Porsche is known for the highest number of wins for the Le Mans endurance race series so it was no surprise when it declared its intent to develop a brand new challenger after facing defeat.


You see, when the McLaren F1 GTR finished first overall and 1-2-3 in its class in 1995, the championship winning German team could not handle the defeat well.


Thus in a quick span of just six weeks, Porsche engineered and debuted the 911 GT1 race car at the 1996 Le Mans and finished first and second in its class. I'm not exactly a fan of Porsche but I have to admit this is one good looking car. I like the design so much to the extent that this is my current wallpaper for my desktop. Until the next beauty comes along at least.

As GT racecars have to be based on road cars, Porsche tweaked the 911 GT1 to the crazy GT1 Strassenversion. The Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion slots between the between the F40 rivaling 959 and the Carrera GT. The 911 GT1 Strassenversion was considered to be one of the marque's most extreme of road cars.


Porsche engineer Norbert Singer took the front end of the 993-generation 911 and attached it to the rear of a 962. He constructed a new tubular frame that could fit a mid/rear engine. Eventually a 600bhp twin-turbo 3.2-litre flat-six powered the carbon-fiber shelled 911 GT1 Strassenversion.

For the 1997 season, the GT1 received a revised suspension, bodywork, and headlights. Dubbed the GT1 Evo, it didn't win that season. Still the 1998 season saw the racer incorporating a lightweight carbon-fiber chassis, and the 911 GT1-98 took a one-two finish.

In 1997 Porsche began running a small amount of homologated customer cars, dubbed the "Strassenversion". They were more user friendly and had detuned suspensions, gear ratios and engine with 544bhp, with a more refined interior.

Still, the Strassenversion sprinted to a 100km/h in 3.6s and a possessed a 312km.h top speed.
A scarce 25 examples were built and retailed for $912,000.

This particular model that is heading to the auction block is the only unit to be imported into the US. The auction will happen at the RM Auction's Monterey Sale on August 18 with an estimated value of US$1.25 to US$1.4 million.

Interestingly another Strassenversion is currently for sale at DuPont Registry. Claimed to be the last unit manufactured and in "museum condition", the car had just completed a service at the Porsche factory in Germany and is priced at a staggering US$2,325,000.

Photo credit: Darin Schnabel, RM Auctions via CarScoop