Porsche 904 “The Living Legend”

The Porsche 904, also known as the Carrera GTS, is a sports car produced by the German car manufacturer Porsche between 1963 and 1965. The 904 was designed as a successor to the Porsche 718 and was developed primarily for racing.

The Porsche 904 was powered by a range of four and six-cylinder engines, including a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 180 horsepower and a 2.0-liter six-cylinder engine that produced 198 horsepower. The car had a top speed of around 160 mph and was known for its nimble handling and aerodynamic design.

Only 106 Porsche 904s were built, making it a highly sought-after collectible car today. The value of a Porsche 904 can vary depending on a number of factors, including its condition, mileage, and rarity. As of my knowledge cutoff date of September 2021, the value of a well-maintained Porsche 904 was in the range of $1.5 million to $2 million USD. However, please note that car values can fluctuate over time and you should consult with a classic car appraiser or dealer for the most up-to-date information.

What were some of the most notable races the Porsche 904 competed in?

The Porsche 904 was designed primarily for racing, and it competed in a number of significant races during its production run from 1963 to 1965. Here are some of the most notable races in which the Porsche 904 competed:

  1. Targa Florio: The Porsche 904 won the Targa Florio, a grueling road race held in Sicily, in both 1964 and 1965. The car’s lightweight construction and nimble handling made it well-suited to the winding, mountainous course.
  2. Le Mans: The Porsche 904 competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in 1964, but it was not particularly successful due to a number of mechanical issues. However, the 904’s successor, the Porsche 906, went on to win the race in 1966.
  3. Nürburgring: The Porsche 904 was a dominant force in the Nürburgring 1000 KM race, winning the event in 1964 and finishing in the top three positions in 1963 and 1965.
  4. Daytona: The Porsche 904 also competed in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, a 24-hour endurance race held in Florida. The car finished in second place overall in 1964 and had several other strong finishes in subsequent years.

The Porsche 904’s racing career was relatively short but highly successful, and the car remains an icon of 1960s sports car racing.

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What were some of the key design features of the Porsche 904?

The Porsche 904, also known as the Carrera GTS, was a significant departure from Porsche’s previous racing models in terms of its design. Here are some of the key design features of the Porsche 904:

  1. Lightweight construction: The Porsche 904 was built using advanced materials and construction techniques for the time, including a fiberglass body mounted on a tubular steel frame. This resulted in a curb weight of just 1,433 lbs (650 kg), making the car very nimble and agile.
  2. Aerodynamic design: The Porsche 904 featured a sleek, aerodynamic body with a low, sloping nose and a fastback roofline. The car’s body was designed to reduce drag and improve high-speed stability, while also providing downforce at speed.
  3. Mid-engine layout: The Porsche 904 was one of the first Porsche racing cars to feature a mid-engine layout, with the engine mounted behind the driver but ahead of the rear axle. This layout helped to improve the car’s balance and handling, as well as its traction and acceleration.
  4. Advanced suspension: The Porsche 904 featured advanced suspension with double wishbones at the front and rear, as well as coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers. This provided excellent handling and ride comfort, and allowed the car to maintain high speeds through corners.
  5. Powerful engine: The Porsche 904 was powered by a range of flat-four and flat-six engines, including a 2.0-liter flat-four engine that produced up to 198 horsepower. This gave the car excellent acceleration and top speed, and helped it to be competitive in races against other high-performance sports cars of the time.

The Porsche 904’s lightweight construction, aerodynamic design, mid-engine layout, advanced suspension, and powerful engine all contributed to its success on the racetrack and its status as a classic sports car today.

Porsche 904 Interior

The Porsche 904, also known as the Carrera GTS, was a purpose-built racing car, and as such, its interior was designed with a focus on driver comfort and performance rather than luxury. Here are some of the key features of the Porsche 904’s interior:

  1. Racing seats: The Porsche 904 was equipped with lightweight, bucket-style racing seats that provided excellent support and comfort for drivers during long races.
  2. Minimalist dashboard: The dashboard of the Porsche 904 was minimalist in design, with a simple layout focused on providing key information to the driver. The dashboard featured a large tachometer, an oil pressure gauge, and a speedometer, as well as a few other essential instruments.
  3. Lightweight materials: To keep the car’s weight down, the Porsche 904’s interior was constructed using lightweight materials such as aluminum and fiberglass. This helped to reduce the car’s overall weight and improve its performance on the racetrack.
  4. Roll cage: The Porsche 904 was equipped with a roll cage, which provided additional safety for drivers during high-speed races.
  5. Minimal sound insulation: To further reduce weight, the Porsche 904 had minimal sound insulation, which meant that the driver was exposed to the full roar of the car’s engine during races.

While the Porsche 904’s interior was minimalist and focused on performance, it was also well-designed and ergonomically optimized for drivers, making it an effective tool for racing at the highest level.

In addition to the features I mentioned earlier, the Porsche 904’s interior also included a few other notable details:

  1. Steering wheel: The Porsche 904’s steering wheel was a three-spoke design with a small diameter, which allowed for quick and precise steering inputs.
  2. Pedals: The pedals in the Porsche 904 were positioned close together, which allowed for easy heel-toe shifting during downshifts.
  3. Windshield: The Porsche 904’s windshield was designed to provide excellent visibility, with a large, curved shape that allowed for a wide field of view.
  4. Storage: While the Porsche 904 was primarily designed for racing, it did include a small storage area behind the seats, which could be used to store a few small items.
  5. Accessibility: The Porsche 904’s interior was designed to be easily accessible for maintenance and repairs, with a number of components such as the battery and fuse box located in easily accessible positions.

Porsche 904 Engine

The Porsche 904 was powered by a range of flat-four and flat-six engines, which were specifically designed for racing. Here are some of the key features of the Porsche 904’s engine:

  1. Mid-engine layout: The Porsche 904’s engine was mounted in a mid-engine layout, which meant that the engine was located behind the driver but ahead of the rear axle. This layout helped to improve the car’s balance and handling by keeping the weight distribution more centered.
  2. Flat-four and flat-six engines: The Porsche 904 was available with a range of flat-four and flat-six engines, which were initially based on the engines used in the Porsche 356 and later refined for racing use. The engines ranged in displacement from 1.6 to 2.0 liters, and produced up to 198 horsepower.
  3. Dual overhead camshafts: The Porsche 904’s engines were equipped with dual overhead camshafts, which allowed for precise valve control and high-revving performance.
  4. Fuel injection: Many versions of the Porsche 904’s engine were equipped with fuel injection, which helped to improve fuel efficiency and throttle response.
  5. Lightweight construction: The Porsche 904’s engine was designed with lightweight materials and construction techniques to help reduce the car’s overall weight and improve performance.

The Porsche 904’s engine was a high-performance unit that was specifically designed for racing. Its mid-engine layout, flat-four and flat-six designs, dual overhead camshafts, fuel injection, and lightweight construction all contributed to the car’s success on the racetrack and its status as a classic sports car today.

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