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Phone: 831-430-9940 • See More race cars • Contact Us about this Car
1982 Porsche 935-LT 1
REQUIST
A printable PDF document with Photos
Bob Akin "Coke Cola"
Since 1977 the Porsche 935 was THE car to have if you wanted to win IMSA or World Championship events, but by 1982 it became very clear that a standard 935 was no longer competitive. The Porsche factory built it’s last 935 in 1979, it was left to private teams to develop the cars with more aggressive aerodynamics and chassis.
Bob Akin knew if he wanted to win, he would have to come up with something totally radical for the 1982 season. Akin commissioned Chuck Gaa of Gaaco to design and build a “Super GTP 935”. To improve aerodynamics and increase the straight-line speed of the new car a Lola T600 GTP nose was used. A new purpose built monocoque bonded aluminum chassis was constructed combining the best of the new GTP technology with the proven power and reliability of the Porsche 935 mechanicals. According tot the rules, the windshield and roof section of a standard Porsche 930 still had to be used. To improve airflow even further the entire roof structure was tilted to put the windshield at a better angle.
Due to it’s complexity and novel design, the car was delivered late after the season had already begun. The car made it’s debut at the 24 Hours of LeMans in June. The un-tested car did not fair well. It had tremendous straight line speed but its handling in the corners was lacking. Akin and co drivers David Cowart and Kemper Miller only lasted two hours before a malfunction with the reserve gas tank sidelined the car.
After LeMans the car was returned to the United States to compete in the remainder of the 1982 IMSA season. After much testing and development the car finished 4th at Mid Ohio with Akin and Hurley Haywood driving and seventh at Road Atlanta with Akin and Derek Bell sharing the driving. At the Daytona final a tire exploded sending the car into the wall. It was not damaged seriously but it’s IMSA racing days were over. The car sat in Akins shop until 1999 when Jacques Ravard purchased the car and restored it, G&S Autoworks prepared the car for vintage racing returning it to its former glory. It has been used off and on in selected vintage races in the US since that time.
Race History
LeMans 24 Hours, Akin, Cowart, Miller DNF
Mid Ohio, Akin, Haywood 4th
Road Atlanta, Akin, Bell, 7th
Daytona, Akin, Bell, DNF