1972 Porsche 916
The 916 is among the most consequential cars Porsche never put into production. Conceived after the 914-6 GT program demonstrated the platform’s capability in international competition (including a class win and strong overall finishes at Le Mans in 1970), the project aimed to place a mid-engined fixed-roof GT directly against Ferrari’s 246 Dino, lighter than a contemporary 911S and quicker than anything else in Porsche’s regular production range.
Just eleven examples were built: an initial prototype (shown here) fitted with a high-output flat-six and ten additional pre-production cars generally referred to as 1972 models.
Each 916 began with a 914 tub from Karmann but was extensively transformed by Baur, which permanently welded in a steel roof panel in place of the production car’s removable top, added chassis reinforcement, and fitted steel fender flares derived from the factory 914-6 GT race cars.
Fiberglass front and rear fascias carried integrated spoilers, ducting for an oil cooler, and recessed driving lamps. Most of the completed cars were equipped with the 2.4-liter 911S flat-six producing approximately 190 hp through a Type 915 five-speed transaxle, with 0-60 mph achievable in roughly seven seconds.
The project was canceled shortly before its planned public introduction in 1971, as projected production costs would have placed the retail price at approximately DM 45,000, well above the roughly DM 30,000 911S it was intended to outperform.
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