Spiel

APRIL 2016 WWW.PNWR.ORG 49 continued on next page In 1976 the same bureaucratic rule makers tried to relegate purpose-built prototypes to the back of the headlines in favor of silhouette racers resembling production sports cars. The idea being that the fans would be more excited to see cars resembling those they could buy, rather than ones they couldn't recognize. Modifications were allowed to the body, but the silhouette should be recognizable as the production car. Porsche brought out the 935/76. What about those flat front fenders the rule makers said? What 911 looks like that? What about that fastback rear window? No 911 has one of those. Said Porsche, My dear boys, you said the fender shape was free. The headlights are part of the front fenders, so we cut them off. And look carefully. The 911 back glass is still there. We just added a cover on top. How can you complain? In 1977 the rule makers, now loaded for bear, went one-on- one with Porsche again, this time intending to give another make the big trophy in the German Championship, even if it meant creating a new class where Porsche had no car to race. Somebody else, anybody but Porsche, couldn't help but win. As 3-liter 935s were dominating the racing, the headline series was therefore downgraded to support cars with a maximum of 2 liters, 1.4 if turbocharged. Maybe you've seen pictures of "Baby", the 1.4-liter 935/77. This was when all resemblance to a road car flew out the missing back window. The 911 tub, used as a basis in the 1976 935, was fully cut away and replaced with an aluminum tube frame enabling the car to archive the minimum weight of 750kg, far less than the previous car's 970kg, and only 60kg heavier than a modern F1 car. The competition had no chance. Only some bad luck saved them from annihilation. If Baby was a revelation to the rule makers, the 935/78 must have sent them back to church. The rule makers allowed the floor pan to be raised, allowing for exhaust systems and such to pass under the car without raising the ride height too far. This was great for front engine cars...and better for the 935. Porsche cut off the rocker panels, raised the floor by 60mm, inverted the transmission to raise the output flange centers, and built the ultimate low rider 935. The so-called Moby Dick made the 935/76 look like a Conestoga wagon. By now the 935s were some of the wildest looking production based race cars ever seen, with the concept of "production-based" stretched about as far as saran wrap over day-old leftovers. APRIL 2016 WWW.PNWR.ORG 49 935/76. Look ma, no headlights. At least the boot lid looks original. Photo from Porsche AG Below, 935/77 'Baby'. 1.4-Liters built to terrorize little BMW's. Photo by Jay Gillotti

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