2,479cc SOHC Turbocharged Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
Bosch Motronic Fuel Injection
Est. 250bhp at 5,800rpm
5-Speed Manual Transaxle
4-Wheel Ventilated Disc Brakes
4-Wheel Independent Suspension

*No need for a trailer, road legal from new
*One of just 39 hand built Weissach racecars for NA
*Multiple Podium finishes
*Exceptional history
*The vehicle that defines the series

THE ROTHMANS PORSCHE TURBO CUP

Rothmans International were well-known around Weissach in the 1980s. They had been title sponsors of the overall winning 956s in the 1982 and '83 Le Mans and supported the purpose-built 1984 SC/RS 911 when the FIA introduced a rally raid championship to run through much of Europe and the Middle East. When David Deacon, then General Manager for Porsche Division, Volkswagen of Canada Ltd, conceived the idea of a Canadian-national, single-marque race series, Rothmans once again became the chosen sponsor. The concept was to have dealers obtain identical Porsche cars, campaign them in modestly dressed liveries, and offer them to qualified drivers and race teams through Porsche Canada's dealer group. Deacon selected the LeMans derived type-944. Race legends Scott Goodyear and Richard Spenard were recruited to run in the series as were grassroots drivers Rick Bye and Bill Adam. Beginning as a naturally aspirated series, the Rothmans Porsche Cup had the pleasure of being the first Cup series for a marque and the richest showroom stock series in the world. By the fall of 1987, Stuttgart realizing the successes both on track and in marketing, began developing a Cup series in Germany, France and South Africa using a Weissach prepared 944 Turbo. This series became ever-more lucrative with prize money eclipsing the naturally aspirated series five-fold. 192 cars were built globally with between 36 and 39 slated for Deacon's North American circuit. The Rothmans Porsche Turbo Cup had begun.

These titled from new, Weissach-built racers were carefully prepared. Appealing to Porsche's marketing department, the Turbo Cup appeared like a standard production vehicle but was far from standard form. The lightweight, steel, aluminum and fiberglass sunroof-delete coupe had no less than 52 unique upgraded features. Each tub was reinforced with a full Matter light-alloy roll cage and carried additional welds to the unibody design. Mechanically, a fast-ratio rack-and-pinion steering box, strengthened clutch and transmission, limited slip differential, bespoke heavy-duty brakes with 12" rotors and driver-controlled ABS system, fully adjustable "coil-over" Bilsteins, massive sway bars and a strut tower brace went to make these already incredible handling cars both predictable and a joy for the driver. Beneath the fiberglass hood, the sole fiberglass component on the car, the Weissach Turbo's M44/51 employed a larger KKK K26-8 turbocharger and improved DME mapping allowing for maximum boost until 5,800rpm and in excess of 325bhp, up from 217, on a near 600lbs lighter chassis.

The Grand Prix White Turbo Cup offered here was purchased by Agincourt Autohaus Leasing, delivered to Cooke Motors of Canada, and raced by motorist Rick Bye for the entirety of the RTC series. Bye, knowing full well that the car could be ordered in just 3 colors, secured a sponsorship deal with trendy Reebok (soon to release the Pumps shoe) and encouraged them to develop a livery that was so outrageous and bright it could cut through the clutter of the others. It is believed that on and off the track, the car as well as the driver were featured in 60% of the series' filming. The RTC lasted 3 years. Bye would take mostly podium finishes and a win in 1989 before passing along chassis 165082 in 1990 to a one Ian Goggin. Goggin undressed the car and entered it in Firestone's Firehawk series before retiring his career and the race car. In 1994 an enthusiast from the U.S. contacted Bye as to the whereabouts of 165082. Bye in turn contacted Goggin and with the U.S. enthusiast, inspected the car and discovered that it been used as a storage bin for beach balls! 165082 was purchased and made its way into the states where a light and cautious restoration began. Attending to the sheet metal and with consultation from Bye himself, the car began to appear exactly as it did in the Cup series. Following the restoration, the car has been used for car shows and driven on a private track.

Displaying just shy of what is believed to be an original and correct 9K kms, the no. 8 Reebok car lives on as the vehicle to define the series. To be enjoyed at any PCA Club Race, RadWood or at Boardwalk Reunion's 2020 Weissach Reunion, this Cup racer arguably carries one of the most fashionable and relatable liveries in motorsport history. Offered from a 26-year private ownership, this is an amazing opportunity at an unbelievable price point.