Among all the Porsche 962 chassis built by the German marque between 1984 and 1991, the one that boasted the number 962-108 holds a special place. Nothing singled this car out for such a strong record. It is nonetheless the Porsche 962 in which Derek Bell won his last 24-hour race, and at the same time gave Porsche its 50th international victory with its 962s.

It is to the private team entered by Jim Busby that the 962-108 owes its success. Delivered just in time to participate in the 1985 24 Hours of Daytona, it was almost definitively damaged. The aluminium monohull was affected. Pete Halsmer, at the wheel, wanted to avoid a slower car. The decision was made to contact Jim Chapman, with the green light from the Porsche factory, to create a reinforced structure for this 962. Instead of folded aluminum foil, riveted and bonded, a honeycomb structure was used.

Another significant modification was the engine of the Porsche 962. Namely, Ed Pink worked on the injection to give it an additional 80 hp. There were so many changes that the car became the 962-108B. It claimed a podium finish several times during the 1987 season in the IMSA GTP with a certain Bob Wollek at the wheel. But a new incident at Sears Point, with the French driver at the wheel, once again damaged the car.

Like a phoenix, this 962 rose again, that time as the 962-108C. Mauro Baldi, Bob Wollek and Brian Redman scored pole position at the 1988 24 Hours of Daytona, and finished in second place. The aerodynamics overhauled by Roman Slobodydinskij worked like a charm. The competition in the GTP class, from namely Jaguar and Nissan, didn't worry this 962 adopting the front side of a 956.

The culminating point in the 962's career was reached at the 1989 24 Hours of Daytona. John Andretti, Derek Bell and Bob Wollek won! Modified again after that win, it won again at Palm Beach with the code name 962-108C-2.

Since its retirement from competition at the end of the 1989 season, this Porsche 962 chassis was kept in private collections, then integrated into the "Historic Porsche Collection" in England in 2005. Derek Bell once again hit the track in this car several times in 2005 at Goodwood, then in 2007 at Amelia Island and at the Rennsport 3 celebration.

The car will be put up for auction in the sale conducted by Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee on January 23rd, only a few kilometers from Daytona. Era objects and accessories will be included in the sale, namely coveralls and team jackets. Its estimated sales price is between 2,500,000 and 3,000,000 dollars.

Geoffroy Barre, via mecum.com and historicporsche.com

Photo: The Porsche 962 chassis 108 poses, in its characteristic livery that made its mark on history.