1979 Porsche 935 K3 #60 Pilots: J. Cooper, P. Smith, C. Bourgoignie Team: Charles Ivey Racing Race: 8th overall (1st in Group 5) at Le Mans in 1982 Spark - S2533 (resin)
Published 11/22/21
Porsche first introduced the 935 in 1976. Produced specifically for Group 5 racing, it was a direct evolution from the Carrera RSR 2.1 Turbo. As always, for the first season only the Porsche works team used the 935, with solid results. However, when privateers gained access, the car turned into a HUGE success. Becoming a common sight on racetracks, it won around 30% of the races it entered! Stuttgart continued developing the 935, and in 1978 they released the 935/78, the famous “Moby Dick”. Yet, Weissach concluded that they reached the limit of the 935’s chassis. Further increments to power would cause chassis warp during heavy acceleration. And if Porsche couldn’t improve the car, they wouldn’t sell it. Here is where Erwin and Manfred Kremer enter the story.
The Kremer brothers began their involvement with Porsche in 1962. They founded Kremer Racing, where they did repairs and tuning jobs, and also started a racing team. Business flourished, to the point where they began selling cars to other teams. Porsche took notice, and they approached Kremer Racing to help in the development of the 935. That being so, in 1976 Kremer released their first 935, the 935 K1. The K1 had a Porsche chassis and body that was not built by Porsche, but by Kremer. Therefore, when the 935/78 reached its development limit, Stuttgart reached out to them. So, in 1978 the brothers went to work, and in early 1979 they came up with the 935 K3. While their earlier versions were improvements on the 935, the K3 was very different from the aerodynamic and mechanical perspective. In essence it was a new car, faster and better to drive.
This K3 #60 is chassis #935 009 0002, none other than the first K3 Kremer built. Racing for the Porsche Kremer works team, it won the 1979 German DRM Championship. Sold to a Belgian privateer by the end of the season, it was seldom raced in the following year. In 1982 Charles Ivey bought it and campaigned it extensively, with good results. In June that year he even took it to La Sarthe, where it finished eighth overall and first in class. With FIA abolishing Group 5 in 1983, that was the last Le Mans race for the mighty 935. The car sure made its mark, with numerous class wins and even an overall victory in 1979.
By now you probably noticed that I am fond of the 935. K3 #60 is my 15th 935! Well, I can’t help it if the car was a racing monster and looks ice cool… Besides, it was one of the most prolific racing cars at Le Mans. Moreover, Spark does a heckuva job on these models. And this K3 #60 is no different – sharp details with a terrific paint job. That being so, for a 935 aficionado, a gem of a model.