One to Buy: ex-works / Richard Brostrom / Andre Wicky 1969 Porsche 908/02
/
The second iteration from Porsche’s fabled 908 line was conceived for the 1969 season in response to the FIA’s decision to relax aspects of the three-litre Group 6 Prototype regulations that concerned windscreen height and weight in addition to rules surrounding luggage capacity and spare wheel requirements.
In typical Porsche fashion, the resultant 908/02 looked to exploit these rule changes. Most obviously, the 22 updated and significantly lightened machines that emerged all wore beautiful new Spyder coachwork whereas first generation examples had been completed exclusively in Coupe trim.
With its nimbler handling but less refined aero (a natural consequence of removing the roof), the 908/02 performed best at tracks where brute horsepower and low drag were not so important. World Sportscar Championship wins at the Brands Hatch 6 Hours, Targa Florio, Nurburgring 1000km and Watkins Glen 6 Hours followed as Porsche went on to batter the opposition and easily claim the 1969 title.
By the end of the year, the brutish five-litre 917 had joined the fray as Porsche decided to build the recently reduced number required for homologation into the Group 4 Sports class (cut from 50 units to just 25). However, the 908/02 and its 908/03 replacement remained the cars to beat on tight and twisty tracks.
One of the nicest examples of a 908/02 we’ve seen recently is chassis 010 which currently resides at the Canepa showroom in Scotts Valley, California.
Chassis 010’s career as a works entry lasted three races, all of which were at World Championship level. Its debut came in round three of the ‘69 series, the Brands Hatch 6 Hours, where Vic Elford and Richard Attwood started and finished second behind the sister car of Jo Siffert / Brian Redman.
Next up was the daunting Targa Florio where chassis 010 was allocated to Rudi Lins and Gerard Larrousse who, despite being delayed by mechanical niggles, eventually crossed the line 21st overall (seventh in class).
010’s final appearance for the factory Porsche team came at the Nurburgring 1000km. On this occasion, Vic Elford and Kurt Ahrens Jr. qualified fifth and came home third on a remarkable day where the 908/02s swept the top five positions.
Following a refresh back at the factory (at which point a new Flat 8 engine was installed), chassis 010 was sold to Swiss-domiciled Swedish privateer, Richard Brostrom. In his first race with the car, Brostrom won the PR Trophy at Anderstorp which took place in late June of ‘69.
Under Brostrom’s ownership, chassis 010 made just a couple of outings during 1970, the most notable of which was third place for Pedro Rodriguez at the big money Norising 200 mile Interserie race. At the end of that season, chassis 010 was sold to Swiss privateer Andre Wicky with whom it raced on until 1975, making four consecutive appearances at the Le Mans 24 Hours.
In recent times, during the early 2010s chassis 010 was the subject of an exacting restoration by marque specialists and remains in stunning condition to this day.
