Among the many highlights in this year’s Artcurial Motorcars’ March 18 Retromobile sale will be two very special Porsches with impressive racing provenance that have been owned by Ernst Schuster, a German collector and amateur racing driver, for the last 40 years.
The ex-works 1968 Porsche 907 that competed three times in the Le Mans 24-hour race is estimated to fetch 4 000 000€ to 6 000 000 € when it comes under the hammer on March 18 2022.
Chassis 907-031 made its debut in the 6th round of the International Championship for Makes in May 1968, in the fiercely contested Nürburgring 1000 km. This was the second to last 907 to be built, leaving the workshop a month before its first race. The fight between Ford and Porsche was at its height, and for Nürburgring, Porsche entered two 2-litre 907s and two 3-litre 908s, which lined up against the Ford GT40s. The German marque came out on top, with a 908 and 907 finishing first and second. Driven by Neerpasch and Buzzetta, 907-031 crossed the line in a superb 4th place, having narrowly missed out on 3rd after almost running out of fuel and having to limp back to the pits earlier in the race…
Following this fantastic result, Porsche decided to sell 907-031, and the following year, the car was out on the track again, in the hands of its new owner, the Spanish privateer Alejandro Soler-Roig. He took part in several rounds of the International Championship during 1969, and finished a remarkable 4th in the Sebring 12 Hours, having crossed the line just behind the works teams and clinching the highest placed finish for a private entry. In Jarama in June, Soler-Roig won the race ahead of a GT40 and another 907.
In 1970 the car sold to the Wicky Racing team, led by experienced Swiss driver André Wicky, and the car continued its successful racing career for the next three seasons. This included three outings at Le Mans. After a retirement in 1970, 907-031 entered the 24-Hour race the following year in the prototype class. The only car with a smaller engine was a Lola T212! Chassis 907-031 claimed 7th place at the finish, crossing the line just 381m behind the Porsche that won the GT class! In 1972 the car won its class in the Monza 1000 km in driving rain.
The racing continued until the middle of 1973, taking our car to both America and Africa for various high-level events.
The 907 was then acquired from Wicky Racing by a Swiss collector who sold it to the current owner, Ernst Schuster, in 1983. A high-level amateur racing driver and collector, Schuster was fastidious about only buying authentic cars with the best provenance. He had the 907-031 completely restored by the best specialists over a four-year period from 1991 – 1995. The 1968 Porsche 907 then began its second racing career, this time in historic motorsport, taking part in Tour Auto Historique in April 1995, as well as Le Mans Classic.
Altogether 21 examples of the 907 were built – six in 1967 and fifteen in 1968. This car, the penultimate, was built as the more versatile short tail version with a 2.2-litre 8-cylinder engine. It will be offered for sale with a comprehensive history file that includes copies of Porsche factory documents outlining the car’s set-up for its first race at the Nürburgring. There is also a fantastic photograph taken in 1968 showing the car with its yellow nose at the factory in Zuffenhausen, among a group of 911s, alongside Ferry Porsche, Ferdinand Piëch, Peter Porsche and Butzi Porsche.
The second Porsche on offer, again owned by Ernst Schuster for nearly 40 years, has also competed in the Nürburgring 100km and the Le Mans 24 Hours.
The 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.0, chassis 911 460 9077 is an exceptional machine with an extensive racing provenance and is offered with an estimate of 1 800 000 – 2 400 000 €.
This car was sold new to Georg Loos, who ran the Gelo Racing team, a rival to Kremer Racing, and known for the excellent preparation of its cars. Chassis 9077 was used straight away for the 1974 season, clocking up two class wins in the Nürburgring 1000 km (John Fitzpatrick/ Jürgen Barth) and the Le Castellet 1000 km (Tim Schenken / Rolf Stommelen) as well as many other podium finishes. It took part in the 1974 Le Mans 24 Hours and was running in 25th place when the alternator failed and it was forced to retire.
During 1975, 9007 continued to race with Gelo Racing, winning the GT-EM1 race at Imola, and claiming two second places at Hockenheim. The car was then sold and went to Italy where the impressive results continued, including a victory in Group 5 at Monza, a race win at Pergusa, a second in the Giro d’Italia and 10th in the Vallelunga 6 Hours.
The car continued to compete in the hands of three successive owners. On 24 September, chassis 9077 was acquired by the current owner, Ernst Schuster. He oversaw a four-year total restoration of the RSR, which has not been used competitively since. It has, however, been carefully maintained and is in remarkable condition, presented in the red livery of its Gelo Racing days. This is a rare opportunity to own a stunning example of one of Porsche’s most sought-after 911s complete with an enviable track record.
