Porsche 904 Once Owned by Robert Redford is for Sale
Raced in California, a rare Porsche 904 once owned by Robert Redford heads to auction at Bonhams!
The Porsche 904 originated as a result of the company’s decision to leave Formula One. Looking to pivot back to sports car racing, they concentrated on the two-liter class for 1964. They began with their venerable four-cam, flat four-cylinder engine. The heart of Porsche’s racing program, variants of this engine powered everything from 356 Carreras and 550 Spyders to the RSK.
Porsche took the 2.0-liter version of this engine, known as the Type 587/3, and designed an all-new platform around it. Borrowing a page from Colin Chapman’s Lotus Elite, they created lightweight load-bearing fiberglass body.
But in typical Porsche fashion, they improved on the idea. Instead of bolting everything to the fiberglass body, as Chapman did with the Elite, they created a lightweight steel cross-braced chassis.
Porsche then bolted the drivetrain and suspension directly to this steel frame, reducing noise, vibrations, and stress on the body.
The new 904 produced immediate results. It finished first and second at the 1964 Targa Florio. Following that performance, it won a series of class wins, usually finishing in the top 12 overall. The Type 587 engine combined with the new chassis proved extremely durable. With few exceptions, the 904 finished every race it entered. The 1965 racing season brought the same level of success. Class wins at the Monza 1000 Kilometer, Targa Florio, the 24 hour races of Spa and Le Mans, as well as 2nd overall in the Monte Carlo Rally.
The 904 proved popular with customers as well. Homologation required Porsche to build at least 100 cars, a number they easily surpassed with customers snatching up every one for sale. Many customers raced their Porsche 904s, including chassis 904 012 in these pictures, which will be auctioned at Bonham’s in February.
Originally finished in Silver Metallic, Steve Earle purchased it in January, 1964. Earle, who later founded the Monterey Historic Races, had the car flown from Stuttgart to the JFK Airport. But for whatever reason, he never raced it and later sold the car to Steve Berg. The car then raced under the Precision Motor Cars banner at a number of California races. Repainted dark blue in 1965, it continued racing until actor Robert Redford purchased it in 1966.
Robert Redford kept 904 No. 012 for nearly a decade before selling it. From there it passed through several owners, ending up in Belgium. In the early 1990’s an extensive restoration refurbished all mechanical components and repainted the car Irish Green. Also at that time, an early 2.0 911 flat-6 replaced the the original engine. A common swap for 904s, many owners upgraded to the flat-6 and continued racing. Porsche even built a limited number of flat-6 powered 904s in late 1965.
The Porsche 904 raced competitively for two years until replaced by the Porsche 906 and 910. The 906 used a lighter tubular space frame and added a modified 2.0 flat-6 from the 911. From there, Porsche continued building a successive number of competitive, often dominant sports car racers up to the present day. And while many of those cars went on to more successful careers, they owe their existence in part to the 904.
Photos: Bonhams
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