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Porsche 908/01 K Coupé (1968 – 1969)

In the late sixties, Ferdinand Piëch wanted Porsche at the top of motor sports and the 908 was his answer.

Porsche 908K
Robin Adams ©2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's
Model
Porsche 908/01 LH Coupé
Years
1968
Production
5 units
Engine
3.0 L Air-Cooled Flat 8
Power
350 bhp @ 8500 rpm
Torque
240 ft lbs @ 6600 rpm
0 - 60 mph
N/A
Top Speed
200 mph

Porsche 908K Coupé (1968)

The 908K “Short Tail” Coupe

Premiere: May 19, 1968, Nürburgring 1000 km / The Engine: Flat-eight air-cooled engine, mounted midship, twin overhead camshafts, fuel-injected, 2997 cc, 350 hp at 8400 rpm

The first 908 was in fact the 908K or 908/01 Coupé as it was known. It was basically a 907 with the engine required for Group 6 and asymmetric air inlets on the front. The second car was 908 LH or 908/01 Long Tail that differed from the 908K / 908/01 as it had a longer body with improved aerodynamics for fast tracks.

The Porsche 908/01 K Coupé was basically a 907 K with the new 3-litre flat-8. “K” in the designation stands for Kurz which is “short” in German, meaning the car had short-tail body compared to the 908 LH (“langheck”, long-tail). Although 907 and 908 were similar, there was a visual difference – the 907 had symmetrical front openings and the 908/01 K had asymmetrical.

While the 908/01 LH had debuted on April 7, 1968 at the Le Mans test day, the 908/01 K debuted six weeks later on May 19 at the Nürburgring 1000 km race and won it outright. The victorious drivers were Jo Siffert and Vic Elford.

A week later, on May 26, at Spa 1000 km, the 908/01 K Coupé #5 of Hans Herrmann/Rolf Stommelen took third place. At July 21 Hokenheimring event Hans Herrmann’s 908/01 K #1 finished second after David Piper’s Ferrari 412P.

The next race for the 908/01 K was the 500 km race held on the Zeltweg airfield in Austria. It became a double victory. On September 15, 1968, another race was held on the Hockenheimring and this time Hans Herrmann’s 908/01 K was first in front of David Piper’s Ferrari 412P.

1968 at Nürburgring 1000 km

Debuted in 1968 at Nürburgring 1000 km race and won it outright.

A Visual History & Details

 Porsche 908/01 K
A version with rear flaps (actuated by the rear axle left and right). © Stuttcars.com
Porsche 908/01 K
Rear spoilers are separately connected to the rear suspension and therefore adjust automatically-mechanically as the body rolls in corners. © Stuttcars.com
Porsche 908K
Rear spoilers and air vents to cool the engine © Stuttcars.com
Ferry Porsche leaning on a new 908/01 K Coupé
1968 Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. Ferry Porsche leaning on a new 908/01 K Coupé © Stuttcars.com
Porsche 908/01 K Coupé #2
1968 May 19, before the Nürburgring 1000 km race: Porsche 908/01 K Coupé #2 of Jo Siffert/Vic Elford. © Porsche
Porsche 908/01 K Coupé
1968 May 19, Nürburgring 1000 km winning car. © Porsche
three of the four 908/01 K
1968 August, Zeltweg airfield hangar with three of the four 908/01 Ks of Porsche System Engineering as the team was called. © Arthur Fenzlau / Technisches Museum Wien
Nice 8-cylinder engines - porsche 908
Nice 8-cylinder engines. © Arthur Fenzlau / Technisches Museum Wien
1968 Zeltweg pits.
1968 Zeltweg pits. © Arthur Fenzlau / Technisches Museum Wien
 908/01 Ks #3 and #2 in the first row
1968 August 25, Zeltweg 500 km race start: 908/01 Ks #3 and #2 in the first row. © Arthur Fenzlau / Technisches Museum Wien
1968 Zeltweg pitlane.
1968 Zeltweg pitlane. ELF=Vic Elford, NEE=Jochen Neerpasch, SIF=Jo Siffert. © Arthur Fenzlau / Technisches Museum Wien
Porsche 908 Short Tail
1968 Zeltweg, 908/01 K in pits. © Arthur Fenzlau / Technisches Museum Wien
Porsche 908 Short Tail
1968 Zeltweg, Jo after Jo: the winning 908/01 K #1 of Jo Siffert is followed by #21 Lola of Jo Bonnier (didn’t finish). The winning car covered 502.4 km in 2:55:17.79 with average speed of 172 km/h (107 mph). © Arthur Fenzlau / Technisches Museum Wien
Porsche 908 Short Tail
1968 Zeltweg, #3 908/01 K of Hans Herrmann/Kurt Ahrens Jr. placed second. © Arthur Fenzlau / Technisches Museum Wien
908/01 K #4
1968 Zeltweg, Rudi Lins interviewed. His 908/01 K #4 had a starter problem and after his car was pushed, he was disqualified. © Arthur Fenzlau /Technisches Museum Wien
908/01 K Coupé in Porsche Museum
The 130 kg/287 lb body of 908/01 K Coupé in Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. © Stuttcars.com