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Driven by IMSA GT Champion racing driver Al Holbert
Number 22 of 31 cars built by Porsche
Raced in the 1976 Trans-am Series, 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of
Sebring, including
4 podium finishes
Complete Ground Up Restoration
3.0-liter 485+ horsepower turbocharged air-cooled engine, 4-speed
manual transmission
Coming up with the next winning racecar has always been a major
driving force behind Porsche, expecting that the competition's jaws
would drop when showing up for the new season. In 1974 the Porsche
930 Turbo was revealed to the public, sending shockwaves throughout
the automotive sphere which also caused ripples into the racing
world. What would Porsche be dominating with next? The release of
the 930 was not just a coincidence, but intended to bring a
turbocharged 911 to the racing circuit. Enter the Porsche Type
934.
Porsche was required to produce 400 production vehicles in order to
enter the new Type 934 car into racing, which they met handily with
the new 930. The Type 934 utilized a 3.0-liter 485+ horsepower
air-cooled engine with a single turbo, 4-speed manual transmission,
locking differential, and aggressive-yet-restrained bodywork along
with coil-over spring and shock suspension for better handling. The
minimum weight limit for Group 4 was close to the 930 Turbo's
standard weight so Porsche left things like the headliner,
armrests, carpet, storage compartment, door cards, and power
windows intact! Due to its lack of downforce compared to other
cars, the 934 was a bit of a challenge to drive, especially with
the massive amount of turbo lag. Drivers even stated that they were
pushing the throttle halfway through the corner and waiting for the
windup, praying that they would be pointed straight when the boost
kicked in. However, those who mastered the car (which many did)
proved to be formidable on the track.
Only thirty-one Type 934s were built by Porsche with most racing in
Europe in the Group 4 racing classes with significant success. They
were the car to beat in the GT class, and saw success in America in
the SCCA Trans-Am racing series in 1976 under the driving prowess
of George Follmer who won the 1976 championship. Later in the IMSA
racing series in 1977, the Porsche 934/5 (an upgraded version of
the 934) saw success by winning 4 races outright during the
season.
Porsche 934, chassis 9306700173, was delivered to George Dickinson.
Between 1976 and 1977 this 934 took multiple podium finishes
including, 2nd in Pocono, Mosport, Trois-Rivieres, and Gainesville.
Al Holbert and his co-driver Doc Bundy drove the 934 that was
sponsored by G.W. Dickinson. In 1978 the car was purchased by the
famous Whittingtons Brothers who campaigned the car in the 24 Hours
of Daytona and, 12 Hours of Sebring.
In an interview with Panorama Magazine in 2020, Bill Whittington
recalled the 934 as a great reliable track car "...we just drove
'em and tried to keep the tires on 'em. They were so damn
reliable...". In that same interview, Bill talks about some of the
interactions he had with Al Holbert later on their career
"...Holbert was a great guy...He'd check up on us all the time...he
was the first guy that came over to introduce himself in the
paddock. He asked how we were doing, and then he told us this was
his old car. We also connected on the subject of flying, since he
also flew airplanes. We eventually became good buddies..." During
the Whittington Brothers ownership, the car was raced at the 24
hours of Daytona and 12 hours of Sebring in 1979. Shortly after,
the 934 was taken out of racing and stored away.
The 934 would remain mostly dormant until 2017 when it was
purchased by its new owner. He wanted the 934 to be restored to its
original 1976 Al Holbert configuration. Bill Whittington
participated in the restoration of the 934, to ensure the correct
spec it was going to be built in. During their initial tear down,
their report states that the car was very original with the
majority of its original parts.
The restoration started in 2018, with a complete disassembly and
rebuild/restoration of every mechanical and cosmetic component. It
was noted that the body included all of its original sheet metal,
factory welds, etc. Restored to concours/race ready level, the 934
was completed and delivered to its owner in 2020.
A Porsche 934 is accepted as one of the last Porsche race cars to
bear close resemblance to its street brethren, with its exterior
easily recognizable with factory components and its interior also
still retaining some street-car comforts. Finding a 934 that was
never crashed is one thing, but finding another with real racing
pedigree is another such as this car. Fully restored, mechanically
inspected, and cosmetically perfect, this 1976 Porsche 934 is ready
for the racetrack or being the crown jewel of your collection. The
choice is yours.
Racing History
1976
May 6th Trans-am Pocono 2nd
May 15th Trans-am Gainsville. 2nd
May 30th Trans-am Nelson Ledges 32nd
July 10th 6hr Watkins Glen 16th
July 24th Trans-am Road America 4th
August 21st Trans-am Mosport 2nd
August 29th 6ht Mid-Ohio 14th
September 5th Trans-am Trois-Rivieres 2nd
November 28th 250 Mile Daytona Finale 21st
1979
February 2nd 24 Hours of Daytona 29th
March 17th 12 Hours of Sebring 44th
