Porsche has a new race car, and it marks the return of a legendary name: 935. Harking back to the wildly successful racer from the 1970s, nicknamed “Moby Dick,” the new clubsport car is vaguely based on a current-generation Porsche 911 GT2 RS road car, but features the legendary Martini livery, a single-seat layout, and all manner of track-focused modifications. Exactly 77 copies of the new Porsche 935 will be sold as non-homologated racing machines at a steep asking price of over 700,000 euros (a price in American dollars has yet to be announced).

Although the car is intended as a historical marker of Porsche’s 70th anniversary, it’s fully modern in its execution. The powertrain is the same twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter flat-six with 700 horsepower from the 911 GT2 RS, mated to a seven-speed PDK gearbox. It weighs 3042 pounds and has sophisticated electronic systems from Porsche’s road cars such as PSM stability control, a data logger, and even creature comforts such as air conditioning. A second passenger seat is an option.

The 935’s steel and carbon-fiber bodywork is a look into the past, however, incorporating several cues meant to call out other Porsche race cars, such as the LED lights at the rear meant to evoke the Le Mans–winning 919 hybrid race car and the wheel caps that are similar to those on the original 935. The side mirrors are taken from the 911 RSR, and the tailpipes are supposed to be similar to the 908 race car from the 1960s. The interior, too, incorporates a laminated wood shifter and a steering wheel from the 911 GT3 R.

The 935 is not intended to fit into any specific racing series, and instead is meant to act as a sort of track toy for well-heeled Porsche fanatics. For those 77 lucky customers, Porsche will begin delivering the cars in June of next year.

Article By: JOSEPH CAPPARELLA