One to Buy: 1 of 1 Piper Green 2019 Porsche 935/19
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By far the most successful racing car of the Group 5 era was Porsche’s iconic 935.
Having been reserved for works use in 1976, customer cars began to come on stream for 1977, at which point the Martini-backed factory squad upgraded to a twin turbocharged version (the 935/77).
When the twin turbo motor was made available to customers in 1978, Porsche moved the goalposts again by creating the legendary 935/78.
Thanks to canny interpretation of the rules, the 935/78 was longer, lower and wider than before. Slung out back was the most powerful Flat 6 motor since the epic Group 7 917/30 of 1973. The existing structure beyond the front and rear bulkheads was replaced with light alloy spaceframes to which massively extended front and rear body sections were fitted.
Upon completion (and without its colourful Martini stripe kit), the vast machine soon acquired the nickname Moby Dick in reference to Herman Melville’s mythical white whale.
In honour of the fabled 935/78, Porsche unveiled a limited edition track-only special during Rennsport Reunion VI at Laguna Seca in September 2018.
Based on the Type 991/2 GT2 RS, this modern iteration of the fabled Moby Dick came with all new bodywork, a 700bhp twin turbocharged engine and seven-speed DPK transmission. The stripped-out interior was equipped with a welded-in roll cage, a single Recaro bucket seat with six-point harness and fully plumbed-in fire system. Other equipment included 115-litre safety fuel cell, air jacks and a comprehensive spares package.
Deliveries began during the summer of 2019 and only 77 cars were built.
Customers could choose any colour they liked and also from an array of iconic liveries from Porsche’s past such as Martini, Gulf Oil, Interscope and Kremer.
Perhaps our favourite here at Supercar Nostalgia though was the spectacular Porsche Salzburg theme inspired by the 917s and 908/03s campaigned so successfully by Porsche’s Austrian distributor during the 1970 season.
One of the 77 935/19s configured as such, albeit with a unique colour twist, was number 75 (chassis WP0ZZZ99ZKS199175) which will be going under the hammer at Broad Arrow Auctions’ Zurich sale on November 1st.
Although outside of the normal paint schemes offered in Salzburg trim, number 75’s first owner was able to request what Porsche dubbed Piper Green as seen on British privateer David Piper’s 917 K for much of the 1971 season (chassis 010).
Having covered delivery mileage only, number 75 remains in virtually as-new condition. The car is being offered direct from the first owner and comes complete with its factory-supplied tool / spares package.
