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Porsche Carrera 6
Porsche Carrera 6
Entry into the modern era
The successor to the 904, this model was designed at the end of 1965 to counter the Ferrari Dino in the European Mountain Championship and brought Porsche into the modern era of competition.
![](https://www.ixocollections.com/img/cms/Porsche 13 edito/IMG_8465.jpg)
The Carrera 6 had many assets: lightness, reliability, aerodynamics, so much so that it was raced at Le Mans until 1968. © IXO Collections SAS - Tous droits réservés. Crédits photo © Archives & Collections Dominique Pascal
In the 1965 European Hill Climb Championship, the Porsche 904 Spyder, nicknamed "Känguruh" and driven by Gerhard Mitter and Anton Fischhaber, was regularly overtaken by the Dino Ferrari 206 of Ludovico Scarfiotti. The Porsche drivers constantly complained about the handling of their car and it was decided to build a new one urgently for the end of the season.
The new Spyder was created in a few weeks and debuted on 25 August at the Ollon-Villars hill climb in Switzerland, giving this chassis the name "Ollon-Villars" Spyder. The 1965 championship was lost to Porsche, but the racing department now had an excellent basis for what would become the 906 Coupé, or Carrera 6.
![](https://www.ixocollections.com/img/cms/Porsche 13 edito/Carrera-6-Le-Mans-1966.jpg)
Three of the 6 Porsche 906 entered in the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, the n° 32 in the background is a long tail version. © IXO Collections SAS - Tous droits réservés. Crédits photo © Droits réservés
A new era
The man who orchestrated the advent of this car, considered to be the first Porsche of the modern era, was none other than Ferdinand Piëch, Ferry Porsche's nephew, who appointed him Director of Research and Development. In this capacity, he was also responsible for the racing activities of the Zuffenhausen-based company. Among his many projects, hill-climbing was particularly close to his heart, as hill-climbing enjoyed great international prestige at the time. In the meantime, the Fédération Internationale Automobile had issued new regulations for 1966.
In the Grand Touring category, which Porsche had won four times in a row, it was now mandatory to produce 2,500 examples of a car in order to obtain homologation. This made it financially unaffordable for a small manufacturer like Porsche, and with renewed energy Porsche entered the new Sport class, which was relaunched that same year. This category, in which only 50 cars are produced, makes it possible to produce, on a less expensive budget, racing models that are closer to Prototypes than to GTs. So after the recent setbacks in the European Hill Climb Championship, Porsche turned with great ambition to the Sport category of the World Sports Car Championship.
![](https://www.ixocollections.com/img/cms/Porsche 13 edito/IMG_9932.jpg)
The front fenders of the Carrera 6 are very prominent in order to accommodate the large 15-inch wheels. © IXO Collections SAS - Tous droits réservés. Crédits photo © Archives & Collections Dominique Pascal
Tubular chassis
Its racing debut lived up to expectations, as the Carrera 6 won its class at the 24 Hours of Daytona (Hans Herrmann-Herbert Linge) and then went on to win the renowned Targa Florio (Willy Mairesse-Herbert Müller). These successes were followed by numerous class victories: Sebring, Nürburgring, Mugello, Brands Hatch, Zeltweg, which enabled him to win the 1966 World Championship in the Prototype under 2 litres and Sport below 2 litres categories... In order to save time and reduce cost for its construction, the Carrera 6 took over several mechanical elements from the 904 GTS, such as the beryllium brakes with ATE-Dunlop double-piston calipers, as well as the hub carriers and wheels supplied by Lotus. The main innovation was the frame structure, which was completely load-bearing and consisted of a multi-tubular latticework of circular steel tubes. The company "Karrosseriewerk Weinsberg" was responsible for its construction, and engineer Wilhelm Hild was seconded from Zuffenhausen to oversee its production. The bodywork is made up of removable elements moulded in glass fibre reinforced polyester resin.
![](https://www.ixocollections.com/img/cms/Porsche 13 edito/IMG_4943-JPG-.jpg)
The silhouette is particularly well designed with elegant gullwing doors opening upwards following the principle created by Mercedes for its 300 SL. © IXO Collections SAS - Tous droits réservés. Crédits photo © Archives & Collections Dominique Pascal
An engine from the 911
A total of 65 "Carrera 6's" were produced, including 52 with the original chassis, nine 906 E prototypes with the 6-cylinder fuel injection engine (225 hp) and four 906/8 prototypes with the 8-cylinder 2.2-litre engine (275 hp). For the 24 Hours of Le Mans, an LH version with extended frame was developed; 4.60 metres long, weighing 635 kg and capable of 300 km/h. The 6-cylinder engine of the 906 was derived from that of the standard 911. To save weight, the block was made of Elektron, while the cylinder heads were made of Silumin and the cylinders of aluminium with titanium connecting rods. The weight of the original flat-six is reduced from 200 to 143 kg. It delivers 210 bhp at 8,000 rpm (compared to 130 bhp for the 911) with a maximum torque of 20.1 kg at 6,000 rpm. The single-disc dry clutch and the transmission is complemented by a self-locking limited-slip differential type ZF.
![](https://www.ixocollections.com/img/cms/porsche 1/icon-2.png)
Technical datasheet
Porsche Carrera 6 (1966)
• Engine: Type 901/20, 6-cylinder flat, longitudinal rear center
• Displacement: 1,991 cm3
• Bore x stroke: 80 mm x 66 mm
• Power: 210 hp at 8,000 rpm
• Power supply: 2 Weber 46 IDA 3C vertical triple body carburetors
• Ignition: Marelli battery, coil and double igniter
• Distribution: 1 overhead camshaft per bench, 2 valves per cylinder
• Transmission: Type 906, rear wheels, 5 gears + M.A.
• Tyres: 7 x 15 (front), 9 x 15 (rear)
• Brakes: ventilated discs (front and rear)
• Length: 411.3 cm
• Width: 168 cm
• Height: 98 cm
• Wheelbase: 230 cm
• Front track: 133.8 cm
• Rear track: 140.2 cm Weight (empty): 620 kg Maximum speed: 280km/h
![](https://www.ixocollections.com/img/cms/porsche 1/drapeau.png)
Full house at Le Mans
No fewer than six 906/6 chassis were ligned up for the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours. Five were entered by the official Porsche System Engineering team (three in the Prototype category). The sixth chassis was registered by Auguste Veuillet, the brand's importer in France. The latter also entered a 911 S that year. Of the five 906s ligned up by Porsche System, four were long-tail (LH) versions. Although the 34th edition of Le Mans was won by Ford, occupying the first three places on the podium, Porsche did not lose out and took 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th position in the general classification. Additionally, the Porsche 906 won the Performance Index, the class from 1,601 to 2,000 cm3, as well as the Group S (Sport).
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