The first-ever rear-engined Le Mans winner is driven regularly by its 81-year-old owner.
The iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race is celebrating its centenary in 2023. Over the last 100 years and 91 races, countless brave and talented drivers have piloted iconic vehicles around Circuit de la Sarthe, hoping to win the legendary event and speed into the motorsport history books.
Porsche has long been a prominent name in Le Mans racing. In 1979, the German marque entered with the Kremer Porsche 935 K3 and won, making it the first-ever rear-engined car to take top honors at Le Mans. As part of the centenary celebrations, Porsche visited the current owner, California-based Bruce Meyer, to visit the very car that won all those years ago.
“The 935 produces around [789 horsepower] with no driver aids,” says the 81-year-old collector. “For me, it's about as extreme as it gets for an air-cooled 911 race car.”
Unlike many collectors, Meyer drives his vehicles regularly, including the Le Mans-winning 935. The one-of-a-kind car regularly appears at exclusive events such as Pebble Beach Concourse d'Elegance and The Amelia.
Even with his background in motorcycle racing, Meyer never pushes the car to its limits. “The 935 has already won Le Mans, so the only history I could add would not be good,” he jokes. “When I drive it, it's not at 10/10ths; I can tell you that.”
A real estate investor by trade, Meyer – who co-founded the Petersen Automotive Museum – has an enviable collection of rare Porsches. But it's the 935 K3 he speaks most fondly about. Driven to victory by Klaus Ludwig, Don Whittington, and Bill Whittington, the 911-based racer is an extraordinary creation.
The iconic sloped nose, contoured rear end, and massive rear spoiler are signature details of the 935. Every bit of the car was designed to extract every ounce of speed and performance.
Kremer would make maybe a hundred changes to get a one percent advantage,” says the Beverly Hills native. This includes the tucked-in mirrors, for example, which improved aerodynamics. “I've always been drawn to competition,” he adds. “That sporting image is what drew me to Porsche originally.”
Meyer has been obsessed with Porsche since he acquired his first, a 356 Coupe, in 1961. Since then, he has owned a 1996 911 Turbo (993), a 911 GT3 (992), and a 356 A Speedster that was later sold to Steve McQueen – an icon of the silver screen who starred in 1971's Le Mans, a film about the challenging race. In the movie, he piloted the equally legendary 917K.
Regarding the 935, Meyer doesn't see himself as the owner. “I am simply its custodian,” he adds humbly. His love of all things Porsche has been passed onto his family – his wife and three children all use modern Porsches as their daily drivers.
Another superb vehicle in Meyer's collection is the 1973 911 Carrera RSR 2.8, pictured below. This very vehicle, driven by Peter Gregg and Hurley Haywood, was race-prepared by Brumos and went on to win both the IMSA GT and SCCA Trans-Am Championships. Hopefully, we'll hear more about this extra-special vehicle in the coming weeks.
Even though it's the 100th year since Le Mans' inaugural race, the 2023 event will be the 91st running. As part of the celebrations, set to take place later this month, the legendary Mazda 787B will make an appearance and will almost certainly wow the crowds with its signature rotary engine sound. It was the first (and only) car ever to win Le Mans with this engine configuration and the first Japanese car to achieve this feat.
If, like Mr. Meyer, you're craving your own Le Mans racer, a stunning 21-car-strong collection of past racers, will go up for auction in the coming days.
Keyword: Kremer Porsche 935 K3 Is A Daily-Driven Le Mans-Winning Legend