To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Porsche in 2023, an auction will take place hosted by Broad Arrow Auctions at the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta on the 10th of June 2023.
This single-marque sale will feature 75 of the most desirable classic and collectible Porsche vehicles, one of them is this 1984 Porsche 962, Chassis No. 962 102.
This particular model of the 962 was the second customer 962 delivered by the Porsche Motorsports complex at Zuffenhausen and is finished in iconic Coca-Cola livery. It achieved a fourth-place overall finish at the 1985 Daytona 24 Hours along with a pole position and track record at the 1985 Sebring 12 Hours.
The car has been raced by Bob Atkin, Hans Stuck, John O'Steen, and Jim Mullen, and also appeared in an episode of Miami Vice in 1985 after being filmed at the 1985 Miami Grand Prix.
A four-year restoration was initiated by Jim Torres and was mainly conducted by Gunnar Racing. This 962 was also a participant at the Rennsport Reunions IV, V, and VI and a regular entrant of the Monterey Historics.
In 2016, the car was an Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance honoree, chosen by the Petersen Museum for Luftgekühlt 'Prototype Giants' exhibit, featured at Luftgekühlt 8. The 962 is also eligible for all manner of Porsche's 75th-anniversary events, including current acceptance to the Rennsport VII and the 2023 Rolex Historics.
After the domination and international race success of the Porsche 956, including consecutive Le Mans 24 Hours victories, the 962 was born in 1984 after some modest redesign work, making it eligible to race in the United States' largest championship series, the IMSA.
The first customer 962 was delivered to the United States to race in the IMSA GTP and the second, chassis 962 102, was soon to follow.
The Bob Akin Motor Racing team entered a lease agreement to obtain the 962 with former Cincinnati Microwave founder Mike Valentine. Bob Akin would prepare, enter, and race it, with a splendid array of sponsors such as Polo Ralph Lauren, Domino's Pizza, and the headline sponsor, Atlanta-based Coca-Cola.
The 1984 season did prove to be a challenging one, the best results being 6th place finishes. 1985 proved to be more successful with a fourth-place finish at the Daytona 24 Hour and a fine pole position and track record at the Sebring 12 hours.
Another fourth place at the 600 Km Riverside GP followed before a shunt at the 500 Km Charlotte on 19 May 1985. Akin and Mullen were reduced to mere bystanders, watching as the careening March-Buick of John Paul Jr. slid through the infield grass, hitting 962 102 as it entered the infield road course at turn one. With the next race – the Coca-Cola 500 at Lime Rock – just one week away, Akin, unhurt in the accident, could not afford to miss his main sponsor's marquee event, especially one so close to his base of operations. He quickly purchased another 962, placing 962 102 off to the side until repairs could be made. Those repairs would not come by way of Bob Akin Motor Racing but at Penske Motorsports.
During the late 1980s, Penske began working with Miller Brewing providing show cars for their advertising activities. Identifying 962 102 as a potential show car, Penske acquired the car, and after making the necessary repairs, presented it as a show car in Miller High Life colors. Once this program ended, 102 returned to Penske's stable and was placed into storage. In 2005, Jim Torres purchased 102 from Penske and embarked on the restoration process to return it to its former Coca-Cola liveried, Sebring pole-winning days.
Porsche 962 102 made its post-restoration debut at the 2009 Monterey Historics, its first time on track in nearly 25 years. At the wheel? Bobby Akin Jr., Bob Akin's son, shared driving duties with the current owner over a glorious week in Monterey, California.
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