Porsche 911 R 2.0
During 1967 and '68, Porsche built 24 extremely rapid 911 R's, the intention having been to take the 911 concept to its absolute limit. Never homologated into the GT classes, the R was normally forced to compete against out-and-out sports prototypes. Nevertheless, this hottest of hot rods managed to secure a variety of important victories. At 810kg, the whole package was substantially lightened, the R weighing an amazing 230kg less than the production 911. The engine too was a bit special, Porsche's 1991cc Typ 901/22 flat six producing 210bhp at 8000rpm.
It featured a reinforced crankshaft, titanium connecting rods and chrome-plated cylinder barrels with aluminium heads containing platinum-tipped Bosch spark plugs. The crankcase was normally magnesium but occasionally aluminium. Compression was set at 10.3:1 and although a pair of triple chocke Weber 46 IDA3C carbs were normally installed, some cars were equipped with the 910's Bosch fuel injection system. Occasionally, R's were ordered with the even more extreme Typ 901/21 engine, this 230bhp four camshaft engine coming directly from the 906. More surprising was that a couple of the experiemntal R's were modified by the factory to use the Sportomatic SAT transmission. Whatever the final configuration though, all were startlingly quick. The bodywork was by Bauer and comprised super-thin glassfibre doors, bumpers, front wings, taillight assemblies, front lids and engine covers. Thinner glass was used for the windshield, plastic being used for the side and rear windows. Each rear three-quarter window contained a bank of louvres to allow hot air out of the cockpit. There was a redesigned bumper with brake cooling ducts carved from the lower portions, the chromed horn grilles of the production 911 being ditched. The combined light clusters normally located alongside the horn grilles were replaced with individual lenses, a fuel filler cap peeking through the front lid.
Wheelarches were subtly flared to accommodate the wider Fuchs alloys, the tail getting a redesigned lightweight bumper, distinctive circular light pods and two megaphone exhausts. Inside, every conceivable piece of unnecessary trim was junked. Porsche’s experimental department constructed four 911 R prototypes during 1967, these cars bearing chassis nubers 305876 (R1), 306681 (R2), 307670 (R3) and 307671 (R4). They were subsequently joined by a batch of 20 customer cars with chassis numbers ranging from 118 990 001 to 020. Production ended in 1968.