Stirling Moss bought his Porsche RS 61 back in 2010 at the Amelia Island Auction in Florida for $1.7 million, then crashed it at Laguna Seca. It's fixed, and he'll race it at Le Mans. Badass, thy name is Sir.
After the crash last year, in which the gearbox seized on the warm-up lap, Stirling spun off and was clobbered by a Lotus, the Porsche was shipped to the UK's Maxted-Page & Prill for repairs. Back in 1961, Moss nearly won the Targa Florio in a Porsche RS 60. The car in question — one of only 14 RS 61's built - scored 13 wins and 20 podium finishes in SCCA national competition.
It's powered by an original-spec 1,678 CC DOHC air-cooled boxer four with twin Weber carbs, producing 180 hp at 7,800 RPM. A 5-speed manual gearbox pairs with a limited slip diff, the brakes are finned alloy drums and the independent suspension comprises trailing arms and torsion bar in the front and wishbones and coilovers in the rear.
Now, Moss will drive it at the Le Mans Legend, which happens a few hours before this year's 24-hour race at the 8.5-mile circuit on Saturday, June 11. This year's Legend will feature 61 cars from 1949 to 1965. Moss and co-driver Ian Nuthall will race against class competitors including a Porsche RS 60, Ferrari 206P, Lotus 15 and a Porsche 904-6 prototype, one of just six built, four of which only still exist.
(Photos: Ned Lawler)