930 Turbo Carrera

Very interesting. Are you confirming that the unit as displayed at the Paris Salon is a fake? I thought the prototype (below) was a much-traveled working pre-production prototype.

Anyhow the seats are still in there although the original Repa belts have now been succeeded by contemporary Willans items..
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Works 3.0 test car image as used on 1979 AMS cover
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That's my point, is there any proof that setup was just a mockup? Or are we simply trading lore passed down by uninformed skeptics? Very easy to be a Doubting Thomas, but ask for verification of said doubts and suddenly nobody has any they can proffer.

My point is, a friend of mine who helped me with the USA 930 prototype when I owned it, & cleared up other similar "myths" (he goes by the name of Jurgen Barth) suggests that was a working piece and the retorts of "wooden display piece" were from the dyed-in-the-wool pessimists. He points out that Porsche didn't ascribe to the Lamborghini way of doing things in the period. If they showed it at Paris of Frankfurt, it worked. I'm happy to consider evidence to the contrary though, but it will take more than "a guy in the PCA" to convince me Porsche conned everybody at Paris in 1973...

Barth says they used a 3.0 RS body for that car.

 

Link doesn't work.

 

Found the link. S u p e c a r s.net is your source? And that website has more insight than one of Porsche Ag's own legendary development engineers? No, I dont believe you, and no, I'm not painting myself into any corner, I remain completely open minded and willing to consider DEFINITIVE proof the unit was wood.

Perhaps you missed this part of the article, no credit to the writer though, because it was common knowledge: "At the time, Porsche was no stranger to forced induction. Their 917/10 and 917/30 racecars achieved incredible amounts of horsepower, reaching 1100 bhp and beyond, with exhaust-driven turbochargers. By January of 1973 they had experimented with a turbocharged version of the 2.7-litre engine.1 To signal their upcoming intentions, Chief Engineer Helmuth Bott created the new Turbo at Style Porsche."

So it made sense for Porsche to risk its reputation with a wooden engine? Makes no sense. One of the development engineers assures that as not the case!

"Probably without opening the engine bay.....". The writer has proven the existence of a wooden engine. Just one printing and everybody follows like sheep and believes it for decades later. Ive learned to research & question. Now, as soon as you have proof of the 1973 car's wood engine, please post.

So too, you missed the point: the 1973 car may be very different from the 1975 USA prototype, but it had development engineers in common who knew the details! Barth helped me scotch a rumor that the USA prototype didn't have drilled brakes. It did. Because they wanted to impress the press

 

Peter: lets give hyenahf the benefit of the doubt and assume that after all those years at Porsche (he retired last year) and having written all those books on the subject, perhaps Barth's memory is going. Yet still, I take the position that the little he has forgotten is more than most will ever know on the subject.

By the way if you ever need to contact him to ask a question today, I find he is very helpful.

Best,

 

I still remain open-minded BUT I don't blindly believe the "wood" components rumor. Proof is all I asked so we can be sure. You seemed certain, but, it appears you were simply perpetuating a possible myth. Is it possible Mr Barth is wrong? Possibly. Highly unlikely, but possible. There are pics of that press car in this very thread with the same show plate on it being driven dated 1973. It makes absolutely no sense that the new flagship car's engine that Porsche Ag put out at the Paris Salon would be a mock-up. Add an insider's denial and you see why I'm skeptical? Sure it makes good press to discredit the manufacturer, but those rumors are sometimes just that: a rumor.

Now to my eye, the intake system looks finished in wrinkle paint...

 

Don't know. But as Ive said, if there is any PROOF it was wood, it would be nice to see & verify, that's all. Till then, a healthy dose of skepticism can only be understood..

 

And I too understand where you are coming from - after dealing with all those Italian car factories and the automotive skulduggery they were up to in the 60s & 70s, I developed a healthy skepticism for their presentation. But I have learned to be open-minded and consider that there have been many myths passed down without question.

Here it is driving around in 1973, show plates still affixed. Shame there are not many pics of the original engine. That's why I referred to them as rare. The pics, that is.
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Yes, very interesting debate!

I have been mildly aware of this car in Northern California (Sacramento area I think) as advertised by its owner for sale for a couple months. I don't know it personally, but its worth a look. And it is Grand Prix White!

 

Yes, I know the one you speak of, Jerry Seinfeld had it on the set of his show for years.

 

There was a choice of three different fabrics. Details below.
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Here you go, and a comparison between the 2! I hope the tree moves out of the way
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As I said, I remain open-minded. Barth denies it, but I would expect him to do that. I haven't taken a position one way or another. Id just like to see PROOF of the journalist's assertions. I have that book and referenced it last night and my neutral position remains unchanged. Thank you for taking the time to share.