Apple-sponsored 1979 Porsche 935 race car replica on sale for $499,000 [u]
While not the long-rumored Apple Car, an Apple-branded vehicle has gone on sale, with a replica of the extremely rare 1979 Porsche 935 K3 race car that once raced at Le Mans now available to purchase for $499,000.
Via DuPont Registry
Listed for sale on the DuPont Registry, the 1979 Porsche 935 is being sold by the Atlantis Motor Group. Priced at $499,000, or at a more reasonable $4,415 per month, the vehicle is a replica of a piece of Apple's history: a race car the company once sponsored.
The original was operated by Dick Barbour Racing, a team that had Apple as its main sponsor for its 1980 season, due to an interest by Jobs and Wozniak in the team, according to a profile of the vehicle by The Drive. The roster included Bob Garretson, Bobby Rahal, and Allan Moffat on the team, with the car itself bearing not only the Apple Computer name, but also its rainbow colors.
The genuine car had a short track career, finishing second at Riverside and Sears point amid lower-placed finishes and failures to cross the finish line. The car also notably attempted to compete at Le Mans, but retired 13 hours into the 24-hour race.
The sponsorship was a shrewd move, as in December that year the company went public and became the most profitable IPO in the United States.
The car in the DuPont Registry is not the original vehicle, however. The original is part of celebrity Adam Carolla's car collection, bought several years ago for $4.84 million, and is currently estimated to be valued at between $8 million and $10 million.
According to the product listing for the replica, the Porsche 935 K3 being sold actually contains a number of GT2 components, including a 3.8 TT build by Bob Holcomb, a GT2 6-speed transmission, and a double wish-bone 993 rear suspension module. Able to put out more than 700 horsepower, the top speed is estimated at over 200 miles per hour, and is claimed to be still capable of being competitive at the Daytona Classic 24 with the right team.
If rumors are to be believed, this is not the last time Apple will dabble in the automotive world. It is believed a commercial Apple car is in development, one that may have a vast number of features that differ from traditional car designs.
Update: Matt D'Andria, a co-host of the CarCast podcast with Adam Carolla and the manager of his car collection, contacted AppleInsider about the real car, which is currently part of Carolla's collection of 12 racing cars driven by Paul Neuman. AppleInsider has updated the story to reflect this, and to clarify that the car advertised in the listing is a replica.
Via DuPont Registry
Listed for sale on the DuPont Registry, the 1979 Porsche 935 is being sold by the Atlantis Motor Group. Priced at $499,000, or at a more reasonable $4,415 per month, the vehicle is a replica of a piece of Apple's history: a race car the company once sponsored.
The original was operated by Dick Barbour Racing, a team that had Apple as its main sponsor for its 1980 season, due to an interest by Jobs and Wozniak in the team, according to a profile of the vehicle by The Drive. The roster included Bob Garretson, Bobby Rahal, and Allan Moffat on the team, with the car itself bearing not only the Apple Computer name, but also its rainbow colors.
The genuine car had a short track career, finishing second at Riverside and Sears point amid lower-placed finishes and failures to cross the finish line. The car also notably attempted to compete at Le Mans, but retired 13 hours into the 24-hour race.
The sponsorship was a shrewd move, as in December that year the company went public and became the most profitable IPO in the United States.
The car in the DuPont Registry is not the original vehicle, however. The original is part of celebrity Adam Carolla's car collection, bought several years ago for $4.84 million, and is currently estimated to be valued at between $8 million and $10 million.
According to the product listing for the replica, the Porsche 935 K3 being sold actually contains a number of GT2 components, including a 3.8 TT build by Bob Holcomb, a GT2 6-speed transmission, and a double wish-bone 993 rear suspension module. Able to put out more than 700 horsepower, the top speed is estimated at over 200 miles per hour, and is claimed to be still capable of being competitive at the Daytona Classic 24 with the right team.
If rumors are to be believed, this is not the last time Apple will dabble in the automotive world. It is believed a commercial Apple car is in development, one that may have a vast number of features that differ from traditional car designs.
Update: Matt D'Andria, a co-host of the CarCast podcast with Adam Carolla and the manager of his car collection, contacted AppleInsider about the real car, which is currently part of Carolla's collection of 12 racing cars driven by Paul Neuman. AppleInsider has updated the story to reflect this, and to clarify that the car advertised in the listing is a replica.
Comments
Post hoc ergo propter hoc
Tangent: The replica being an older reskinned GT2 is ironic since the new Porsche 935, built as an homage to the original, is basically just a new GT2 RS reskinned to race spec. Details here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT2EhcwoO6k
Fun fact: The real Apple 935 K3 is owned by Adam Carolla. He paid a whopping $4.4 million for the car because it was owned by Paul Newman. Story here. It won a class victory and 2nd overall at the 1979 24hr of Le Mans with Newman co-driving with Barbour and Stommelen. Apple only sponsored the car for one season since the 1980 campaign was not very successful. The car went back to it's primary sponsor, Hawaiian Tropic (the livery it wears now) and subsequently won the '81 24hrs of Daytona and '83 12hrs of Sebring.
Carolla is a die hard Paul Newman fanboy. He owns 10 of Newman's race cars. Personally I think the truth is a better story than the original.
Waiting for this one to go on auction:
/s
I'm not sure if the article was updated later, but it says that this is a replica.
Strange how every market that wealthy people participate in during the 21st century features a magical doubling or tripling of their investment in a few short years.
To answer your question, horse drawn carriages are collectors items. As well as the EV's and steamers from the early 20th century.
There's no doubt the day will come when EV's will obliterate every ICE record. Then the day will come when whatever replaces EV's blows away those records. That's how technology works. Until then, for the next several decades, the world will continue to enjoy the conveniences of the ICE.