An Orange Juggernaut: The Racing Provenance of this 1966 Porsche 906 Carrera 6

In the pantheon of motorsport legends, few eras burn as brightly as the mid-1960s. It was a time of breathtaking innovation and fierce competition, where engineering brilliance battled for supremacy on Europe’s most hallowed circuits. While rivals struggled with the red tape of homologation, a new force was emerging from Zuffenhausen.

Under the masterful direction of Ferdinand Piëch and Hanz Mezger, Porsche unleashed the 906 Carrera 6, a machine so perfectly conceived and devastatingly effective that its initial production run sold out almost immediately. With its advanced tubular steel spaceframe, impossibly low nose, and slippery “Kamm” tail, the 906 was a masterclass in lightweight, low-drag design, weighing a featherlight 580 kilograms and destined for greatness.

Of the mere 52 customer cars built, the machine you see before you, chassis number 906-146, boasts a history as vibrant as its paintwork. Delivered on 20 April 1966 to the legendary Porsche importer Pon’s Holland, this Carrera 6 was finished from the factory in a brilliant orange, a fitting choice for its first owner, Racing Team Holland. This was no show pony destined for a quiet life; its purpose was singular: to win.

A mere four days after delivery, it made its competitive debut at Zandvoort, where driver Wim Loos immediately stormed to a 2-litre class victory. This set the tone for a glorious career, with the car collecting podiums and wins across Europe at the hands of talented drivers like David van Lennep and Ben Pon Jr. at circuits from Trier to Montlhéry.

Like any true racing warrior, chassis 906-146 wears its battle scars with pride. A crash during practice for the 1000 Km of Spa in 1967 could have ended its story, but instead, it was sent back to the Porsche factory for a complete rebuild in 1968. It emerged reborn and was sold to Antoine Hezemans, who promptly piloted the car—now in a new white livery with Dutch national stripes—to three more victories. The 906 continued to compete successfully through to 1971, a testament to its superb engineering and enduring competitiveness.

After passing through the hands of several dedicated Dutch collectors, the car underwent a painstaking, body-off restoration between 2008 and 2013, which is thoroughly documented in photographic albums. It was during this process that it was returned to the glorious, period-correct orange hue it wears today.

Currently fitted with a robust Porsche 911 engine for ease of use, this Carrera 6 is offered by RM Sotheby’s with an incredibly important addition: a spare, correct-specification 901/20-type Carrera 6 flat-six engine, the lightweight, magnesium-and-titanium-infused heart that made these cars so formidable.

Its provenance is impeccable, backed by a copy of its original Kardex sheet and extensive inspection reports from world-renowned marque experts Rolf Sprenger, Walter Näher, and Andy Prill. Expected to fetch a price north of $2.1 million, this is far more than just a car; it is a storied and successful champion, a standout piece of Porsche history, and a golden ticket to the world’s most exclusive historic motorsport events.

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