Porsche 935 History: From Racing Glory to Modern Revival

Enduring Brilliance - There’s something timeless about the roar of a race car at full tilt, especially when it belongs to a machine built not just for speed, but for absolute dominance. Throughout history, a handful of cars have redefined what it means to be fast, and few have managed to leave the kind of legacy forged by the Porsche 935. As whispers of its legend continue to circulate among car enthusiasts, the story of the Porsche 935 'Baby' — and its incredible rebirth — deserves to be revisited, especially for those who appreciate the craft behind true automotive masterpieces.

The 1977 Porsche 935 'Baby' was a 911 racing version that brought home another World Sportscar Championship in 1976, after a five-year hiatus. (Picture from: Carbuzz)

The original Porsche 935 was born in the fevered era of 1970s endurance racing, a period where winning wasn’t just about speed but also survival. Porsche rolled out its 935 racer in 1976, built from the bones of the 930 Turbo, and it wasn’t long before it proved nearly unbeatable. In its very first international motorsport event, the 935 clocked a lap time two seconds faster than its nearest rival — an eternity on the racetrack.

The 1977 Porsche 935 'Baby' piloted by legendary Porsche racer Jacky Ickx, "Baby", as the car became known, lined up for its first race at the Norisring track in Germany. (Picture from: Carbuzz)

Armed with a flat-six engine capable of delivering up to 850 horsepower, the 935 stacked up victories around the globe, including clinching the ultimate prize at the 24 Hour of Le Mans race. It became so dominant that the only real question was which 935 would claim the top step of the podium.

The 1977 Porsche 935 'Baby' went on a strict diet, replacing steel parts like the floor and front and rear bulkheads with aluminum, which initially turned the cockpit into a high-speed oven. (Picture from: Carbuzz)

Porsche’s racing division wasn’t one to rest on its laurels. By 1977, the engineers turned their attention to a different challenge: conquering the German Racing Championship’s under two-liter class. To meet the class regulations, they slimmed down the already light 935, replacing steel components with aluminum to hit the minimum weight of just 1,620 pounds.  | -wIUYO6gTYY |

At the heart of this transformation was the Type 912 engine — a turbocharged, 1.4-liter version of the iconic flat-six, powerful enough to be banned from not one, but two series. This remarkable engineering feat led to the creation of a car affectionately known as "Baby."

The 1978 Porsche 935 'Moby Dick', known for its large size and huge overhangs, was built with chassis number 935006 and used by the Martini-sponsored Porsche factory racing team as the ultimate expression of the 911 factory race car before the automaker officially withdrew from motorsport. (Picture from: Stuttcars)

Jacky Ickx, one of Porsche’s star drivers, first took Baby to the track at Norisring, though an overheating cockpit forced an early retirement. However, Baby returned just three weeks later at Hockenheim and dominated the race, winning by a full minute against its BMW and Ford competitors. Mission accomplished, Porsche retired Baby to its Motorsport Museum, having proved its point in unforgettable fashion. | Mm5xHWVzY4k |

Meanwhile, the regular 935s continued their relentless march across racetracks worldwide. Even as rivals like BMW’s turbocharged 3.5 CSL tried to challenge Porsche’s dominance, the 935 maintained its winning reputation. The model evolved, culminating in the creation of the 935 "Moby Dick" in 1978, a wild, elongated version designed to conquer Le Mans once again. Interestingly, back in 2023, we discussed an electric tribute to this legend: the Porsche 935 Moby X, built by Bisimoto Engineering in honor of this iconic Moby Dick.

The 1979 Porsche 935 Kremer K3, a road-legal version of the Le Mans-winning 935 K3 built for Oil magnate and Formula One team owner Walter Wolf. (Picture from: Carbuzz)

Though the 1978 campaign didn’t go as planned due to engine reliability issues, the 935 still went on to win the legendary race in 1979, affirming its place in history. Yet the story of the 935 wasn’t confined to the race tracks. Wealthy visionaries sought to bring the raw energy of the 935 to the streets. Oil magnate and Formula One team owner Walter Wolf commissioned a road-legal version of the Le Mans-winning 935 K3.

