Porsche’s legendary 904 will soon be getting the restomod treatment from German start-up Aerfal Automotive, with each example set to be built on the donor chassis from another lightweight two-door Porsche and, tellingly, likely to receive its own, bespoke, flat-eight engine.
The original 904, of which just over 100 road-going models were produced between 1964 and 1965, was available with either a flat-four, a flat-six or a flat-eight engine, the former used exclusively to power the road car. Rather than sourcing and rebuilding original 904 powerplants, however, the costs for which would be herculean given the exclusivity of the ‘60s coupé, Aerfal Automotive is instead working in tandem with Cosworth to develop a bored-out, bespoke eight-cylinder engine that could produce up to 400 horsepower.
As explained in a recent Instagram post, this 904 restomod project – dubbed AE94 – aims to take “Porsche’s most ambitious engine” and “reimagin[e] it for a new era.” Indeed, in contrast to the original 2.0-liter capacity, capacity for the new, naturally-aspirated flat-eight would be increased to 4.0-liters and could deliver up to 400-horsepower. That’s almost double the 225 hp output of the original 904/8, and on par with the Nissan Z and the Lotus Emira V6. Interestingly though, outright power is not the principal goal for the project:
“This is not about chasing numbers, but about creating an engine that breathes character, a soundtrack and sensation that connects the driver directly to Porsche’s primal racing heritage.”
– Aerfal Automotive
Much like the engine, sourcing a donor 904 chassis would prove far too expensive, given that recent examples of the 904 have sold at auction with RM Sotheby’s for north of $2 million USD). Instead, each AE94 restomod will be built atop the chassis of a donor 914, as Aerfal founder Daniel Robledo confirmed in a recent report for Motor1.
In terms of the design, meanwhile, while the exterior offers a modern interpretation of the 904, the interior, while still a “throwback” to its 60s forebear, is of higher quality build. The Motor1 report similarly explains that the cabin will feature titanium detailing, a Momo steering wheel, leather-clad bucket seats, and, potentially, instrument dials and a matching wristwatch developed by a “prestigious watchmaker.” Production figures have yet to be revealed, as, the above renders aside, the project is still very much in the development stages. HotCars has contacted Aerfal Automotive for more information.
Introduced in 1963, shortly after Porsche’s nascent Formula 1 program drew to a close, the 904 was commissioned by then CEO Alexander ‘Kutzi’ Porsche (grandson of the company founder) as a replacement for the 718 RSK. It was one of the lightest Porsches ever built, featuring an aerospace-developed, fiberglass reinforced plastic body – the first Porsche to do so – bonded with a steel ladder-frame chassis. It was also, at the time, one of the most exclusive, as only 106 examples were built between 1964 and 1965.
Power, around 180-horsepower, initially came from an evolved version of a mid-mounted, 2.0-liter four-cylinder from a 356 Carrera, though later models would be offered with a flat-six from the recently-introduced 911 roadcar, and/or Porsche’s Type 771 flat-eight race engine. It was the nimble handling, however, that defined the 904, as victories on the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally, the 1964 Targa Florio, and similar giant-killing performances at Sebring and Le Mans would go on to prove. Indeed, all 106 examples were quickly sold, with only a Bergspyder hillclimber being introduced as a follow-up in 1965.
Source: Aerfal Automotive / Motor1
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