WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF MAKES As Porsche’s indomitable 911 entered its second decade of competition, its place in racing and rally folklore was assured; a hat-trick of Monte Carlo Rally victories, three wins at both Daytona and Sebring, and victory in the Targa Florio—all achieved with a production-based car.

However, it was the introduction of a modified FIA Group 5 ruleset for 1976—allowing “Special Production Cars” to contest the World Championship for Makes—which permitted Porsche to explore the 911’s potential and to unleash their most outlandish derivate yet: The Type 935.

In effect, the new regulations allowed the development of “silhouette” cars, providing a production-based power plant and certain external dimensions were retained.

As ever, Porsche read the rulebook more closely than did their competitors, their newly bewinged and suitably widened 2.85-liter, twin-turbocharged 935/76 winning four races en route to the 1976 World Championship for Makes title.

Porsche’s 1977 s...