0137 is a genuine 1970 matching numbers car first owned by Eigenbedarfsfahrzeug der (In-House Vehicle of) Porsche AG and one of the earliest 914/6 GT Werks test cars.
BACKGROUND TO THE 914/6 GT
Porsche’s strong historical links with Volkswagen we reaffirmed in 1969 with the launch of the Porsche-designed VW-Porsche 914, a mid-engined, Targa-top sports car to be assembled by Karmann of Osnabruck. At the time Volkswagen needed a new car to replace the ageing Karmann-Ghia while Porsche was looking for another option to add to its line-up. First seen at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the 914/4 used the 1,679cc, four-cylinder, air-cooled motor of the Volkswagen 411 while the 914/6 was powered by the Porsche 911T’s 2.0-litre six, which was installed at the Zuffenhausen factory where the 914/6 was finished off. Both cars employed all- independent suspension – a mixture of 911 and VW parts – to which were married four-wheel disc brakes and a five-speed gearbox.
The 914’s reputation for excellent handling was somewhat marred by criticism that the four- cylinder version was too slow, though lack of speed was never a shortcoming of the 914/6. Porsche being Porsche there was, inevitably, a competition version of the 914/6 – the 914/6GT – a small batch of which was built in 1970. The GT’s engine was tuned for 220bhp, while glassfibre panels and Plexiglas windows helped get the weight down and flared arches accommodated wider wheels.
During 1969 and 1970 the Porsche racing department built 12 special 914/6 GTs for the factory teams: three prototype and test cars; two Targa Florio practice cars; three Marathon de la Route cars; three Rally Monte Carlo cars; and one RAC Rally car.
The three 914/6 GTs prepared for the 1971 Monte Carlo Rally were driven by Ove Andersson, Bjorn Waldegaard and Gerard Larrousse. Of these 12 racing department-built cars, two were scrapped and the first car built did not have the fender flares and the full race package.
This leaves only nine actual GT cars. Of the three Rally Monte Carlo cars, Waldegaard’s was scrapped, Andersson’s was sold to Recaro and then changed into the famous Linge ‘ONS’ racetrack rescue car, which is believed to be the first modern safety car.
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