The Sundance Kid’s Rare Racer Is Headed to Scottsdale Car Week

Robert Redford's old 1964 Porsche 904 GTS is crossing the block.

December 13, 2018 5:00 am

Robert Redford: acclaimed actor, Sundance Film Festival founder, environmental activist, and, the cherry on top, Porsche owner.

More accurately, former Porsche owner as the ’64 Porsche 904 GTS the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid star owned for about a decade is crossing the block at Scottsdale Car Week courtesy of Bonhams.

The 1964 Porsche 904 GTS formerly owned by Robert Redford which will be sold at Scottsdale Car Week by Bonhams. The 1964 Porsche 904 GTS formerly owned by Robert Redford which will be sold at Scottsdale Car Week by Bonhams.
The 1964 Porsche 904 GTS formerly owned by Robert Redford which will be sold at Scottsdale Car Week by Bonhams.

Completed at the Zuffenhausen Porsche works in January of ‘64, chassis no. 904-012 was originally ordered by Steve Earle, the founder of the Monterey Historic Races at Laguna Seca.

Wanting to have the car ready to compete in the 1964 racing season, Earle had the car loaded onto a Pan America jet at Stuttgart International Airport and JFK in New York. However, Earle never took possession of chassis no. 904-012 and instead took delivery of a Ferrari 250 LM.

The 1964 Porsche 904 GTS formerly owned by Robert Redford which will be sold at Scottsdale Car Week by Bonhams. The 1964 Porsche 904 GTS formerly owned by Robert Redford which will be sold at Scottsdale Car Week by Bonhams. The 1964 Porsche 904 GTS formerly owned by Robert Redford which will be sold at Scottsdale Car Week by Bonhams.

Apparently satisfied with the Ferrari, Earle sold the un-raced Porsche to another Californian, Steve Berg, through Otto Zipper’s Precision Motor Cars of Beverly Hills.

With Hollywood television producer Kurt Neumann at the wheel, the car went on to be raced at a number of regional events including the Santa Barbara Road Races, the 3rd OA Willow Springs SCCA Divisional, and the Riverside 3 Hour Enduro. Beautiful and brawny, the 904 GTS made the cover of Road and Track for the magazine’s July 1964 issue.

The 1964 Porsche 904 GTS formerly owned by Robert Redford which will be sold at Scottsdale Car Week by Bonhams. The 1964 Porsche 904 GTS formerly owned by Robert Redford which will be sold at Scottsdale Car Week by Bonhams. The 1964 Porsche 904 GTS formerly owned by Robert Redford which will be sold at Scottsdale Car Week by Bonhams.

Following another racing season in 1965 with Neumann behind the wheel, Berg offered up 904-012 for sale in an issue of Competition Press. Redford must have been a reader of the publication as he purchased the car from Berg for an undisclosed sum.

Redford owned the car for almost 10 years before selling it to a well-known racer and Porsche enthusiast who restored the car before selling it again. From there, 904-012 was sold to a Belgian Porsche nut who called the car “a young man’s dream” and kept it as his own for 34 years.

The 1964 Porsche 904 GTS formerly owned by Robert Redford which will be sold at Scottsdale Car Week by Bonhams. The 1964 Porsche 904 GTS formerly owned by Robert Redford which will be sold at Scottsdale Car Week by Bonhams. The 1964 Porsche 904 GTS formerly owned by Robert Redford which will be sold at Scottsdale Car Week by Bonhams.

Thanks to its period of competition and celebrity ownership, 904-012 – which now boasts an early two-liter 911 engine and a new clutch – would make a great entry into both historic races and high-speed rallies.

“Now inviting consideration by serious Porsche connoisseurs who are missing the legendary 904 in their collection, this fine example of the sports racing icon would crown most collections and is sure to be welcomed at any major Concours d’Elegance and vintage racing events,” according to Bonhams.

The 1964 Porsche 904 GTS formerly owned by Robert Redford which will be sold at Scottsdale Car Week by Bonhams. The 1964 Porsche 904 GTS formerly owned by Robert Redford which will be sold at Scottsdale Car Week by Bonhams. The 1964 Porsche 904 GTS formerly owned by Robert Redford which will be sold at Scottsdale Car Week by Bonhams.

Including a history file documenting the car’s race positions and its restoration, the lot will likely be one of the most popular items in the Arizona desert next month.

For more information on Redford’s ride or the auction – which is taking place January 19 – head over to the Bonhams site.

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