The Porsche 956 is a legend if there ever was one. It was a technological tour-de-force, with an early monocoque construction and ground-effects aerodynamics. No wonder it held the outright lap record at the Nürburgring until its modern successor knocked it down the chart.
And it won. Boy did it win.With the 956, Porsche took overall victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans four times in a row, starting with a dominant 1-2-3 finish in ’82. This example right here, though, was the only one ever to win on US soil. And to US soil it’s returning two months from now to lead what promises to be a landmark auction event.
Based on its early success at Le Mans, Porsche produced a handful of 956s for privateer teams – just nine for the 1983 World Endurance Championship. This one was made for John Fitzpatrick Racing, and though it retired from Le Mans, it went on to win other races, including at Road America, where it became (and remained) the only 956 to win an American race. It also won the endurance race at Brands Hatch in the UK that season, and scored additional podium finishes at Mosport, Imola, Mugello, and Silverstone.
Chassis number 956-110 went into a private collection following its final outing at Le Mans in ’84, and has in the years since been held by just three private owners. The current one has had it for the past 16 years, but is now putting it up for auction, resplendent in the J David livery it wore at Le Mans in ’83. RM Sotheby’s expects it will sell for around $6 million when it crosses the auction block at the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta this October in celebration of the marque’s 70th anniversary.
“The 956 is an important addition to our Porsche 70th Anniversary auction lineup,” says RM’s Alexander Weaver. “The 956 model was a highly successful sports racing car and is considerably rarer and more user friendly than its Group 6 sister car, the iconic 917. Given that the car was raced by one of just two privateer teams to ever beat the Works Rothmans team with a 956 in a 1,000 KM championship race, and the only 956 to win in the U.S., it is especially fitting that the car be offered at the Porsche Experience Center Atlanta during the 70th anniversary year. This is a rare opportunity for Porsche racing enthusiasts that won’t soon repeat itself.”