ferrari 330 P3/4.
In addition to securing Porsche’s first 24-hour race win, 907-005 also anchored a remarkable 1–2–3 finish for the marque at Daytona. In the broader context of Porsche history, the significance of this achievement cannot be overstated. For nearly two decades, Porsche had built its reputation on class victories, reliability, and consistency against far larger and more powerful rivals. Daytona 1968 marked the moment when Porsche demonstrated it could win a major race outright – and established the foundation for the most successful endurance racing dynasty in motorsport history.
Following Daytona, 907-005 remained an active works entry throughout the 1968 season. At the Le Mans Test Weekend in April, Rolf Stommelen recorded the third-fastest time overall, beaten only by a Ford GT40 and Porsche’s new 908 prototype. Later that month, the car contested the 1000 Kilometers of Monza, where its high-speed aerodynamic efficiency was ideally suited to the Italian circuit. Driven by Stommelen and Neerpasch, 907-005 finished 2nd Overall and 1st in Class, behind only the John Wyer Automotive Ford GT40 of Hawkins and Hobbs.
The final works appearance came at the rescheduled 24 Hours of Le Mans in September 1968. By this time, the 908 had begun to assume Porsche’s primary factory responsibilities, and 907-005 was entered for privateers Alex Soler-Roig and Rudi Lins. An oil leak and camshaft failure brought its race to an early end.
After retirement from frontline competition, 907-005 remained with Porsche and was one of two chassis used in July 1969 for testing of an experimental automatic fire-suppression system at Weissach. Factory documentation notes that while sister chassis 907-008 was destroyed during this testing, 907-005 sustained only minor chassis damage.
Released from the factory in 1972, the car passed through a succession of German owners. Among them was noted Porsche privateer Sepp Greger, one of the era’s most accomplished hill climb and endurance racers. During his ownership in the mid-1970s, the car was converted to a short-tail Spyder configuration before passing to a Mr. Henschel in Württemberg.
In 1989, Swedish collector Sten Hillgard acquired 907-005 and began assembling original components necessary for its eventual return to long-tail specification. His stewardship and preliminary restoration work by German specialist Gustav Nietzsche laid the foundation for the car’s modern history.
A new chapter began in 1994 when 907-005 was acquired by American collector and racer Henry E. Payne III. A founding figure in the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association and an avid collector of Porsche competition machinery, Payne recognized the historical importance of the Daytona-winning 907. Under his ownership, the car underwent its first comprehensive restoration and returned to active vintage competition, running with six-cylinder power when an original flat-eight engine was not available.
Payne’s long-standing correspondence with Porsche’s Jürgen Barth further reflects the car’s enduring significance, including discussions regarding a potential entry in the Rolex 24 at Daytona on the 30th anniversary of its victory.
In 2010, chassis 907-005 entered one of the world’s foremost collections of historic endurance racing cars. During this period, it was reunited with a correct Type 771 flat-eight engine and proper transaxle, further enhancing its authenticity. The car was widely exhibited and recognized at major concours events, including Amelia Island and the 50th anniversary celebrations at Daytona honoring former 24-Hour winners.
Acquired by the current owner in 2014, chassis 907-005 has since resided in a significant private collection comprised of the finest road and racing Porsches. Recognizing the importance of returning the car to its definitive configuration, the owner commissioned marque authority Joe Cavaglieri to undertake a full restoration characterized by exceptional quality.
Cavaglieri, whose career includes restorations of some of Porsche’s most important competition cars – including significant 550 and 718 Spyders for the Miles Collier and Porsche factory collections – brought his decades of expertise to the project. Working from factory documentation, original references, and extensive period literature and publication research, Cavaglieri was able to restore the 907 with exceptional precision. As work on the chassis and bodywork steadily progressed, the Type 771 flat-eight engine was entrusted to Ed Pink Racing Engines for a complete rebuild, resulting in a restoration that required more than a decade to complete.
Today, 907-005 presents in virtually the same configuration as it did upon its debut at Daytona in February 1968. The tremendous attention paid to every detail, from the use of period German ski-binding latches to its mesmerizing luminescent roundel, reflects a commitment to historical accuracy, honoring both Porsche’s racing heritage and the extraordinary Piëch-era engineering philosophy.
Few competition Porsches carry greater historical weight. As the car that delivered Porsche’s first 24-hour race victory, 907-005 occupies a foundational place in the marque’s endurance racing story, representing the moment Porsche transitioned from class contender to outright winner – a transformation that would define the decades to follow.
Meticulously restored, extensively documented, and of unquestionable historical importance, 907-005 stands among the most significant early Porsche endurance racing cars ever offered for public sale.
Notes Please note that this vehicle is sold on a Bill of Sale.
