Offered for auction at Bonhams Cars on October 12 with an estimated value of up to $2,600,000, this 1966 Porsche 906 Carrera 6, chassis 906-017, is one of the earliest and one of the most significant in the model’s history. Built as the second 906, it served as a factory development car during the winter of 1965 and was presented to the press in January 1966 by Porsche’s racing department.
Soon after, it debuted at the Daytona 24 Hours, where Hans Herrmann and Herbert Linge drove it to a remarkable 6th overall, securing a class victory for Porsche against larger-capacity rivals. Following Daytona, 906-017 served as a factory test car for the Targa Florio and Monza 1000 km, covering extensive mileage with works drivers including Jo Bonnier, Gerhard Mitter, and Dieter Glemser.
By mid-1966, it was retired from frontline competition and sold through Porsche’s used car service, eventually passing through private ownership in Mexico and California before entering the collection of Kerry Morse. In 2008, Manfred Freisinger acquired the car and commissioned a complete restoration to its 1966 Daytona configuration, which was completed between 2008 and 2011. The work included fitting engine 906-013 and gearbox 906-040, with the process fully documented.
Certified with an FIA Historic Technical Passport in 2011, the car was later sold to German collector Rolf Richter, who had it serviced at Porsche Stuttgart and registered it for use on German roads. It has since appeared in historic events, including Rossfeldrennen, before joining a significant French collection in 2017.
Today, 906-017 remains in its Daytona presentation, with period details intact, including autographs from its original drivers on the bonnet. Accompanied by documentation, restoration records, and Porsche archive material, this prototype represents a rare opportunity to acquire one of the earliest and most important Carrera 6s, the very chassis that secured the model’s first class win.
Source: Bonhams Cars
