At the time of its launch in 1963—in diminutive 2-litre, 128 horsepower guise—few could have predicted the stellar competition career which the Porsche 911 would enjoy over the next six decades.

Remarkably, within just six years the model had secured a hat-trick of victories in the gruelling Monte Carlo Rally and five consecutive GT class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Yet it was the 1970s that brought the 911 to life with the launch of the new competition-focussed RSR model facilitating Porsche’s transition from plucky class-winning overachiever to serial international race winner.

Yet while the RSR’s three overall wins at both the Daytona 24 Hours and Sebring 12 Hours were undoubtedly impressive, they were a mere prelude to the achievements of its successor, the 935.

The 1976 introduction of Porsche’s new turbocharged, Group 5-compliant model caught competitors off guard—Weissach’s wildest derivative yet incredibly remained unbeaten at Daytona for six years, and at Sebring for ...