PORSCHE 904 CARRERA GTS 26 INNES IRELAND SILVERSTONE INTERNATIONNAL GRAND TOURING 1964 9EME

PORSCHE 904 CARRERA GTS #26 INNES IRELAND SILVERSTONE INTERNATIONNAL GRAND TOURING 1964 9EME - HISTOIRE : In November 1963, Stirling Moss ordered a 904 for his racing team, and the car 904-025 was delivered to S.M.A.R.T (Stirling Moss Automobile Racing Team) on February 19, 1964 in the special color of “Borneo Grün”, namely, borneo green metallic. This color (color code 173-26006) had been the team trademark colour. The rims of 904-025 were painted dark green, and the upholstery was blue. During earlier tests at the factory, one engine had proved to do better than 180 hp, and it was decided that this 587/3 engine #99024 go with Moss’ 904-025. The first start for 904-025 was to compete in the Lavant Cup with start number 42 at Goodwood Circuit on Easter Monday March 30,1964. The race started at 17:10 for 50 miles. Out of 27 registered entrants, 20 had arrived to attend the practising session. From the 20 cars in the starting grid, 18 were classified in the points. Piloted by Sir John Whitmore, 904-025 finished 6th overall and 3rd in class. In its second outing, 904-025 participated in the 16th Annual International Trophy with start number 26 at Silverstone Circuit on May 2, 1964. The race began at 10.15 am for a distance of 25 laps. 31 of the 36 entrants were classsified. Innes Ireland drove 904-025 to finish 9th overall and 1st in the GT2.5 class. During a test drive in Silverstone, however, Hugh Dibley crashed 904-025, and the vehicle was overturned and damaged. In recollection, Dibley said, “… at Silverstone I had a go in Stirling’s Porsche 904. Wish I hadn’t: I put a wheel on the grass at Stowe and flew off into the bank and wrote the thing off.‘ After the accident, 904-025 was sent back to the factory. Although the damage was not very susbstantial, due to the tight race schedule of the 1964 season, it was decided not to repair the car, but to “hot swap” the remaining usable parts of 025 and install these in a non-finished chassis, taken off the production line. Production papers classified this chassis as 904-088, despite the fact that it was built with about 70% of the parts of 904-025. 904-088, aka 904-025-1, was installed with a new engine #99073, whereas #99024 was nowhere to be found any more. The leftovers of the 904-025 remained in the factory and were sold to Theo Geiger. Among the leftovers were the original but damaged frame and body, all in first paint. Aspiring to restore 904-025, Mr. Geiger, a former Porsche mechanic, began to buy original “old parts” for the 904 and aquired an impressive collection. When the project no longer seemed feasible without further financial and technical support in 2010, Mr. Geiger sold his collection to specialists Freisinger Motorsport, who did a complete restoration and rebuilt the ex-Stirling Moss 904-025. The car is now owned by a German enthusiast and meticulously prepared by Mario Linke’s team for historic racing.