This video highlights a rare 1991 Porsche 964 Carrera 4 Lightweight, one of just 22 built by Porsche’s customer racing department. Developed as a lightweight, four-wheel-drive race car, it was a personal project of Jürgen Barth, inspired by demand from American customers for a lighter competition version of the Carrera 4. Most examples went to collectors due to their high cost, leaving the model relatively unknown even among enthusiasts.
The car used four-wheel-drive components derived from the 953 Paris-Dakar and featured manually adjustable differentials similar to those in the 959. Extensive weight reduction included aluminum doors and hood, composite spoilers, plastic side windows, and a stripped, seam-welded body. At about 1,100 kg—roughly 350 kg lighter than a standard Carrera 4—it delivered strong performance from a 265-hp engine paired with short gearing.
With a 0–100 km/h time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed around 200 km/h, the Carrera 4 Lightweight prioritized acceleration and handling over outright speed. Originally sold in Germany, the car eventually became part of the Carrera Classic Collection in Finland, and remains a unique and little-known piece of Porsche racing history.
Source: Total 911 Magazine
