Le Mans winning Porsche 956 heading to auction

At Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach 2015 auctions taking place on August 15 and 16, the Le Mans winning 1982 Porsche 956 is set to cross the auction block.

This particular Porsche 956 is chassis 003 and walked away with victory at the 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans. It is generally regarded as the most successful Group C racing car ever designed and it is one of just 10 works Porsche 956s ever produced. When combined with its successor, the 962, the Porsche 956 claimed 120 race victories over 13 years.

This particular 956 made its racing debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1982 with Jochen Mass and Vern Schuppan behind the wheel. It managed to finish second overall before taking the top step of the podium in the next four races it competed in. During this successful run, it was driven by the likes of Derek Bell, Jochen Mass and Jacky Ickx.

The following year, it walked away with victory at Le Mans when being driven by Al Holbert, Hurley Haywood and Vern Schuppan. Chassis 003 finished 63 seconds ahead of another Porsche 959 with Derek Bell and Jacky Ickx in the driver’s seat.

After retiring racing, Vern Schuppan himself purchased the car and kept it until the 1990s. In more recent times it was displayed at last year’s Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.

Pre-auction estimates suggest it will sell for between $7 and $9 million.

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