Porsche's Japanese endurance superstar

The Porsche 904 GTS Coupe model had proved very successful both in competition and in competition-minded customer sales through 1964-65. The 906 or Carrera Six replaced it with the accent upon major weight-saving. There was little in common between 906 and preceding 904. The new model's multi-tubular spaceframe chassis was a lightweight new structure which needed little extra stiffening from the molded fibreglass bodywork. Essentially 904-style suspension, brakes and 15-inch wheels were carried over but from the outset the new model was designed to accept the flat-six cylinder air-cooled production engine in race-tuned form.

Only 50 identical units had to be produced to fulfil the FIA governing body's contemporary homologation requirements to allow the cars to race within the required international Group 4 class, and the line-up of 50 identical gull-winged beauties when arrayed for FIA inspection caused a tremendous media stir. Officially a total of 65 Porsche Carrera Sixes were completed, 52 of them with the 2-litre six-cylinder engines. Nine prototype cars used Bosch fuel injection boosting the power output to 220bhp, and four 2.2-litre variants with Bosch injection developed a claimed 260bhp.

The Porsche Carrera Six series dominated World-class 2-litre endurance racing, at least in private customer terms, for at least two frontline seasons. Its successor would be the Porsche 910, but the sculpturally voluptuous body form of the 906 or Carrera Six remained for many 'Porsche people' the iconic image of Porsche's progressive emergence through the mid-to-late 1960s from perennially minor-class competitor towards the majestically dominant, all-competition-crushing behemoth that it proved to be into the 1970s.

Delivered new in March 1966 to its first owner, renowned Japanese entrant/driver Shintaro Taki, this specific Porsche Carrera Six played a pivotal role in the 1966 Japanese racing season. Taki participated in five significant events, overcoming an initial setback of not finishing the Japanese Grand Prix for sports cars in May by winning the Clubman round at Suzuka in July. He faced another retirement in the Mt. Fuji Tourist Trophy race the following weekend, but in August, he claimed victory in the All-Japan race at Fuji. Concluding its debut season, Taki secured second place at Funabashi. In November, during the Macau Grand Prix meeting, the car competed in a demanding 60-lap sports car race, with Taki clinching third place behind the victorious Mauro Bianchi, a Belgian works Alpine-Renault driver.

In 1967, Shintaro Taki retained the car throughout the Japanese racing season, participating in eight races. He secured a fifth-place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix held at Mt. Fuji and encountered retirement alongside co-driver Tadashi Sakai in the Fuji 1,000 kms, resulting in a 36th position classification. The car's fortunes changed when Kenjiro Tanaka took over, winning both August races at Mt. Fuji, followed by Shintaro Taki's consecutive victory in the Fuji 2-Hours event. The team's success continued as Taki and Tanaka triumphed in the prestigious Suzuka 1,000 kms race, achieving the car's fourth successive victory of the year. Taki secured another win in the November All-Japan race at Fuji. Although issues led to the car's withdrawal from the Suzuka 2-Hour race, the 1967 season proved exceptionally rewarding for the Japanese Porsche star.

In 1968, Japanese Formula 1 driver Masahiro Hasemi secured a series of victories in the Carrera Six, winning the Suzuka 300 kms race and later achieving a three-in-a-row triumph by clinching top positions in the Fuji 300 kms, Suzuka 500 kms, and the Fuji Champion meeting. Tadashi Sakai also contributed to the car's success by winning the Fuji 300 kms. Under the Tudor Racing Team, Mitsumasa Takano drove the car to victory in the Fuji Champion meeting. However, the car faced setbacks, retiring from the Fuji 1,000 kms and the All-Japan race at Suzuka when driven by Takano and Hiroshi Katahira. The season concluded with a second-place finish by Takano and Jiro Yoneyama in the Rolex Tudor Racing Team's colors at the Suzuka 1,000 kms.

In its fourth season of competition in 1969, the experienced Porsche Carrera Six achieved notable successes. A major highlight was its second overall victory at the prestigious Suzuka 1,000 kms, with drivers Tomohiko Tsutsumi and Jiro Yoneyama representing the Tudor Watch Racing Team. Yoneyama also secured a triumph at the All Japan race in Suzuka in March, and he closed the year strongly by winning the Fuji round in September. Throughout the season, Yoneyama secured two third-place finishes and a fourth place at Fuji, as well as a 12th place in the Suzuka 12-Hours event.

This 1966 Porsche 906 / 'Carrera Six' will feature as part of Bonhams Quail Auction at Quail Lodge & Golf Club, Carmel in California on August 18. It’s expected to fetch between $2.2-2.5m. Photos © Bonhams