Vehicle Description
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The second privateer Porsche 962 delivered
Raced by IMSA Camel GT-Champion Bob Akin and 2-time LeMans winner
Hans Stuck
Pole position and track record at the 1985 12 Hours of Sebring
Finished 4th overall at the 1985 24 Hours of Daytona
One of approximately 16 Porsche factory-built IMSA-spec 962s
delivered to privateers
Extensive 4-year restoration
Actively campaigned in historic events across America
Featured cover car in Panorama for September 2017
One of the most recognizable liveries to be displayed on a 962
1984 would be the year that Porsche produced the car that would lay
a foundation for their dominance in endurance racing in IMSA: The
Porsche 962. Beginning with the already outstanding Porsche 956,
IMSA regulations required that the driver's feet be behind the
front axle for safety reasons. By extending the wheelbase and
moving the pedal box behind the front wheels, the 962 was approved
for racing. These IMSA-spec 962s began with Porsche's Type 962/70
2.8-liter flat six engines with air-cooling only and a single turbo
as twin-turbo systems were not allowed in the IMSA GTP class at the
time. With the previous racing experience of the Porsche 956s,
along with numerous other improvements, helped push the 962s to
become legendary. With Porsche's tried-and-true formula of
world-class reliability paired with continued advancement, some
962s remained competitive even until the early 90s. Considered one
of the most iconic racing platforms in endurance racing, the
Porsche 962 left its mark on the racing world and is still one of
the most renowned racing cars to ever come out of Weissach.
The story of 962-102 begins with Bob Akin, the freshly crowned
champion of the 1983 IMSA Camel GT Endurance series. Being the
president to the family-owned Hudson Wire Co., allowed Akin to run
a first class and competitive race team. Akin and his team won the
Twelve Hours of Sebring in 1983 with their Coca Cola-sponsored
Porsche 935, and was looking toward the next step in IMSA
racing.
As fate would have it, Porsche AG announced that the 962, based on
the extremely competitive 956, would be available in the fall of
1983. Intent on acquiring one of these cars but realizing that the
cost of his racing had increased dramatically over the past few
years, he looked to work his racing success in looking for new
sponsors. Enter Mike Valentine, having recently cashed out of his
co-ownership in Cincinnati Microwave, and was interested in
acquiring a 962. During a dinner together, the duo worked out a
plan. They agreed that Valentine could purchase the 962 and then
lease it to Akin, and once the car was retired, Valentine would own
the car. With a plan now benefiting both parties, Valentine Racing,
Inc. was established days later with Valentine Research proudly
displayed on the side of the bright red Coca Cola Porsche 962.
When something great comes along, people scramble at every
opportunity to be a part of it, and the Porsche 962 in IMSA was no
exception. With approximately 16 total Porsche factory-built
IMSA-spec customer cars delivered, it's easy to say that the new
Porsche was a hot commodity. Akin's 1984 season with this 962 would
yield two 6th place finishes. While Akin had the means to be able
to purchase 962 upgrades, the budget didn't allow much in the way
of extra testing and tuning like the factory-supported team of Al
Holbert. At the end of the day, the Porsche 962 was one of racing's
most dominant race cars.
In the 1985 IMSA season, the Coca Cola 962 would score its most
prestigious finish yet, coming in 4th overall at the 24 Hours of
Daytona in the hands of Akin, Stuck and Mullen. Akin and Mullen
would find another 4th place that season at the 600KM at Riverside.
962-102 would also take Pole position at the 12 Hours of Sebring in
1985. At the 500KM Charlotte in May of '85, John Paul Jr.'s
March-Buick careened through the infield grass and hit the
Coca-Cola 962. With both cars out of the race, this marked the
conclusion of 962-102's racing season. Akin made a call to
Zuffenhausen to get another chassis, 962-113, to continue his
racing season, 962-102 was now out of commission until repairs
could be made.
At the time, Penske Racing was working with the Miller Brewing
Company as part of a show car program. This would end up running
for a short time and Penske saw the opportunity to have a Porsche
962 Miller car for display. Penske acquired the Coca-Cola 962 and
made the necessary repairs, then liveried the car with Miller
colors and decals. Once the show car program ended, the Porsche 962
was brought back to be part of the Penske collection but was not
part of the main public display. While he had a few other cars,
Roger Penske's main focus were Indycars which took front and center
of his collection. The car would remain in Roger Penske's
collection until approximately 2005 when the car was sold to Jim
Torres, marking the beginning of the restoration of this iconic
racecar.
The Coca-Cola 962 would begin restoration with Torres. For 2 years
the Porsche would be with Jim, carefully restoring the car to its
as-raced specifications. With a restoration like this, taking the
proper time and care throughout the process was critical, and
Torres intended on meeting a deadline for 2007 for the Porsche
Rennsport Reunion III. However, the project didn't finish in time
to make it to Rennsport. Shortly afterward resuming the
restoration, Torres spoke to Kevin Jeannette of Gunnar Racing who
was interested in acquiring the restoration project for an
interested client of his. After a few conversations, the two made a
deal and 962-102 was shipped to Gunnar Racing to complete its
restoration and make its return to the race track.
Gunnar Racing took the Akin 962 and went to work on getting the car
completed to the highest degree and returning it to its former
glory. Carefully returning the car back to its racing
specifications from 1985, the car made its first official debut at
the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion of 2009, almost 25 years
after its final race. Making the historic drive for the first time
was Bobby Akin Jr., Bob Akin's son, along with the now-owner of the
Porsche 962. With the restoration of 962-102 now complete, a very
familiar and iconic race car was able to grace racetracks across
the U.S. once again.
The current owner, having owned the car since 2009, has actively
campaigned the car in numerous historic races, concours events and
Porsche-specific events. Most recently the car competed in the 2017
Monticello Motor Club Concours d'Elegance, the 2018 Rolex Monterey
Motorsports Reunion and Porsche's Rennsport Reunion VI. Always a
fan favorite and liveried in a world-wide recognized brand, Porsche
962-102 stands out in the crowd of prototypes and is one of the
most recognizable 962s of the customer cars ever delivered from
Porsche. Maintained regularly and supported by Canepa during
vintage racing for more than half a decade, this Porsche 962 is an
excellent addition to any motorsport collection. Driven by
motorsports champions, recognized worldwide and restored to drive
and impress, this 1984 Porsche 962-102 represents a special time
for Porsche in their motorsports history. With 962s eventually
sweeping podiums in endurance racing and cementing Porsche as an
endurance powerhouse, there are many reasons to say that Porsche
962s are some of the most collectable and legendary endurance
racing cars ever created.
RACING HISTORY
1984
May 20th - 500KM Charlotte - 44th
May 28th - 1 H...for more information please contact the seller.