Thanks to the launch of its modern 911 R, the original Porsche 911R has been thrust firmly back into the limelight over the last few years. Developed by Ferdinand Piëch, it was the first time Porsche had built a 911 purely to go racing with. However, the original 911 R wasn’t built in great enough numbers to be homologated for GT competition.
That honor would have to wait until the following year when Porsche chose to homologate the 911 properly for the Group 3 class. The resulting car was known as the Porsche 911 T/R, with the factory producing examples for the 1968 season.
In 1968, the FIA decided to reclassify the 911 T into the same category as the 911 S. Considering the T road car weighed 54 kg (118 pounds) less than the S and for competition it could be equipped with a more powerful engine, the S Rally was dropped in favor of the new T/R.
Built in 1968 for customers who wanted to go racing and rallying, the T/R was thus the first homologated special based on the 911. Unlike the highly modified R, the T/R would be eligible for GT class competition, specifically Group 3, and quickly found favor from professionals and amateurs alike.
It is believed that 35 or fewer 911 T/R have been built in 1968. Of the 35, we know that four were right hand drive. Most were fitted with either a standard 911 S engine with 160 horsepower or a 210 horsepower, twin ignition, 906 spec unit. The ‘S’ engine had single overhead camshafts, dual Weber Triple-Throat carburetors, and developed 160 horsepower at 6,600 rpm.
Photo Source: RM Sotheby’s
