A tribute to Porsche’s iconic 1990s Le Mans competitor, this 993 GT1-style, mid-engine, center-seat racer is based on a modified 1973 Porsche 914-6 (4732901876) with custom fiberglass bodywork by Randy Beck and a high-powered 3.6-liter twin-plug engine that provides a visceral ride. The car is said to have been engineered in California and custom-built in 1997 at a cost of over $175k including 993-type front and rear suspension as well as a full tubular chassis, BBS wheels, and a Hewland DG300 5-speed dog-type transmission. This well-known racer was featured in Excellence magazine in December 1998 and received extensive refurbishment with updates and improvements by the current owner between 2020 and 2022 after purchasing the car on PCARMARKET. Most recently, it has been used exclusively as a personal track car driven by the owner only at HPDE events, Open Track Days, and Special invitation events on tracks across the Midwest and is now being offered for auction out of Michigan with approximately 33.3 hours logged since the refurbishment. The serial numbered 914 tub makes the GT1 Tribute legal for PCA club and vintage racing as evidenced by the California tracks run in the original PCA logbooks that are included with the sale.
The modified 914 tub is fitted with a chrome moly DOM tubular steel chassis which was designed and built by Swift Engineering to meet PCA regulations. The removable fiberglass bodywork inspired by the 1996 Porsche 911 GT1 including a one-piece hood and tail section, removable hinged doors, racing mirrors, double-lock pins, and quick-release Dzus fasteners. The underbody is optimized with a one-piece fiberglass rear diffuser and an aluminum tray featuring louvered air inlets. A new vinyl livery was applied in 2021 and the car rides on 16” BBS 3-piece wheels which were also fully disassembled and resealed in 2021. Three sets of tires accompany the sale including brand-new Hoosier racing slicks, racing slicks mounted on the current BBS wheels, and a set of storage-transport wheels/tires.
Inside, the driver is supplied with a center-mounted Kirkey fixed-position aluminum racing seat and a new MOMO quick-disconnect steering wheel. Other accessories include a Cool-Suit reservoir with quick disconnect hose and pump system (2021), a Tilton brake bias adjuster, Tilton dual brake master cylinders/pedal, Tilton clutch master cylinder/pedal, a Tilton throttle pedal, dual spring throttle return, and HDPE floor pan skid plate protection. Electronics include dual master electrical disconnects, a Pi Research data acquisition/digital dash, Roadkeeper hardwired dual camera video with a track data logger, Lenovo hardwired tablet GPS digital readout speedometer, and a hardwired cellphone mount for Harry’s Track Timer App which was all installed in 2021. The seller adds that the Schroth 5-point safety harness and Lifeline 5-outlet fire suppression system are approved for use until 2024.
Power comes from a stock air-cooled 3.6-liter flat-six engine (SN: 64S50834) that is said to have been sourced from a 1995 Porsche 993 donor car with approximately 20k miles. It features a Steve Wong custom ECU race chip configured for 93 octane fuel long-tube headers as well as solid engine mounts and a double snorkel fresh air ram intake system with custom insulated aluminum housing and a K&N air filter. The engine also includes dry sump oiling with Peterson NASCAR aluminum reservoir, a calibrated oil dipstick, a secondary remote racing oil filter, front mounted single pass oil cooler, a lightweight starter, and ceramic-coated long-tube headers which were installed in 2021 along with new flywheel bolts and a rear main seal. The fuel system includes a Fuel Safe 15-gallon cell (exp. 2025) with triple baffled compartments and electric fuel pumps, an insulated aluminum fuel collector surge tank, an external fuel pump, an inline fuel filter, and heat-shielded hoses in the engine compartment.
The Hewland DG300 5-speed manual transmission was fully refurbished with a ratio change by Nikolas Motorsports in 2021 including a new input shaft and 4 new close-ratio gearsets to produce a top speed of 156 MPH, a custom-designed and fabricated short throw shifter with solid rods and cardan joints, and a reverse/first gear shifter lockout. A single-plate 6-puck Kennedy Engineering Stage 3 clutch was newly installed in 2022 along with a rebuilt clutch slave cylinder. The chassis includes full 993-type suspension with monoball spherical bushings, adjustable Wrightwood anti-roll bars, 993 RSR struts, Bilstein shocks, and a Stanceparts 2” air-actuated lift kit for trailer loading/unloading. An EPAS Performance electric power steering system is paired with a 993 rack and pinion and the tie rod boots were replaced in 2021. Stopping power comes from PMB refurbished 993 brakes featuring stainless steel lines, new Pagid/Hawk brake pads, and 3” cooling ducts at all corners. The seller adds that this GT1 tribute is in race-ready condition.
