Having first appeared in 1964, the 904 was the first Porsche to employ a polyester resin body. In addition to highly clean and aerodynamic lines signed "Butzi" Porsche, the 904 benefitted from two different engines: a 4-cylinder (for compliance) and an 8-cylinder. At the time, this asset allowed it to race in two separate classes: GT and experimental prototype.

In 1964, seven models were at the start, and five were at the finish: seventh overall, Guy Ligier and Robert Buchet won in 2-liter GT. It was a true triumph for the 904, scoring the top four places in the class. In 1965, Porsche once again entered seven 904s. Only two made it to the checkered flag, but they reached the top five overall: fourth and fifth, Herbert Linge-Peter Nöcker and Gerhard Koch-Anton Fischhaber won in the 2-liter Prototypes and 2-liter GT classes, respectively. The remarkable average achieved by Linge and Nöcker (187 km/h) gave them the Performance Index win.

In 1965, the Ferrari-Ford duel for victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans was already sensational. Porsche decided to get involved the following year. Born of the initiative by new technical direction helmed by Helmut Bott and Ferdinand Piëch came the 906, true birth of a new adventure in sports-prototypes that would culminate four years later in the first win for a 917.

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY & SUNDAY JUNE 19-20 1965. While the Ford-Ferrari duel was in full force in the lead of the race, Herbert Linge and Peter Nöcker finished fourth and gave the Porsche 904 its best result at the 24 Hours.