DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

As it is now about 2 1/2 years since I first embarked on this project, I thought it was about time to provide a few details.

A handful of DDKers have known the basic details of my project - & others have 'probed' for clues - but I've not really been very forthcoming with information ... until now.

tease.....

Is this going to go on as long as Mike's?

and of course it's not in the Restorations section and not in 911 which for those who don't know that gives a clue at least!

Andy, this is one of the worst kept secrets ever

COME ON!!!

I've got a guess

Sorry - just typed a very long reply ... then lost it !

I started a thread on DDK back in the Spring of 2009 (after I'd paid a visit to see Barrie Martin) stating that I'd made a big mistake - because I was 'hooked' - but it has long been deleted.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, after many long discussions with Barrie & several return visits to his Thruxton premises, I 'bit the bullet' & officially embarked on my 'longer-term project' ... one of Martin & Walker's 904 replicas.

For those that don't know, Barrie Martin (904gts on DDK) has been building replica 904's for the past 15 years or so (along with 550 Spyder, 356 Speedster & occasional 356 Coupe replicas) but keeps a low profile so not many people are aware of his 904.

Unlike all other 904 'replicas' produced (eg by the likes of Beck, Thunder Ranch, etc) M&W's version is very authentic, utilising a dimensionally-accurate grp body bonded to a pressed-steel welded box-section chassis & although this is already 95+% correct - it differs only in the area immediately behind the engine (which is quite a complicated pressing on the original) - I asked Barrie to incorporate some modifications in this area to make it even closer to the original.

Just a bit of background information - Porsche originally designed the 904 to accept the new (901) 6-cylinder engine but unfortunately at this early stage in the engine's development the power output meant that the 904 wouldn't have been competitive so Porsche installed the 4-cylinder 4-cam engine in 2 litre form (~ 180 bhp).

By the time the 6-cylinder engine had been sufficiently developed to make the 904 competitive (1966), Porsche was more or less ready to unveil the new 906 (which was a much lighter dedicated racecar as opposed to the 904 which was the last Porsche racer that could realistically used on the road), hence only six 904's were Factory-built with the 6-cylinder engine. However, many of the original (110) 4-cylinder 904's were converted to 6-cylinder engines.

This is the configuration of 'my' car - the original 904 body style equipped with a 6-cylinder engine.

Apologies for the long-winded introduction !

There will now be a short interlude ...

O' the anticipation, I think its going to be great!

Oh, sir! Pray tell us more (and soon)!

This is one of my dream cars and something I'll do one day - very jealous. I thought it was this though - with some of the hints you've dropped out;

Looking forward to some pictures....

Very cool......

The only downside I can think of....

Is a long walk at certain Porsche shows

.

So, whilst Barrie set about building the chassis (sorry - I don't have any earlier shots when it was being built up in the jig):







I started compiling a list of all the essential parts that I needed to research & source - like Mike (Moore) this is the element of a project that I enjoy the most.

Initially I came up with:

1) correct, dished Les Leston wooden steering wheel:



2) correct instruments:



including the all-important 'triple' guage:



3) correct dash switches:

- including the 904/906/908 washer/wiper swich:



- & column switches:



4) correct steel/alloy rivetted bimetallic wheels:



5) correct F&R lamps:

- including the correct chrome-rimmed front ind/sidelights (which few original cars seem to have retained) & Hella foglamps:



- & so the list went on ...

hot66 wrote:Andy, this is one of the worst kept secrets ever

+1

Still want to read about it and see the pics!!

Are we taking bets on whether yours or Mikes will be 'finished' first and whose we will see first in the For Sale section!!

Looking forward to this thread

great to see you've started the thread Andy, it's going to be a fantastic read can't wait!
As for who finishes first, judging from the 'picture of the day' you casually posted last
month, I'd say you're way ahead of me.............