This sale will include a collection of spare parts, additional wheels and tires, racing logbooks, construction documents, component records, and extensive detailed maintenance records.
The seller would like you to know: “The original build cost exceeded $175k, fiberglass body by Randy Beck, 914 modified tub with approximately 60 hours total time, 33 of those hours in 2021 & 2022. This “Frankenporsche” is one of a kind, with a single center seat position, a 914 tub, and a mid-mounted 993 twin plug engine. Original logbooks include entries in the 90’s PCA club racing at Sears Point, Second Creek, Thunderhill, Willow Springs, Laguna Seca, California Festival of Speed, Las Vegas, and Buttonwillow. In 2021/2022 after extensive improvements by the current owner, the car ran local tracks at Gingerman, Grattan, Waterford Hills, PittRace, Nelson Ledges, and M1 Concourse American Speed Festival. Provenance includes an extensive library of photos, component build documents, specification sheets and invoices, service logs, driver logs, and a feature article from Excellence magazine (Dec 1998) that details the complete GT1 tribute build."
Comments (32)
Bid in the amount of $32,000
Bid in the amount of $30,000
Bid in the amount of $25,000
Bid in the amount of $12,000
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Today is the closing day of the 993 GT-1R tribute auction folks.
For 3 years as steward of this generation spanning machine, my experience has been fulfilling on multiple levels, through the refurbishment process, the wrenching, the upgrades and improvements, the maintenance and most importantly the many memorable driving experiences, the driving, the driving, the driving.
Club or vintage racer, Europeon hillclimber, a track nut / HPDE driver looking to seriously up your game, collector looking for the truly unique or builder/visionary whowant to transform the car into a cars and coffee show stopper, all have shown private interest in this car.
Fact is that the car is at the pinnacle of readiness, and whoever the next steward might be, their expectations will be exceeded.
Be confident in your bidding. My goal was to be fully transparent in the presentation and representation of this car. Full build documentation and provenance will be included with the sale. Be assured that I will fully support the shipping/delivery logistics and any inquiries you may have both short and long term after the sale.
Should the car go to a new home today, the winning bidder may be interested in the highly customized 22’ enclosed car trailer that I built out to haul the 993 GT-1R tribute. The trailer is totally organized with factory built in cabinets, tools, lighting, generator, winch, gas tanks, extension cords, set up for transporting a pit bike, comfortable for overnighting with a 4” memory foam mattress, portable grill, highly maintained and ready to haul anywhere. The trailer will be offered for sale on the PCARMARKET deal tank immediately following the end of the car auction today. Special consideration as to favorable pricing on the trailer will be offered to the 993 GT-1 winning bidder through the “make an offer” process on PCAR deal tank.
Good luck bidders!
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Included with the sale is a hard wired ROADKEEPER dual camera video and data acquisition system. The ROADKEEPER allows for concurrent video out the front of the car and in the cabin as well. When the data is downloaded from the Micro SSD card, the ROADKEER software has a comprehensive range of tools for full technical data analysis of each drive (squiggly lines). See the details at https://www.race-keeper.com/road-keeper/
Photo of ROADKEEPER has been added at the end of the gallery.
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Provenance photos posted at the end of the gallery.
Circa 1984
Circa 1998
Circa 2021
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Include with the sale is a purposeful tool and component kit with a 20 stud carousel of BBS wheel lug nuts and washers, extra BBS wheel lug nuts and washers, 4 custom BBS lashing rings and the custom impact socket tool, torque wrench and socket wrenches.
Also included are original 993 left and right headlight assemblies.
Photos of all have been added to the gallery.
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Included with the sale are 2 sets of wheels and tires and 1 brand new set of Hoosier slicks. The BBS 3 piece wheels (dis-assembled and resealed 2021) are mounted with Hoosier slicks with aprox 50% wear remaining. The 2nd set of wheels and tires are narrow tall boys with multiple lashing rings fixed to the wheels that are useful long haul transporting, rolling the chassis or hauling cold weather temperatures and for storage. The brand new set of slicks included are Hoosiers that I purchased in 2022, 2 x 23.5/11.0R16 GT PRO MS and 2 x 25.5/14.0R16 GT PRO M. Photos of all have been added to the end of the gallery.
