718 RSK RS60 RS61

[JTR70]

In looking through your photos Gerard, It just dawned on me that both of these notch back RSK coupes had outboard mounted engines like a standard 356. I always assumed they were mid-engine like all spyders; just RSK's with a roof. Thanks for the photos and info.

Justin

[Miracle Man]

The #129 RSK is J.Robert Bucher at Bridgehampton in 1961. Photo by barcboys.com Bucher won FM that day and became SCCA FM Nat'l champ that year. The decal on the side is not Ferrari - but Jake's Stable. It is a mimic of Ferrari and is a prancing donkey. Bucher wanted a Ferrari back in the mid 50's but the importer would not sell him one. He got a Cad-Allard and beat almost every Ferrari he came across and his friend Spankey Smith created the Jake's Stable logo. Over years, many drivers loved the pun and some vintage cars retain that sticker today.

[Porschinelle]

You are right Justin
The 2 off dreikantshaber are very similar to the 20 off Abarth Carrera GTS
To compell with the FIA GT class regulations Porsche had to start from an existing sport cars in that case the 356 B Carrera 2000
herefore in both cars the engine is hanging behind the transaxle

View of the engine of 122-991


Abarth Carrera GT engine bay

[Porschinelle]

The base-car engine

[Porschinelle]

The 2 off dreikantschaber had a very short (from May 1963 to May 1964) race period as factory cars
On the contrary of what I wrote yesterday he 1963 Le Mans race was not their first race
Indeed 122-992 was entered together with 2 off 718 (718 WRS 047/718 GTR 046) into the 1963 Targa Florio raced in Sicilia May 5th 1963
For the occasion 122-992 was driven with race number 80 by the 2 Porsche pilots
Edgar Barth/Herbert Linge
They finish 3rd overall and first in the GT 2.0 class






718 WRS 047 driven by Maglioli/Baghetti finsih 7th overall ie behind 122-992


718 WRS 046 of Bonnier/Abate win the race

[Porschinelle]

Two weeks later by May 19h 1963 122-991 was entered into the 1963 ADAC 1000 km reisen on the Nurburgring with race number 31 driven by a strong Porsche pilots team : Herbert Linge/Edgar Barth helped by Ben Pon and Hans Walter




They finish 4th overall and first in class GT 2.0

One month later (June 16/17th) as already seen both 122-991 and 122-992 were entred in the 1963 Le Mans 24 hors race with 2 DNF

[Porschinelle]

Three weeks later July 7thy both cars were entered in the Auvergne GP, a 6 hours race on the Charade race track near Clermont Ferrand the city where Michelin have their head quarters and several tyres plants
Clermont Ferrand is often named the Michelin city as a large share of the inhabitants work for Michelin
For that race Jurgen Barth drove 122-991 with race number 31 finishing 6th overall and first in the GT 2.0 class and Herbert Linge drove 122-992 with race number 33 to 12 th overall
I was unable to find any pics of that race

By the end of July 1963 (July 28th) 122-992 was entered into the DARM Solitude GP in Germany with Jo Bonnier at the wheel and race number 66







Full success for Jo Bonnier with a first overall and of course a first in the GT 2.0 class

[Porschinelle]

That was all for 1963
Both 122-991 and 122-992 were packed and sent to the US for a promotion campaign

By February 16th 1964 thesze 2 cars entered the Daytona 2000 kilometers race

122-991 with Edgard Barth helped by Jo Bonnier and Wester race number 51 finish 8th overall
122-992 with Herbert Linge helped by Bonnier and Barth race number 52 finish 6th overall and first in class GT 2.0

[Porschinelle]

Not a bad results taking into account the quality of the other competitors








the end of the story to morrow

[Porschinelle]

5 weeks later (March 21st) 122-991 and 992 are entered in the Sebring 12 hours race together with 5 off bright new 904 and 718 WRS 047

122-991 race number 42 is in the hands of Herbert Linge, Bruce Jennings, Don Wester finish 19th overall

[Porschinelle]

122-992 race number 43 in the hands of Ben Pon and Joe Buzetta achieved a better results : 11 st overall and first in GT 2

[Porschinelle]

Another pic of 122-991 chased by a Corvette

The Corvette will finish behind 122-991

718 WSK-047 race number 41 driven by Herbert Linge/Edgard Barth will finish 20th overall just behind 122-991


The best result for a Porsche will be Briggs Cunningham with 904 race number 37 finishing 9th overall

[Porschinelle]

To be completely exact I must add that the Porsche "armada" of 5 off 904, the 2 off Dreikantschaber, and the 718WRS 047 was completed by two quite old Abarth Carrera GTL
One of them did quite well finishing 12th overall
Idem for Briggs Cunningham 904 finishing 9th after 4 Ferrari's and 4 Cobra

After this race the 2 Dreikantschaber were packed up again and sent back to Stuttgart

[Porschinelle]

122-991 will be entered by Porsche in 2 off races

The 1964 Targa Florio (April 24th) with race number 74 and pilots Gunther Klass and Jochen Neerspach

They finish 7th overall









As for the Sebring 12 hours, Porsche entered several 904

They did very well making 1st and 2nd overall with Colin Davis/Pucci with race number 86 and Herbert Linge/Balzarinni with race number 84

[Porschinelle]

One month later 122-991 was entered for the last time as an official Porsche factory car in the 1964 ADAC Nurburgring 1000 km race
For its last race 122-991 with race number 36 and pilots Gunther Klass/Sepp Greger it was a mere 15th overall