The 904 GTS was launched in 1964 as a successor to the 1957-introduced type 718 model, which had been previously been campaigned by both the factory and privateers worldwide, essentially as an aluminium-bodied open-cockpit sports-racing spyder, constructed on a tubular space frame.

The new 904 GTS – a mid-engined two-seater coupe – would have neither a tubular space-frame nor an aluminium body and represented a completely new design phase. In an effort to reduce production costs and build a minimum of 100 cars in order to homologate the 904 into the Grand Touring Class, the 904 was constructed from a box-section steel chassis and a fibreglass body, realised by the Heinkel Fleugzeugbau aircraft company who had spare capacity at the time.

One hundred and sixteen cars were built, mostly powered by a 180hp 2.0 litre 4-cylinder four-cam engine originally designed by Ernst Fuhmann in the 1950s. Towards the end of 904 production, however, a small batch of cars were also homologated and fitted with a 6-cylinder (2.0 911-derived) engine with twin triple-choke Weber carburettors and twin-plug ignition, thus raising the power output to nearer 210hp.

The race prepared 904 GTS weighed just 655 kgs and through 1964-65 achieved considerable international competition success at everything from hill climbs and the Monte Carlo Rally right up to the World Sporstcar Championship and long distance 24-hour endurance races.

Chassis 904 068

A well-known Porsche 904 which raced in the Americas during the mid-1960s. This beautifully re-built and well-documented 904 GTS was supplied new in June 1964 via Brumos in Jacksonville/Florida, USA to Bruce Jones Jr. of Macon, Georgia finished in Silbermetallic with Blau Velour interior.

Bruce Jones Jr. covered just 5788kms before the car was returned to Brumos to be prepared for future, famed Porsche racer Peter Gregg to drive.

Gregg would become the owner of Brumos Porschein August 1965 and began to race ‘068’ extensively in the US and Bahamas between 1964-66. Latterly teaming up with co-driver George Drolsom in 1966, the pair finished 3rd in class with ‘068’ in the 1966 Daytona 24 Hour race.

904 068 – Competition history with Brumos Porsche

Following the 1966 Daytona 24hrs, Brumos sold ‘068’ to the father of a young, amateur racer from Jacksonville named Bill Hall. Soon after, however, Hall unfortunately had a tragic accident racing the 904 at an SCCA race in Savannah, Georgia and the car was split in half. The wreck was returned to Brumos where it remained un-repaired.

In 1971 the remains were sold on to fellow Porsche racer and US Porsche Distributor, Vasek Polak. In 1972, it is known that parts of the suspension were removed and used by Dieter Inzenhofer, Polak’s chief mechanic, to rebuild 904-064, but the rest of ‘068’ was untouched and remained in storage in Polak’s warehouse for the next 25 years.

By the late nineties, Polak had started to discuss rebuilding the car and sent it to US Porsche restoration specialist Kevin Jeanette of Gunnar Racing, Florida but passed away in 1997 just before the project started. However, through Jeanette in 2000, ‘068’ was sold to Michael Robottom of Jersey who commissioned Jeanette to completely rebuild the car as Polak had intended.

A lengthy, multi-year restoration followed with meticulous attention paid to every detail before ‘068’ was finally completed in 2009 and fitted with a newly-built (2.0 litre 6-cylinder twin-plug) race engine and correct 904 gearbox. Upon completion, the car was exhibited at the 2009 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and won the trophy for ‘Best Race Car’

In 2010, ‘068’ was shipped and imported into the UK by Michael Robottom, whereupon it was UK road-registered and import duties paid. It was then acquired, via ourselves, by the Harrison collection and fully prepared for historic competition use by our sister company, Maxted-Page & Prill Ltd.

The car was entered and raced by Gerald and Chloe Harrison in the competition category of the 2011 Tour Auto later in the same year raced in the 2011 Spa 6 hours endurance race.

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News Update:

Recently the 904 featured in the 2011 Spa Six Hour endurance pre-1965 Touring and GT race where it performed faultlessly throughout.

Click here for a race report featured on the sister site Maxted-Page and Prill, and to see some in car footage from the day follow this link: www.youtube.com/904