Trans Am '68 911 (#7)

[porsche3d]

Anybody have any links/photos/info/specs on the #7 porsche 911 that raced in the Trans-Am series ('68-'72)?

[cegerer]

"Anybody have any links/photos/info/specs ....."

What, do you think this is some kind of amateur operation here? Of course we do!

Driven by Tony Adamowicz, the #7 TransAm 911 dominated the 1968 U2 (under 2 liter) Championship (Vintage Motorsport magazine #6, 1995).

http://www.limerock.com/LRP-News/articles/news109.html

http://www.victorylane.com/Oct_Trans_Am.html

I read that the 68 TransAm car was a 911R, but it doesn't seem to have some of the details common to R's???

http://www.fouronthefloor.com.au/garage/911tr.html

http://www.bsedan.com/hist25.html

Not much out there that I can find, maybe somebody else has some better info. -- Curt

[jluetjen]

I think some of the confusion comes about because Porsche's 911 competition offerings in the late '60's was more of a spectrum then a series of models. The ones that I've heard/read about or seen are as follows. (My apologies Warren for glossing over the details, feel free to expand on or correct what I've written)

911R - The "Top Dog" racing 911. Lots of fiberglass, lexan, etc. Only a prototype, so it didn't race a lot. Serial numbers 207670 - 671, 305876, 11899001R - 0019R.

911 S/T (2.3 or 2.5 liters)- Officially an S prepared for racing. Really more of a precurser to the 911 RSR. First built in late '69. '70's 2.2 or 2.3's: 9110300001 - 0003, '70 2.4: 911030949, '71 2.4: 911300637, 683, 612, 589, 561. '72 2.5: 9112300041 - 047.

911 T/R - Similar to an ST, but with a 2.2 liter engine. Officially a T set-up for rallying.

911 S - Lots of S's were converted over (by either the owner of the factory) for racing or rallying. At least: '67 2.0's: 306655S - 657S. '70 2.2's: 9110300949 - 950. The car that Alan Johnson drove in the '67 to a C-Production championship was a converted S which was converted by Johnson's team. (Check out April '68's R&T for an article on this car. Maybe Warren has a copy).

911 normals and T - Some "street" cars were also converted over for competition. '67 2.0's: 303075-076, 303085

The shades of gray...
Some 911R's had bodywork which looked stock, for example the "Marathon de la Route" cars that raced at the 'ring. They had the standard wrap-around corner marker lights as opposed to the bubble style usually associated with the R's. They also had hoods without fuel fillers, Some of these even had sportomatics.

Some S/T's were used as rally cars. For example the factory "Monte Carlo" cars. Also apparently the Brumos early IMSA car was an ST that was rallied by the Porsche-Salsburg team.

Some T/R's were raced, for example the Ausie car that you referenced Curt. I believe the same applies to the car from South Africa which was in a recent Porsche mag that I glanced at at Barnes and Noble.

Anyway, for '68, Johnson's CP team ordered a new 911, this time with the right options from the factory. It was an S with the following options:

9108 - Dunlop SP tires
9551 - Rally kit 911S
9556 - Sport kit II 911S
9592 - Airport ratios 901/52
9574 - Limited slip
9499 - 100 liter fuel tank
9541 - Delete undercoating
9542 - Delete sound deadening material
9535 - Roll bar
9124 - No front bumpber horns
9551 - Racing seats
(no number) - Special engine preparation to group 3 standards. Lower car.

Invoice price: 6637.42
Weight: 2060 lbs.

Apparently 3 such cars were ordered that year; One for Alan to run for Don Burns Volkswagen, one for Vasek Polak aand one to be raced in the Trans-Am series by Don Pike.

[porsche3d]

you guys are awesome!

Thankyou so much for all the info!

[argtv7]

I talked to Tony last night, and that car (7) is currently being restored by Tony and a friend. This past weekend (May 29th) Tony drove in the Alfa Club (AROSC) enduro. He won his class. Loook for #7 to make several west coast appearances in late 2004.

[Grady Clay]

John,

You are awesome! Feel free to correct any of my occasionally poor memory.

I was at the TransAm at CDR in Colorado in ’68 with my brand new ’68 911 coupe. The first person other than me (and the dealer mechanic #@!*&) to drive my 911 was AJ. We went into Castle Rock for something and he drove back to the track with a very nervous passenger.

As I recall they were referred to as “1967 911S.” The next year the same cars were “B Sedans” with the addition of a rear seat extension.

He reciprocated by letting me drive the “Blood Orange” race car over to the wash stand. I recall there were two identical cars and Ritchie Ginther was “team manager”, or was that the next year?

I may have photos, program, pit pass, etc.

Best,
Grady

[tchanson]

Originally posted by Grady Clay
John,

You are awesome!

Agreed. Great post, John. Thanks for the nicely summarized lineage details.


Tim

[argtv7]

Tony told me that the #7 car started life as a 912, and they purchased it in a junkyard in NY. Definately not a factory effort....

[Chuck Miller]

Grady,

I believe that was '69 ... and the two orange Competition Motors/Ritchie Ginther cars were driven by Allan Johnson and Milt Minter... and crewed buy Harold Brotner and Klous Holthous...

Cheers,

[Jack Olsen]

Klaus Holthaus was my first in-car driving instructor. That was after a full day of classroom instruction with Topper Chasse.

[IDGAF27]

Originally Posted by Grady Clay

John,

You are awesome! Feel free to correct any of my occasionally poor memory.

