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Porsche 935 and ‘Moby Dick’

The Porsche 935 is based on the 911 GT2 RS and is intended for club sporting events and track days. Its aerodynamically optimized body is completely newly developed and pays homage to the 1978 Porsche 935/78 Le Mans racer. It was dubbed “Moby Dick” by fans because of its extended rear end, hugely widened body and white base color.

Like its historic predecessor, the 935 has a body constructed largely of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). Its longer streamlined rear end increased the 935’s length to 4.87 meters. In width, the exclusive race car measures 2.03 meters.

‘Dense’ alloy wheels

Many exterior details of the 935 reference successful race cars from Porsche’s long and successful motorsports history. The “dense” alloy wheels hark back to those of the 935/78, the vertical LED taillights on the rear wing come from the 919 Hybrid LMP1, the wing mirrors are taken from the current Le Mans-winning 911 RSR and the titanium exhaust pipes resemble those of the 1968 Porsche 908.

Wood and carbon

More references can be found in the cockpit. The shift knob is made of wood, as in the Porsche 917, 909 Bergspyder and Carrera GT, and the carbon fiber steering wheel and the color screen behind it come straight from the latest 911 GT3 R. As standard, the 935 is equipped with a full roll cage, racing bucket seat and six-point harness (a passenger seat is optional). Air conditioning keeps the interior cool.

Powerful powertrain

The new 935 is powered by a 700-hp 3.8-liter twinturbo six-cylinder that is largely similar to the powerplant in the street-legal 911 GT2 RS. The block is mated to a seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung transmission (PDK), which can be controlled via shift paddles behind the steering wheel. On the front axle, the 935 has ventilated and grooved steel brake discs (diameter: 380 millimeters) surrounded by aluminum monobloc brake pads with six pistons. On the rear axle, the discs are 355 millimeters and the brake pads are equipped with four pistons.

Weight

Like the 911 GT2 RS, the 1,380-kilogram Porsche 935 features Porsche Stability Management (PSM) with traction control and an anti-lock braking system (ABS). With the so-called “map switch,” these assistance systems can be set separately from each other or even switched off completely.

Price anno 2023

That prices have skyrocketed is evidenced by the example we bumped into at one of the Porsche dealerships in Stuttgart. There, this Porsche 935 finished entirely in visible carbon is for sale at a price of a whopping 1,999,935 euros. The car is from February 2020. The new price in the Netherlands, as mentioned, was 701,948 euros. A deliberately chosen price, as “70” refers to 70 years of Porsche and “1948” refers to the year Porsche was founded. In just three years, the price has risen by nearly 1.3 million euros. Now that’s what we call a good investment.

Technical data Porsche 935 (991.2)

Concept:

• Non-homologated single-seat race car based on the Porsche 911 GT2 RS (991.2)

Weight/dimensions:

• Weight: approximately 1,380 kg
• Length: 4,865 mm
• Width: 2,034 mm (including wing mirrors)
• Height: 1,359 mm
• Wheelbase: 2,457 mm

Engine:

• 6-cylinder boxer engine with bi-turbocharging, water-cooled, 3,800 cc, bore: 102 mm, stroke: 77.5 mm, power: about 515 kW (700 hp)
• 4 valves per cylinder with VarioCam Plus (infinitely variable adjustment of the intake and exhaust camshaft)
• Electronic engine management (Continental SDI 9)
• DMSB-approved 100 cell catalyst
• Rear muffler with two central exhaust pipes

Gearbox:

• Seven-speed PDK short-stroke transmission
• Dual mass flywheel
• Differential lock, optimized for racing

Bodywork:

• Lightweight body made of composite materials (aluminum and steel) with added carbon fiber and Kevlar components for improved aerodynamics and stability.
• Rear wing with integrated taillights
• Enlarged front air intakes with integrated LED headlights in four-point design
• Escape hatch in the roof (FIA Art. 275a)
• Aerodynamically optimized exterior mirrors
• Front FT3 fuel tank (capacity: 115 liters) with shut-off valve for fuel supply (FIA Art. 253), optional with quick tank coupling
• Full safety cage
• Length-adjustable Recaro racing seat (FIA standard 8862/2009) with six-point harness
• Pneumatic jack with three supports
• Fire suppression system with electronic activation

Wheel suspension:

• Front axle: McPherson, forged wishbones, reinforced steering rods, adjustable shock absorbers, stabilizer bar, optimized rigidity with high performance ball bearings, electromechanical power steering with variable transmission
• Rear axle: McPherson, forged wishbones, stabilizer bar, optimized rigidity with high performance ball bearings

Brakes:

• Separate brake systems front and rear axle, adjustable brake balance
• Front axle: Ventilated steel brake discs, diameter: 380 mm, aluminum monobloc brake pads with six pistons, racing brake lugs, optimized cooling
• Rear axle: Ventilated steel brake discs, diameter: 355 mm, aluminum monobloc brake pads with four pistons, racing brake lugs, optimized cooling

Electrical System:

• COSWORTH ICD instrument cluster with integrated data logger, sport Chrono timer and turbo pressure gauge
• Removable multifunction CFC steering wheel with pit lane limiter
• Porsche Stability Management (PSM) with ABS, traction control and ESP (fully disengageable)
• Center console with switch to set ABS, ESC and TC and button to choose from tire diameter presets
• Porsche Track Precision Race App
• Integrated ‘lap trigger’
• Lightweight lithium-ion battery, 60 ah, protected against leaks
• Main power switch in the cockpit and on the outside (to the left of the windshield)
• Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
• Air Conditioning

Wheels/Tires:

• Front axle: Forged one-piece alloy wheels, 11.5J x 18 offset 15.3, center wheel nut, Michelin transport tires 29/65-R18
• Rear axle: One-piece forged alloy wheels, 13J x 18 offset -10, center wheel nut, Michelin transport tires 31/71-R18

Body color:

• Standard: Agate gray, water-based, optional: Martini colors

Price:

• 701,948 euros excluding taxes. Delivery began in June 2019