The Porsche 911 was first introduced to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1963, being in production for over fifty years now. From the very beginning the 911 was race prepared by the factory as well as by privateers.  Back in 1965 a works entered 911 was entered in the Monte Carlo Rally. 

The so called “O” series cars were produced from 1964 up to 1967.  The first cars build was called 901, until Peugeot made objections to the 0 in the middle of the number claiming they had the patent on having type numbers with a 0 in the middle.  So, Porsche decided to rename the car into a 911 (which in the meantime has become the most iconic type identification for a car).

The first cars, up to 1969, were SWB cars being shorter than the later ones. The 911 ran an air-cooled 2.0 liter (1.991 cc) engine with 130 bhp.  The flat six was equipped with two triple-throat Solex carburetors.  The gearbox as the five speed (dogleg) 901 type of transmission.  The cars had independent front and rear suspension and disc brakes all round.

The car had a 2+2 seating, although the rear seats were pretty small. The design of the car was largely done by Ferdinand “Butzi” Porsche, but Erwin Komenda was significantly involved.

This particular 911 left the production line somewhere in between June and July 1966.  So making it, taking into account the logic of Porsche production years, technically a 1966 car.

The car was build following the 1965 FIA regulations, appendix “K” (class GTS 11, period F: 1962-1965), making it eligible to take part in every race where 1965 is the cut of date.  The well know Dutch specialist for early 911 race cars, Duell Motorsport did prepare the car for one of its clients.  Duel did build the car to the very strict 1965 FIA regulations.  The car became pretty well known as there is a video on “You Tube” where it is driven sideways in Eau Rouge all the way up the Radillon in Spa Francorchamps.

When the car was sold to the present owner a FIA Historic Technical Passport (NL5165) was accompanying the car. 

When the actual owner bought the car, he decided to change the look of it.  As so many early 911’s do run in white, silver, red and blue colors he decided to have it made into an Art Car.  Well known French race driver and auction house owner Hervé Poulain started the “art car” theme back in the 1970’s.  He had the idea to ask a well know artist to paint or decorate a car.  At the time Mr. Poulain started out with BMW’s that ran at Le Mans.  Artist such as Calder, Lichtenstein, Warhol did paint BMW’s that were consequently entered in the 24-hour race.

Taking the same idea, the owner asked Antwerp based painter and artist Bart Verheyen to make a painting of a lovely women that would be used as a bases for the “art car” decoration. The art of Bart Verheyen does appeal to the owner especially as it is reminiscent of pop art as well as comic strips.

Following the painting, the specialist company Dam’s grafix was asked to wrap the car, with the designed (painted woman). The wrapping has the advantage that in case of an accident a fast and not noticeable reparation can be made. 

As the roof of the car was kind of “naked” in its deep blue sky like color, the owner decided to write down some well-known race dictums.  It is amazing and funny at the same time to see spectators come close to the car and read all those dictums.

The number plate is a combination of the bi-centennial plate of Michigan and a dictum that was used on a Trans am Camel GT Chevy Corvette.  The owner was in Michigan on a yearlong exchange program during the bi-centennial year.  The dictum from the Chevy Corvette came from the owner’s past as a model builder.  He put those two things together for the number plate on the Art Car.

The aim for 2017 was to participate in the “six hours of Spa” race. After two successful test sessions it was clear that the car was ready for the “six hours” race.

Little did we know that the engine would blow up in the qualifying. Meaning that the car did not even take part in the race.

Over the wintertime 2017 everything will be taken apart (engine and gearbox) and will be overhauled in order to be ready for the 2018 season.

In 2018 Peter Auto started the 2.0 l Series cup in association with James Turner and Lee Maxted Page.  The 2.0 Liter cars did appear already at the members meeting in Goodwood and were a crowd pleaser.  Therefore, the idea of a 2.0 L Cup did come to fruition.  The first race in 2018 was held during the Spa Classics in Francorchamps. As the car was rebuild it was ready to participate.  Thereafter Dijon was on the calendar and the race was held during the Age d’or weekend organized by Peter Auto.  There the art car did very well as co-driver Quinten Devreker was able to qualify the car on 5 th place.  Later on, an “alleged” rule infringement was found on the car and the drivers had to start from the last row.  After a nail biting race the car and its drivers finished 12 th on a 27-car field. The last race was held at Paul Ricard during the “Dix mille tours”.  There we qualified the car on 12 place and finished 10 th.  For the first year of racing, we achieved a wonderful performance.  Now the car is being prepared for the 2019 season.

Rumors are that there will be 5 or even 6 races.

In 2019 the same team (J.F. Dirickx and Q. Devreker) did run 3 out of the 5 races organized by Peter Auto.  We did the Spa Classic, the 10000 tours in Le Castellet and the race at Dijon Prenois.

In 2020, because of the Covid pandemic only one race was done.  That was the race in the South of France (Paul Ricard).

The racing season 2021 has been appalling and no races have been driven by the team.

In the meantime, the car is ready, and has been thoroughly tested to be prepared for the 2022 season.

In retrospect 2022 was an off season as we were not able to dispute one race.

So fast forward to 2023.

In April the car will the tested again at the Abbeville track.

Thereafter we will try to take part in the races at Francorchamps, Dijon and Le Castellet in the South of France.

2023 marks the centennial anniversary of the 24 hours of Le Mans.  Our 2.0 L Cup Art Car has been selected to take part in the race before the 24 Hours.  It will be a race to commemorate the centennial and the 75 years of Porsche. We are still trying to get the car into the LMC plateau 4.

So 2023 announces itself much better than 2022 ended.

Special thanks to:

• Damsgrafix
• Executive Shine
• Ollycar
• Bart Verheyen
• The 911 motorsport team (Mike, Hans, Raf, Robbe and Lauent)
• My co-driver Mister Q
• Kurt and Jerry from MW automotive
• Historika (UK), Lee Maxted Page, Tuthill, Neil Bainbridge and James Turner
• Peter Auto and the 2.0 Cup Serie

We would like to thank the following photographers:  Ultimate Car Page, Love for Porsche, Jaran Halmans