True to plan, the 910 was highly victorious from the start, used exclusively during 1966 for the European Hill Climbing Championship. Deployed for endurance races and rallies with 6- and 8-cylinder engines in 1967, the 910 was directly competitive to, and more successful than, Ferrari’s V-6 Dino 206 P and a startling opponent to Ford’s larger and much more powerful 7.0L GT40. Porsche 910 wins for 1967 included the 1967 Targa Florio and a stunning 1-2-3 podium sweep (all 6-cylinder entries) for Porsche’s first overall win at the Nürburgring 1000. While the 910’s racing career with the factory was quite short, it was a big contributor to the many successes of 1967—the best in Porsche history to that time. Just 12 Porsche 910s were produced with the “short tail” body style, with all examples campaigned exclusively by Porsche’s “works” Porsche System Engineering team for 1966-67. This 1966 Porsche 910, Chassis 910-001, is one of those 12 in the short tail body style. Subsequently, the factory 8-cylinder cars were refitted with the potent and reliable, 6-cylinder, 901-derived mill before being sold on to private teams for a second life in front-line competition, which for some 910s continued well into the 1970s. All survivors carry fascinating history, including use in period by many of the era’s finest and fastest drivers. Porsche 910-001 carries especially compelling provenance as the first of the series produced. Since it was initially a hill climb racer, 910-001 was officially registered in Germany, an important consideration for today’s collectors and vintage racers. At a press presentation at Hockenheim, 910-001 was photographed with top Porsche officials including Dr. Ferry Porsche, Ferdinand Piech and Hans Mezger. Given its “first-of-line” status and importance to Porsche’s racing program, this image of 910-001 was subsequently published in the April 1968 edition of Christophorous, Porsche’s official magazine, which also celebrated Porsche’s growing roster of top international drivers. On August 28, 1966, veteran German racing legend Hans Herrmann drove 910-001 to a creditable third on its maiden outing, Switzerland’s Sierre Montagne Hill Climb, part of the Swiss Mountain Grand Prix. 910-001 does not appear to have been raced at all for 1967, and it was sold to Posche works driver Rudi Lins. Since Lins officially registered the car in Austria, 910-001 was duly issued its corresponding Einzelgenehmigung (registration) document. He drove 910-001 in the 1968 edition of the 12 Hours of Sebring, where it was entered by the Swiss Valvoline Oil Company and codriven by Lins and Karl Foitek, but suffered an accident and did not finish. Next, on April 25, 1968, 910-001 finished fourth overall and first in class (P2.0) at the Monza 1000 Kilometers with co-drivers Gerhard Koch and Lins, who again teamed up with 910-001 at the May 1968 Spa 1000 Kilometers, finishing fifth overall and first in class (P2.0) under Porsche sponsorship. Its next outings were on June 9 and August 11, 1968, both at Hockenheim, with Foitek driving but with final results unknown today. On August 18, 1968, Gerhard Koch piloted 910-001 to fourth at Wunstorf, followed by another race by Koch on August 25, this time to a seventh-place finish at the Zeltweg 500 kilometers. Ending the 1968 racing season on October 6, Lins finished fifth with 910-001 at Aspern.
