Say the words ‘Porsche 956/962' to a card-carrying Stuttgart enthusiast and you will elicit a cerebral reaction classified as ‘seismic'; an indictment of just how astonishing these racers were.
The FIA's reclassification of international sportscar racing at the beginning of the 1980s forced Porsche to re-evaluate its earlier 935 and 936. But when it finally rolled out its prototype racing 956 - and later, 962 with the longer wheelbase - it created an icon in its motorsport range.
Now, a huge collection of surviving Group C Porsches are being brought together for this summer's annual Salon Prive supercar show. Gathered over a 10-year period, they document a rather astonishing chapter in Porsche's racing history. And we've got all the pics right here...
Porsche 956-001
First ever 956 produced, started from pole position and won Group C after being manhandled by Derek Bell and Jackie Ickx at the Silverstone 6hrs in 1982 - effectively a development run for the new car.
Porsche 956-008
Driven by Stefan Bellof and Jochen Mass, this newly-built car led the 1984 Le Mans 24hrs for four hours and won the Norisring Gold race. Quite handy, then.
Porsche 956-110 (J David)
Only ever Porsche 956 to win on American soil after winning the Can Am at Road America.
Porsche 956 (Richard Lloyd)
The Canon-liveried beast was sold to Walter Brun in 1985 and went on to win the Team World Championship title in 1986, ahead of the Rothmans Porsche and Silk Cut Jaguar factory teams.
Porsche 956B (Fitzpatrick, 1984)
Factory-built car in identical spec to works Rothmans car, replete with fetching green Skoal-Bandit podium-winning livery.
Porsche 956B (Kremer, 1984)
Again, another factory-built effort in identical spec to Porsche's own Rothmans racers, covered in Norisring Gold race winning Liqui Moly livery.
Porsche 962-004
One of three Rothmans-backed works cars, this was the number one car driven by Jackie Ickx (who won Le Mans six times), in his final year before retirement and Jochen Mass. Went on to take pole position in 1986 Le Mans 24hrs.
Porsche 962-008
Last works Rothmans Porsche built, ran as Number 17 driven by Derek Bell and Hans Stuck and finished on the podium in every race entered.
Porsche 962-008
Wearing its Shell-Dunlop livery, this was driven by the Andretti trio in the 1988 Le Mans 24hrs and finished 5th, just behind chassis number 004.
Porsche 962-010
This was the last car built by the Porsche factory in 1988, driven by Derek Bell, Hans Stuck and Klaus Ludwig. Starting from pole, the car finished within less than a minute of the winning Jaguar after 24 tense hours of battling it out.
Porsche 962-163
The last of three REPSOL-liveried 962s built after 1983 Le Mans winner Vern Schuppan persuaded the factory to roll out some customer-spec cars based on the 1988 works racer. Porsche built seven 962s to this spec, three of which went to the Brun team.
163 - the last of the three Brun cars - was also the last factory 962 produced. So quite rare, then.
Brun Porsche 962
John Thompson was commissioned by Brun to build a bespoke aluminium honeycomb and part carbon chassis 962, replete here in its Hydro Aluminium livery which it wore as the lead car for the 1989 season and return to Le Mans in 1990.
Richard Lloyd Porsche 962
Lloyd's 962 was nicknamed the ‘British 962', and the one on display made its debut at the 1989 Le Mans 24hrs, campaigned by David Hobbs and Damon Hill. Still sports original pink livery and Japanese script of Italya sports.
Porsche 962-108 CO2
This, the ‘Miller Car', is considered the fastest 962 ever built, thanks in part to Derek Bell's historic final 24hr win in 1989 at Daytona. It also won the Porsche Cup that same year.
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