Ferdinand Piech, a highly skilled engineer and nephew of Porsche’s founder, spearheaded the development of the Porsche 906 Carrera 6 competition coupe. Taking charge of the experimental department in 1966, Piech’s relentless drive propelled Porsche’s racing advancements. The Carrera Six, succeeding the successful 904 GTS racecar of 1964-65, prioritized significant weight reduction, diverging greatly from its predecessor.
Featuring a lightweight multi-tubular spaceframe chassis complemented by molded fiberglass bodywork, the Carrera 6 minimized extra stiffening requirements. While retaining elements of the 904’s suspension, brakes, and 15-inch wheels, it embraced a race-tuned flat-six cylinder air-cooled production engine. Impressively, it shed 255lbs, weighing a total of 1,235lbs, enhancing its power-to-weight ratio to remarkable levels.
Meeting FIA regulations demanded the production of only 50 identical units, yet Porsche completed 65 Carrera Sixes, causing a sensation when lined up for inspection. Among them, nine prototypes boasted Bosch fuel injection for increased power output, while four 2.2-liter variants, also equipped with Bosch injection, claimed a staggering 260bhp. These figures were groundbreaking in the contemporary racing landscape, solidifying Porsche’s reputation for innovation and performance.
Photo Source: RM Sotheby’s
