Porsche 935

The 935 presented here, chassis 930 990 0027, is among this exclusive final group of customer cars and was built to order for Otis Chandler, publisher of the Los Angeles Times and one of Porsche’s VIP customers. Having already owned an early 935 customer car, Chandler was eager to acquire the latest, most developed version and placed his order for the new car through Jo Hoppen at Volkswagen of America Inc., the then official US Porsche distributor. While most 935s were finished with plain, white bodywork, Chandler requested that his car be finished in Vintage Racing Blue to match his Sunoco-liveried 917/30.

As noted on the original invoice, dated March 15, 1979, the new 935 cost a staggering $134,963.10, including shipping expenditures, adjustable stabilizer, and air jacks. On April 22, 1979, the 935 took part in its first and only competition outing – the inaugural Los Angeles Times Grand Prix of Endurance, also known as the 6 Hours of Riverside. For this race, which counted toward the IMSA Winston GT Championship and FIA World Challenge for Endurance Drivers, a variety of 935s were entered in the GTX class by the top American teams: Brumos, Dick Barbour, Interscope, JLP, Swap Shop, and Whittington Brothers.

Chandler entered the 935 under his own name and shared driving duties with John Thomas. Wearing race no. 10, and sporting San Miguel Beer sponsorship, the blue 935 got off to a strong start and ran as high as 3rd Place before the engine let go, forcing an early retirement.

After the Los Angeles Times Grand Prix of Endurance, Chandler sent his 935 to the famed ANDIAL workshop in Costa Mesa, California, where a new 3-liter, twin-turbo engine was built for the car. This was a common practice at the time, as the twin-turbo configuration was more reliable, improved the torque curve, and was better suited to most circuits. Once this work was carried out, the 935 returned to Chandler, who would occasionally take it out for demonstration runs at POC and PCA events during the 1980s.

The 935 remained in Chandler’s collection until November 1993, when it was sold to well-known racer and Porsche specialist Dennis Aase of Anaheim, California. Aase kept the car for a brief period, selling it the following year to David and Karen Hall of Portland, Oregon. Lloyd Hawkins, a longtime Porsche enthusiast and vintage racer, purchased the 935 from the Halls in December 1996, and it has been a centerpiece of his collection since.

Early in the consignor’s ownership, the Porsche was campaigned in two HSR vintage races, the more notable being the 935 Challenge at Daytona in 2000, when David Murry drove the car to victory. Following these events, the 935 underwent a sympathetic restoration, with a great effort made to preserve original details wherever possible.

Although the Porsche has not been actively raced since this work was completed, Hawkins has regularly run and maintained the car.

Today, 990 0027 is beautifully presented in all respects and looks magnificent in its distinctive Vintage Racing Blue livery. The Porsche still retains the 3-liter engine built by ANDIAL in 1980, which has been fitted with a single KKK turbocharger to give the car a more accurate, as-raced appearance. Included with the sale is an impressive file of documentation that includes the original 1979 invoice from Volkswagen of America Inc. to Otis Chandler, receipts for the work performed at ANDIAL in 1980 and 1990, a copy of the May 1979 issue of Porsche Panorama, as well as correspondence, bills of sale, and photographs.

Not only is 990 0027 among the final, most evolved customer 935s built, but its exceptional originality, Otis Chandler provenance, and unbroken ownership history place it among the very best examples of a rare breed.

*Please note that this vehicle is sold on a Bill of Sale.