Powerful Provenance, Legendary Legacy
1976 Porsche 935, Chassis 001
STORY | STEIN BROEDER
Photography | GOODING & COMPANY
Where there is change, there is opportunity. So, when FIA’s Group 5 category implemented changes in 1976, allowing extensive modifications to production-based vehicles, Porsche seized the opportunity.
These new rules aimed at the World Championship for Makes permitted significant bodywork and chassis improvements while retaining the car’s basic silhouette. This allowed Porsche to further enhance its turbocharged 911, resulting in the creation of the 935.
The car’s shape, featuring a long, rounded nose and a large rear wing, was designed to reduce air resistance and enhance downforce. The extended wheelbase and forward-mounted cockpit improved stability and weight distribution. The wide-body rear-end treatment was needed to fit the large tires necessary for optimal grip, which also improved stability at high speeds.
The development of the Type 935 began in the latter part of 1975 with chassis 935-001, the first 935 built. Internally called R15, it was constructed and tested at Circuit Paul Ricard that December.
The new 935 evolved from the Carrera Turbo 2.14s of 1974, featuring fiberglass bodywork, coil-spring suspension, massive rear tires, and a turbocharged flat-six engine. The Carrera Turbo 2.14 produced 400 to 500 bhp, while the new 935 was rated at 590 bhp, with up to 630 bhp available for short periods of time to assist with passing.
During early test sessions at Paul Ricard, each works driver had the chance to try the new car. Jochen Mass, who joined Porsche in 1976, was impressed by the 935’s power. He told Road & Track magazine that while Formula 1 cars could overtake him in the turns, he could catch and pass them on the straights.
The inaugural race for 935-001 took place on July 10, 1976, at the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen in New York. Among a combined field of 33 SCCA Trans Am and FIA Group 5 entries, Rolf Stommelen and Manfred Schurti were assigned to 935-001, while Mass and Jacky Ickx piloted the other Martini & Rossi works 935. After qualifying in second position, 935-001 led the six-hour race, setting the fastest lap and finishing ahead of Egon Evertz’s 934/5 and 935-002.
After its success, 935-001 raced in Dijon, France, on September 4, 1976. Again driven by Stommelen and Schurti, the Porsche finished third overall behind 935-002 and a Kremer car. This secured the 1976 Group 5 World Championship for Porsche, marking the first championship win by a forced-induction car.
The 935-001 stands out due to its unique provenance as the only complete ex-works 935 in private ownership; its sister car, 935-002, is in the Porsche Museum. Only four esteemed individuals—Vasek Polak, Kevin Jeannette, John Kotts, and Matthew Drendel—have owned this masterpiece, maintaining its prestigious legacy within the Porsche community.
Acquired by the current owner from The Drendel Family Collection in 2012, 935- 001 has been restored to concours standards by Cavaglieri Restorations, with an engine rebuild carried out by Ed Pink Racing Engines. Presented in its 1976 Watkins Glen livery, 935-001 was awarded Best Race Car Restoration at the 2018 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Its other public showing was at Rennsport Reunion VI in 2018, where it was displayed alongside Porsche’s GT2-based 935.
The 935-001 holds unique distinctions: it is the first 935 built, the first production Turbo chassis, and the only complete ex-works 935 in private ownership. Its sister car, 935-002, has been in the Porsche Museum since 1976, highlighting the original Martini Racing team’s enduring legacy.
Moreover, its racing accomplishments, including a victory and a podium finish at the pinnacle of international competition, coupled with its well-documented provenance, are indisputable. Since its departure from the factory, 935-001 has been owned by only four individuals, each a respected and knowledgeable advocate of the Porsche brand.
The remarkable success of the original 935/76 works cars urged Porsche to build approximately 37 customer cars between 1977 and 1979. The 935s, in their various guises, remained competitive for nine seasons and achieved outright victories at Le Mans, Daytona, and Sebring. Even today, the Porsche 935 holds a legendary status in the history of international motorsports.
Chassis 935-001 is the car that started it all: the factory prototype that was used to develop the entire 935 series; the car that helped capture the 1976 Group 5 Championship; and the car that furthered Porsche’s reputation as a leader in technical innovation.
Gooding & Company sold chassis 935-001 for $4.295 million in 2023.
With the seller opting for change, an opportunity arose, and the buyer took full advantage, stepping in to shepherd this legendary vehicle into the future.