I was at the TransAm at CDR in Colorado in ’68 with my brand new ’68 911 coupe. The first person other than me (and the dealer mechanic #@!*&) to drive my 911 was AJ. We went into Castle Rock for something and he drove back to the track with a very nervous passenger.

As I recall they were referred to as “1967 911S.” The next year the same cars were “B Sedans” with the addition of a rear seat extension.

He reciprocated by letting me drive the “Blood Orange” race car over to the wash stand. I recall there were two identical cars and Ritchie Ginther was “team manager”, or was that the next year?

I may have photos, program, pit pass, etc.

Best,
Grady

PLEASE Bring this thread backhand allow me to pick your memory . whatever is related to Ritchie Ginther's cars . Maybe you can recall 68 911TR in his stable ?

[Matt Monson]

See the sticky at the top. Unfortunately Grady left us earlier this year.

[IDGAF27]

I understand this is OLD thread, but I would love to restart it again !

Originally Posted by jluetjen

I think some of the confusion comes about because Porsche's 911 competition offerings in the late '60's was more of a spectrum then a series of models. The ones that I've heard/read about or seen are as follows. (My apologies Warren for glossing over the details, feel free to expand on or correct what I've written)


911 T/R - Similar to an ST, but with a 2.2 liter engine. Officially a T set-up for rallying. Being MY68 911TR's had 2.0 911S ( #408***) motor. Unless it was updated to Carrera 906 Specs engine at Factory




Anyway, for '68, Johnson's CP team ordered a new 911, this time with the right options from the factory. It was an S with the following options:

9108 - Dunlop SP tires
9551 - Rally kit 911S
9556 - Sport kit II 911S
9592 - Airport ratios 901/52 actually 901/52 ( i think) is HILL CLIMB ratio
9574 - Limited slip
9499 - 100 liter fuel tank
9541 - Delete undercoating
9542 - Delete sound deadening material
9535 - Roll bar
9124 - No front bumpber horns
9551 - Racing seats
(no number) - Special engine preparation to group 3 standards. Lower car.

Invoice price: 6637.42
Weight: 2060 lbs.
These are exact Specs for my 1968 911TR delivered to VW Pacific of Culvert City CA

Apparently 3 such cars were ordered that year; One for Alan to run for Don Burns Volkswagen, one for Vasek Polak aand one to be raced in the Trans-Am series by Don Pike.

HOW CERTAIN you are about this statement. Please do understand me correctly, Im not challenging and or questioning it. Look at my Signature and you'll understand why I am acting this way .

[Jonesy78]

Gytis,

I'm not understanding which car you're interested in. Anyway, Tony's still around. He's active on FB and has his own website: a2zracer.com Here's a page he has about the #7 car: Tony Adamowicz, Trans-Am Champ Porsche 911

Which car do you think is yours?

[IDGAF27]

Jonesy78, I am interested in finding info on STATEMENT :

"Apparently 3 such cars were ordered that year; One for Alan to run for Don Burns Volkswagen, one for Vasek Polak aand one to be raced in the Trans-Am series by Don Pike. "


Reason being - ONE of those THREE cars is in MY possession ( I do believe ) . Don't know which. look at my Signature for Reference.

I wrote comments in RED on the quote.

[Jonesy78]

Got it. If you have a serial number that would possibly qualify it as one of these three cars, I'd go straight to the Porsche Museum curator. Name escapes me, but there are guys on Early S that have that contact info. I'm sure Porsche would answer your inquiry for details on one of these early T/A TRs. Good luck.

PS... I think Don A at porsport.com would be a good contact for info, too.

[naparsei]

Pretty sure Don could tell you which car you have. He's owned at least 1 of the others.

Way up high in this thread it implies that the original #7 Tony A2Z T/A car was being restored. That car was NOT the real car, and the real car is "somewhere out there" - but that car was a regular 911 or 912 (some controversy) bought at a salvage yard, which had factory bits moved onto it from the car crashed at Daytona in 1968.

[Jabberwocky]

Agree with above regarding Don A being a good resource. I bought the Vasek car that was mentioned in the 1968 R&T article from him a couple of years ago.

[jluetjen]

Hi Gytis; Unfortunately I don't think that I can add much more than I posted than -- there's been a lot of water under the bridge in the last 12 years --

1) 3 of the best resources for all minutia regarding Porsche have passed on -- Roland, Warren and Grady. All three were wonderfully helpful with their intimate knowledge of the subject, or in many cases first-hand knowledge.

2) I used to post a lot here since my daughters were in pre-school or kindergarten, and I was working from home. I could find the time consult my library and dig up stuff. Now I work in an office again all day (when I'm not travelling), and my oldest daughter leaves for college next year. I just haven't had time to focus on Porsche history like I used to.

To answer your question -- how certain am I? I wasn't claiming personal knowledge, just sharing up previously published information that might be helpful. As in all things related to historical Porsches - "Caveat emptor".

It would be cool if it were your car. It might be your car. If it really does turn out to be your car you might find that having a historically significant car is a burden. You'll start to be afraid to drive it like you used to, and small dollar repair can quickly turn into a mega-dollar research and restoration project. And a lot of people are going to take it as a personal mission to prove that your historically significant car is a fraud.

I wish I could add more, but that's all that I can offer.

[IDGAF27]

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

Agree with above regarding Don A being a good resource. I bought the Vasek car that was mentioned in the 1968 R&T article from him a couple of years ago.

So, you can provide VIN # and matching documentation ( Kardex report ) ?

I would certainly love to go by elimination if no other way around is possible.