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What an extraordinary Franken-Porsche, and I definitely appreciate the spirit of what was built here. GLWTA
Bid in the amount of $10,000
@GraemeKeith The car retains it's original VIN# from 1973. The VIN is on record in the Porsche NA system however there is limited info associated with the VIN , old school before 1980. Here is the info associated with the VIN:
Order type #473664
Model year 1973
Production #3739609
Commission #379263
Paint color 33
Roof color 10
Roadster
Having a valid VIN, and considering the year, I suppose it would be possible to title the car subject to an individual state or country safety requirements. The car is being sold on a "bill of sale", but there is provenance of the 2 prior owners in the documentation file that dates back to 1983 in support of gaining a title.
Logistically, the car is setup for low ground clearance on the track but could easily be raised 1-2" by putting spacers and longer fasteners where the frame structure mounts to the 993 front and 993 rear suspension. There is also a 2" air activated lift on the front struts that is currently used for loading/unloading in a trailer. This manual schrader valve arrangement could easily be converted to an electric compressor/switch arrangement controlled from the cabin to lift / lower the front end. Presently it takes 65 psi of air pressure to lift the front end of the car 2" for additional clearance.
Refer to photo #145 in the gallery for a photo of the VIN and the location below the windscreen on the left side.
Thanks for the question!
I know this is probably blasphemous to ask, but can the car be titled as a road going car (with the addition of the necessary safety elements required by law)?
3 photos added of a bin of Hewland transmission with various ratio gearsets and other components included with the sale.
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@PorscheDoc I have added 2 photos of the PCA Club Racing Vehicle/Driver Logbook dating from 1997. The cars first logbook entry and event as a GT-1 tribute build was at Thunderhill in November 1997. The inside cover of the logbook shows it ran in PCA 3R GTP3.
I did not race the car nor had I intended too, however I was invited to several regional vintage car racing events which I had declined. I drove the car at HPDE, Open track days and special invitation events.
Perhaps there are PCA members with Club Racing specific knowledge that could weigh in and comment to definitively answer your question.
Thanks
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Where and what class can this care run in?
Fact is, this car is not for everyone, however if you are track-day crazy, have a passion for the truly unique, are looking for a remarkable driving experience that will exceed your expectations, this could be your ride.
Looking forward to answering questions you may have. Good luck and happy bidding!
Welcome to the auction of this truly unique generation spanning Porsche timepiece. Founded with the vision to create the perfect purpose-built track car, born out of the late 90’s, this GT-1 tribute car offers an absolute visceral driving experience that continues to please throughout the decades.
I am a long time PCA member, multiple Porsche owner, a 67-year old mechanical design engineer with a lifetime of passion for design, project builds, wrenching, performance driven toward creating equipment perfection. I purchased this car 3 years ago, from the original money man and visionary behind this GT-1 tribute project, himself a longtime and well respected PCA racer and member. When I bought the GT-1 tribute on PCAR, it had been offline for years, it could be considered somewhere between a barn find and a runner, the car was 90% done with about 25 hours since built, however it truly had to 90% to go to reach what I would consider completion in my estimation. Over the past 2+ years I have thoroughly enjoyed putting countless hours, significant energy and beaucoup dollars to update, improve, and further develop the car into being a reliable, serviceable and best performing beast it can be.
What could be better? A reliable, stock mid-engine 993 screamer, center steering position, manual dog transmission, with an awesome differential, an 1800 lb. full size slot car, sitting 43” off the ground with 2” of ground clearance, 11” front slicks and 14” rear slicks, with unsurpassed braking and a rail like cornering performance, all creating a truly remarkable and totally visceral driving experience.
Why am I letting it go? Sad to report a medical issue now prevents me from shifting, clutching and wrenching. The car is track-ready for this season and needs nothing. This timepiece absolutely turns heads everywhere it appears. It should be driven, properly cared for and deserves a new, appreciative home. My time with this car has truly been a pleasurable, fulfilling and worthwhile experience and I look forward to assisting a successful bidder with transportation logistics and opening a line to after the sale communication in support of getting you fully up to speed with all aspects of the car.
There is also an enclosed trailer, fully equipped, purposefully modified and ready to travel anywhere for transporting the GT-1 tribute that will be offered for sale on PCAR in the “deal tank” immediately after a GT-1 auction successful completion should a successful bidder be interested in purchasing.
For provenance, build details, photos, component specs and documentation of the GT-1 tribute, refer to this google link. https://photos.app.goo.gl/YcfqfB4XHUgszGMF7
For more GT-1 tribute track video visit: https://youtu.be/CuJSX5O6tv4 Go to timeline starting at 2hr:19min:50sec Footage is from Saturday, Oct 2, 2021 at M1 Concourse American Speed Festival.