Herb Jordan was not only a Porsche enthusiast but also a brilliant inventor and model-maker who would become one of IBM Canada’s most valued engineers. After studying Porsche factory manuals, he decided to build a fully functional version of Porsche’s complex DOHC four-cylinder engine to one-third scale. The “Four-Cam” first appeared in the early 1950s as a compact and powerful racing engine for the Porsche’s famed 550 Spyders. This engine would be built in several displacements from 1,500 cubic centimeters to a full 2.0 liters, with which it developed almost 200 brake horsepower in racing form.

Investing over 2,000 man-hours of work over two years, Mr. Jordan patiently manufactured the countless parts required using a 10-inch lathe, milling machine, shaper, and drill press in his home workshop. No castings were used; the case, crankshaft, heads, and two-ring pistons were all machined. The carefully finned alloy cylinders used shrunk-in iron liners. Needle bearings support the cams, which are driven by chains, as in a 911, instead of the multiple bevel-gears and shafts of the Carrera. This little jewel displaces just 45 cubic centimeters on slightly over-square dimensions of 25.4 millimeters by 22.2 millimeters, just a touch out of proportion to the original 2.0-liter used in later 904s. The twin downdraft carburetors are miniature copies of Weber IDAs, each made of 50 individual brass parts. Jordan loved to demonstrate his little motor to appreciative groups and would run his creation on methanol fuel. Though fully functional, the model has not been run in nearly 30 years and will require careful service prior to any further operation. This unique miniature weighs approximately 10 pounds and measures 12 inches wide by 12 inches long by 9 inches tall.

This one-of-a-kind machine would be the perfect addition to any Porsche collection.