Fantasy Junction

Description

1979 Porsche 935 K3
s/n 0090002
Metallic Blue with Black Interior

The 935 is the ultimate development of the 911/930-based Porsche racing car. Iconic, hugely capable, and extremely successful, the 935 is among Porsche’s greatest racing cars. The 935 first appeared in 1976 to compete in Group 5 of the World Championship of Makes, but the cars dominated in a wide variety of events, including IMSA and Trans-Am. While the 934 was based on the roadgoing 930 with relatively tame alterations (“relatively” being an important word since the 934 still managed over 200hp more than the street-trimmed 930), the 935 featured extensive modifications to the body, chassis, driveline, and engine. The cars were continuously, creatively, and extensively developed in accordance with annual FIA rule changes, and certainly one of the 935’s finest hours was at Le Mans in 1979, when a 935 K3 won outright. Through careful interpretation of the FIA rules, Porsche removed the headlight nacelles altogether to provide reduced drag and improved downforce, thus creating the signature flachbau (or “flatnose”) look, which would be replicated by tuners and Porsche alike on street cars during the 1980’s.

Above and beyond Porsche’s already excellent development work, the famed Kremer Racing developed their own variants of the cars, the K1, K2, and K3. The K3 featured a number of alterations associated with making the car perform better and easier to work on, thus saving precious minutes during competition. For example, an access port was added in the front of the gearbox to allow rapid changing of gears to respond to changing conditions. The rear cross member in the engine compartment was replaced with a bolt on alloy tube frame to allow the more rapid changing of the drive train while also reducing weight and increasing strength. The bodyshells received from Porsche were also strengthened with additional gussets in certain areas, and sections removed in other areas, which saved 7 kilgrams. They also used Kevlar in the body panels and titanium in the suspension, and the resulting car was 30kg lighter than the required minimum weight, which allowed Kremer to place ballast where it would most improve the handling of the car. The bodywork was subtly different, being some 3cm lower, and the cooling system (specifically the intercoolers) on the car was carefully refined to improve its performance.

This particular car is the second of the two Kremer K3’s from 1979, and received a unique treatment to the front end of the car in which the frame in front of the shock towers was altogether removed and replaced with a rigid alloy tube frame, making the front of the car lighter and stronger, and improving air flow to the oil coolers. This car won twelve of the fifteen German National Championship races, plus two second places, driven by Klaus Ludwig. Between 1980 and 1982, it passed through the hands of Claude Bourgoignie, Charles Ivey and John Cooper. Cooper shared the car with Paul Smith, and along with Bourgoignie, these two drove the car in Le Mans in 1982, placing eighth overall and winning Group 5. Cooper and Smith took the car to the United States in 1982 and ran the car in a number of IMSA races, before returning to Europe to achieve a class win at Brands Hatch in October of 1982. The car’s race history is as follows:

1979, competing wearing #54
11 March: Bergischer Lowe Zolder, Ludwig 1st
8 April: Jim Clark Rennen Hockenheim, Ludwig 1st
29 April: Eifelrennen Nurburgring, Ludwig, 2nd
20 May: Bavaria Salzburgring, Ludwig 1st
3 June: Nurburgring 1000km WCM, Ludwig/Plankenhorn #2 2nd
17 June: Mainz-Finthen, Ludwig 1st
24 June: Norisring Nurnberg, Ludwig 1st
1 July: Zandvoort Trophy, Ludwig 1st
6 July: Donington, Edwards 2nd (?)
22 July: Diepholz, Ludwig 1st
19 Aug.: Westfalen Zolder, Ludwig 1st
2 Sept.: Hessen-Cup Hockenheim, Ludwig DNF Accident
23 Sept.: Supersprint Nurburgring, Ludwig 1st
Sold to Team Willeme, Belgium
14 Oct: Zolder, Bourgoignie 1st

1980
23 March: Bergischer Lowe, Zolder DRM, Bourgoignie #11 DNF
April: Track tested by Pierre Dieudonne in Belgian magazine AUTO hebdo #211
1 June: Kreuxritter-Rennen, Spa DRM, Bourgoignie 7th
24 August: Westfalenpokal, Zolder DRM, Bourgoignie #18 4th
12 Oct: H.P Joisten Trophy, Zolder, Bourgoignie DNF

1981, sold to John Cooper

1982
4 April: Jim Clark Trophy, Hockenheim DRM: John Cooper 5th
Sold to Paul Smith
18 April: Monza 1000 km WCM: Smith/Cooper #88 DNF (stuck throttle)
25 April: Eifelrennen, Nurburgring DRM: Smith, #23 DNF
16 May: Silverstone 1000 km WCM, Smith/Cooper #60 DNF (engine)
30 May: Nurburgring 1000km WCM, Smith/Cooper #32 DNF (engine)
19-29 June: Le Mans 24 Hours, Cooper/Smith/Bourgoigne #60 8th OA
27 June: Norisring 200 miles DRM Cooper DNF (engine)
To USA for IMSA
15 Aug: Mosport, Cooper/Smith #70 6th
22 Aug: Road America, Cooper/Smith #70 7th
5 Sep: Mid Ohio, Cooper/Smith #70 5th
12 Sep: Road Atlanta, Cooper/Smith #70 39th
17 Oct: Brands Hatch 6 Hours, #16 12th OA 1st in Gp 5

The car was then placed in a museum in England, eventually coming under the care of John Greasley, who restored the car in 2003. The car was restored in the livery in which it ran Le Mans in 1982. The car was sold to an American owner in 2004, and has remained in the United States since, being actively campaigned in historic events including Rennsport Reunion III in 2007, The Wine Country Classic in 2007, as well as the Monterey Historics in 2007, 2008, and 2009.

The car is in very good cosmetic shape, with nice race cosmetics and minimal wear. The only significant areas of exterior wear are to the front end and the leading edges of the rear fenders. The windscreen displays some wear as well. The wheels are excellent, and the car has impressive presence. The interior was capably done and remains quite fresh. It has nice Willans harnesses and has the tidy and functional appearance of a properly looked after and prepared race car. The front compartment and engine compartment have a similarly tidy well-looked after appearance.

This is an outstanding opportunity to acquire a genuine Kremer 935 K3 with excellent history. In addition to its National Championship victory in 1979, this car’s class victory at Le Mans distinguishes it as one of the more illustrious 935’s. In fact, at least two scale models of this particular car were manufactured and are included with this car, one in the 1979 livery, and one on the 1982 Le Mans livery that the car wears today. The car also comes with a calendar page in which the car was featured, as well as a 1982 Le Mans poster commemorating this car’s class win. Having been comprehensively restored in 2003 and well-maintained since, the car is track ready, with FIA papers.

Some photos courtsey of Dennis Gray, www.DennisGrayphotographer.com

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608