CMC Porsche 904 Carrera GTS, Silverstone Int. Grand Touring 1964, Innes Ireland

A masterpiece of architecture model: CMC Porsche 904 Carrera GTS, Silverstone Int. Grand Touring 1964, Innes Ireland, #26

When the Porsche 904 debuted at the Solitude Circuit, Germany in November 1963, a plan was also in place to build it for a minimum of 100 vehicles so as to meet the FIA’s regulations for homologation of a racing as well as road-legal vehicle.

Equipment features: Exhaust system: Sebring
Color: Borneo green metallic

Technical data of the CMC model:

1. Model: Precision model hand-assembled, Die-Cast
2. Manufacturer: CMC GmbH, Classic Model Cars, Germany
3. Scale: 1:18
4. Item-No.: M-232
5. Limited Edition: 1,000

CMC model car details:

• Hand-assembled metal precision model made from 1,015 to 1,073 parts
• Athentic reproduction of the entire vehicle
• The hood can be swung open to the rear with a true-to-original replica or the opening kinematics
• Tank filler neck with opening cap and open oil filler neck
• Doors to be opened with movable sliding windows
• Openable front hood with fuel tank and spare wheel underneath
• True to the original rims
• Highly detailed four-cylinder engine ("Fuhrmann engine") with many add-on units and complete cable routing/wiring
• True to the original design of the vehicle interior
• Racing equipment, seats with real velours cover
• Highly detailled windshield wipers with real rubber wiper blades
• True to the original dashboard with all display instruments and controls
• Exact replica of the elaborate chassis and cover including the front and rear wheel suspension, the oil tank, the dry sump lubrication and the gasoline tank, as well as an impressive tailpipe design of the racing exhaust system

Description of the original vehicle: In November 1963, Stirling Moss ordered a 904 for his racing team, and the car 904-025 was delivered to S.M.A.R.T (Stirling Moss Automobile Racing Team) on February 19, 1964 in the special color of  “Borneo Grün”, namely, borneo green metallic. This color (color code 173-26006) had been the team trademark colour. The rims of 904-025 were painted dark green, and the upholstery was blue.

During earlier tests at the factory, one engine had proved to do better than 180 hp, and it was decided that this 587/3 engine #99024 go with Moss’ 904-025.

The first start for 904-025 was to compete in the Lavant Cup with start number 42 at Goodwood Circuit on Easter Monday March 30,1964. The race started at 17:10 for 50 miles. Out of 27 registered entrants, 20 had arrived to attend the practising session. From the 20 cars in the starting grid, 18 were classified in the points. Piloted by Sir John Whitmore, 904-025 finished 6th overall and 3rd in class.

In its second outing, 904-025 participated in the 16th Annual International Trophy with start number 26 at Silverstone Circuit on May 2, 1964. The race began at 10.15 am for a distance of 25 laps. 31 of the 36 entrants were classsified. Innes Ireland drove 904-025 to finish 9th overall and 1st in the GT2.5 class.

During a test drive in Silverstone, however, Hugh Dibley crashed 904-025, and the vehicle was overturned and damaged. In recollection, Dibley said, “… at Silverstone I had a go in Stirling’s Porsche 904. Wish I hadn’t: I put a wheel on the grass at Stowe and flew off into the bank and wrote the thing off.‘

After the accident, 904-025 was sent back to the factory. Although the damage was not very susbstantial, due to the tight race schedule of the 1964 season, it was decided not to repair the car, but to “hot swap” the remaining usable parts of 025 and install these in a non-finished chassis, taken off the production line. Production papers classified this chassis as 904-088, despite the fact that it was built with about 70% of the parts of 904-025. 904-088, aka 904-025-1, was installed with a new engine #99073, whereas #99024 was nowhere to be found any more.

The leftovers of the 904-025 remained in the factory and were sold to Theo Geiger. Among the leftovers were the original but damaged frame and body, all in first paint. Aspiring to restore 904-025, Mr. Geiger, a former Porsche mechanic, began to buy original “old parts” for the 904 and aquired an impressive collection.

When the project no longer seemed feasible without further financial and technical support in 2010, Mr. Geiger sold his collection to specialists Freisinger Motorsport, who did a complete restoration and rebuilt the ex-Stirling Moss 904-025.
The car is now owned by a German enthusiast and meticulously prepared by Mario Linke’s team for historic racing.

Technical data of the original vehicle:

1. Two-seater coupé body made of fiberglass over a steel frame
2. Four-cylinder boxer engine
3. Dry sum lubrication
4. Bore x Stroke: 92.0 x 74.0 mm
5. Displacement: 1,966 cm³
6. Performance: 180 hp at 7,200 rpm
7. Maximum speed: approx. 263 km/h (racing version)
8. Brakes: Disc brakes on all four wheels
9. Wheelbase: 2,400 mm
10. Tires front:165-15 or 5.00 M-15,
11. Tires rear: 165-15 or 5.00 M-15 (5.50 M-15)
12. Track width front: 1,316
13. Track width rear: 1,312 mm
14. Vehicle length: 4,090 mm
15. Vehicle width: 1,540 mm
16. Vehicle hight: 1,065 mm
17. Construction time: 1963-65
18. number of units: 116, of which 106 with four-cylinder engines

CMC Legal Disclaimer The use of manufacturers’ names, symbols, type designations, and/or descriptions is solely for reference purposes. It does not imply that the CMC scale model is a product of any of these manufacturers.
The use of racing team and/or driver names, symbols, starting numbers, and/or descriptions is solely for reference purposes. Unless otherwise stated, it does not imply that the CMC scale model is a product of any of these racing teams/drivers or endorsed by any of them.

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