RALLY FOR THE CUSTOMERS

Having recognized early on that entering in competition would help bolster retail sales of its 911, Porsche first created a small series of special lightweight cars called the 911 R. But its attention was really focused on selling cars that could be raced or rallied by its customers while adhering to the FIA’s GT Group 3 regulations.

A big step in that direction was the creation of the optional “Rally” package (option code 9552) that allowed for upgrading the stock 160 horsepower 901/06 engine with 906 cams and connecting rods, plus larger carburetors, if desired. Also listed were a competition clutch and sport exhaust, a partial roll bar in the cabin, competition seats, wider alloy wheels, a 100-liter gas tank, and a variety of gear ratios. In addition, two other optional tuning packages were made available, Sport Kit I and Sport Kit II. The latter supplied the purchaser with different jets and venturis for the Weber 40-millimeter triple-throat carburetors and was good for an additional 15 horsepower.

WITH HANS NIEDERER: SCCA SUCCESS 1968-1974

By the time that he had acquired this 911 “Rally” Coupe in late June 1967, Hans Niederer of Oxford, New York was already quite comfortable behind the wheel of a fast Porsche. He purchased his first of several used 356s a few years earlier, and thanks to his friendship with the local Porsche dealer Jiri Nechleba, he miraculously parlayed himself into this special race-derived 911 at the young age of 28.

The order for this 911, chassis 308299, included Sand Beige paintwork, black vinyl upholstery, a five-speed transmission, the 9552 Rally Kit, and safety belts. Nechleba also fitted a pair of Talbot mirrors to the car’s fenders at Niederer’s request. The accompanying Kardex copy and window sticker illustrate that it was completed at Zuffenhausen on 29 May 1967 and delivered three weeks later. Notes from the car’s restoration in 2005 show that it appears to have also been equipped with the desirable Sport Kit II when new.

Within the year, Niederer and his new 911 began piling up victories in local and regional SCCA Autocross/Gymkhana events. It was not until early 1969 that he began preparing the car for official SCCA C-Production Class racing. A partial roll cage and homemade front spoiler were tacked on, as were wider Minilite wheels, matching fender modifications, a quick-fill fuel cap in the bonnet, and adjustments to the factory-provided sports suspension. The fascinating degree of Niederer’s record-keeping makes one thing abundantly clear: He kept on winning. Newspaper clippings, trophies, event badges, race programs, amateur videos, and a large cache of photographs not only illustrate Niederer’s successes, but also the car’s ongoing development into a faster and more purpose-built competitor between 1969 and 1974.

As an unsponsored amateur racer, Niederer’s racing exploits were limited to regional tracks including Watkins Glen, Lime Rock, Pocono, and Thompson; however, this localization maximized his familiarity and in fact made him more competitive. By 1971, Niederer and this 911 had claimed the New York State Sportscar Driver’s Championship, as well as the C-Class Production Regional title and Best Regional Driver award from the SCCA. Even though he qualified, cost or scheduling purposes prevented Niederer from attending the National SCCA Championship Runoffs at Road Atlanta that year. In any event, he had his eyes set on a bigger prize: IMSA’s sub 2.5-liter GTU-class.

In January 1972, Niederer purchased a 2.0-liter, 901/02 racing block and numerous additional speed parts from the famous Porsche impresario, Vasek Polak. Though his expert knowledge of his regional tracks made him a marginal threat to the professionals in IMSA races through 1974, the Polak race engine simply could not push Niederer to effectively challenge the larger powertrains mounted in lighter cars. Underpowered and overweight compared to the professional competition, by 1974 the Polak race engine had been blown at Watkins Glen while chasing an impossible goal.

BACK TO LIFE AND HISTORIC RACING: 2004-PRESENT

In 1975, Niederer parked his 911 in dry storage. It would remain untouched until 2004, when it was purchased by a marque enthusiast and immediately submitted to complete and total restoration to its “as-raced” 1971 SCCA Championship-winning specifications. Having been entirely stripped, the chassis tub structure was found to be straight and damage free—truly a rare sight on cars subjected to several years of amateur racing! Miraculously, all the original Sekurit glass survived Niederer’s escapades, and was promptly reinstalled after the car was refinished in its factory-correct Sand Beige (6607 G) by Michaelian Restoration of Stuart, Florida. The interior was similarly redone to Niederer’s specifications, complete with many original dash-mounted SSCA racing plaques.

For additional on-track performance, the entire suspension system was rebuilt with new Koni shocks and upgraded bushings and braces throughout. A set of Minilite magnesium wheels wrapped in Hoosier racing slicks, an ATL fuel cell, fire suppression system, Recaro period-style racing seats, and an integrated roll cage with driver’s safety harness have all been fitted to improve safety and performance, all while remaining eligible for top-tier historic racing.

Its current powerplant is a bespoke 2.0-liter twin-plug 901/06 flat six-cylinder engine which utilizes the car’s numbers-matching casing, some contemporary 911 R accessories, and also a good deal of Niederer’s original Vasek Polak speed parts. A correct-type five-speed transmission has also been fitted, and the consignor reports that the present gear ratios have been cleverly dialed-in to deliver an optimal combination of street drivability and flat-out performance when paired to this 911’s customized, air-cooled power unit.

Since emerging from its restoration, this extraordinary 911 “Rally” Coupe has been exhibited at numerous Porsche Club of America events including the Rennsport Reunion V (2015) and Luftgekühlt 7 (2021). It has also been raced several times at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion under previous ownership, and it remains an exceedingly competitive entry for the great variety of historic racing series for which it is eligible. Complete with its FIA Historic Technical Passport paperwork (issued 13 June 2010), HMSA logbook, and an impressive cache of documentation regarding its racing history and later restoration, this sports-derived 1967 911 “Rally” Coupe is an especially immense opportunity for the Luftgekühlt enthusiast looking for a unique 911 to enjoy on the street or the race track.