The 1979 Porsche 935 Kremer K3 built with a few adjustments for street legality — a revised exhaust, and increased ground clearance. (Picture from: Carbuzz)

True to his audacious spirit, he insisted on minimal modifications, resulting in a road car that retained the brutal character of the track version. Just a few adjustments were made for street legality — a revised exhaust, increased ground clearance, a basic leather-lined racing interior, and a high-end sound system. 

The 1979 Porsche 935 Kremer K3's interior adorned with a basic leather-lined racing interior, and a high-end sound system. (Picture from: Carbuzz)

Wolf enjoyed around 7,000 miles behind the wheel before selling the car in 1987. Today, this priceless Porsche is worth around $4 million, if it could ever be pried away from its lucky owner.

The Porsche 935 Straßenversion commissioned by Mansour Ojjeh, the influential businessman behind TAG. (Picture from: Carbuzz)

The ambition to tame the 935 for the street didn’t end there. Early in the 1980s, Mansour Ojjeh, the influential businessman behind TAG, decided he wanted a 935 all his own — but with a different philosophy. Rather than keeping it as raw as the race car, Ojjeh envisioned a road car that captured the visual drama of the 935 but delivered the comfort and refinement of a 911 Turbo. He persuaded Porsche to build it, resulting in the establishment of Porsche Exclusive, a department dedicated to creating custom-made vehicles tailored to individual tastes.

The 1983 Porsche 935 Straßenversion was constructed from a 930 Turbo, fitted with bespoke bodywork, slant-nose styling, widened fenders, and a host of mechanical upgrades. (Picture from: Carbuzz)

Ojjeh’s one-off masterpiece (later known as the Porsche 935 Straßenversion) was constructed from a 930 Turbo, fitted with bespoke bodywork, slant-nose styling, widened fenders, and a host of mechanical upgrades. Underneath the dramatic exterior beat the heart of a 380-hp machine that could hold its own against the fastest supercars of the era. It also featured a luxurious interior adorned with cream leather, wood inlays, and a Clarion sound system. The project not only fulfilled Ojjeh’s dream but also laid the foundation for a bespoke car-building tradition that Porsche still embraces today.

The 1983 Porsche 935 Straßenversion also featured a luxurious interior adorned with cream leather, wood inlays, and a Clarion sound system. (Picture from: Carbuzz)

Decades later, Porsche decided to honor the spirit of the 935 once more. In 2018, the world was introduced to a modern homage: the reborn Porsche 935. Limited to just 77 examples, this track-only weapon was based on the formidable 911 GT2 RS. Equipped with a twin-turbo 3.8-liter flat-six engine delivering 700 horsepower through a seven-speed PDK gearbox, the new 935 was a marvel of engineering.  

The 2018 Porsche 935 Reborn, a modern homage was based on the formidable 911 GT2 RS, crafted in limited number of 77 units. (Picture from: Carbuzz)

Porsche also infused it with nods to its racing past, including carbon-fiber body panels, LED taillights inspired by the 919 Hybrid, RSR-style mirrors, and twin exhausts reminiscent of the original. Although the modern 935 wasn't designed for any specific racing series, it quickly became one of the most desirable collector’s items. Back in 2018, it carried a price tag around $800,000, but today, its value has soared well past the $1.8 million mark.

The 2018 Porsche 935 Reborn powered by a twin-turbo 3.8-liter flat-six engine delivering 700 horsepower through a seven-speed PDK gearbox. (Picture from: Carbuzz)

From its humble yet explosive origins in the 1970s to the modern masterpiece of 2018, the Porsche 935 continues to embody the relentless pursuit of performance and individuality. Each iteration, whether built for the track or reimagined for the street, tells a story of passion, innovation, and an enduring love for pushing limits. Just like Baby's triumphant return at Hockenheim decades ago, the legend of the 935 shows no signs of slowing down. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | PORSCHE | CARBUZZ | STUTTCARS | ID.MOTOR1 | WIKIPEDIA | ]

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