UK enthusiast Mike Moore’s flawless work in recreating the 1972 2.8 RSR Targa Florio ‘Martini’ Prototype car 107 (below) continues.
Originally purchased from fellow R Grupper and good buddy Gib Bosworth out in sunny Arizona, Mike has brought this already lovely 911 to another level of tribute car excellence, with the help of Porsche expert Neil Bainbridge.
The latest part of the project to receive the Moore/Banbridge treatment was the bonnet. Seeing the pictures as posted by Mike on the Early S Registry message board, I just had to repost them! Mike takes up the story:
“I”d never been happy with the Martini paintwork on the hood. It had been done quickly to get it ready for a Silverstone track day (pic above) soon after bringing the car in but, comparing it with period pictures, the new scheme was too square and boxy, the lines were too straight and the spacing was wrong. When you look at the original car, you see how the real version was much more curvaceous and shapely.”
“At the same time, I wanted to put in a ‘werks’ style fuel filler flap which sits proud on top of the hole in the bonnet. I’d recently found a fantastic paint shop who specialise in custom paint jobs on bikes. I mentioned the bonnet and they said they would try it working just from the period pictures.”
“The pictures show Stuart planning out the design, and following a first quick lacquer coat to see what it looks like. It will be flatted again and we have to tweak the white and fit up the flap, but I’m really pleased. It’s now got the sweeping curves and graduation of the lines I was looking for. The painting of the Martini and Porsche scripts make it really special; Stuart was really pleased with the way the ends of the Porsche word meet the stripes, fantastic.”
While waiting for a call the other day, I made a list of my favourite tribute cars and Mike’s 911 sat very comfortably in the top ten. To build a faithful reproduction of the car would be enough for most people, but Mike has set the bar rather higher: the intention is to run it in the Targa Florio Historic! With this in mind, he has been keeping the FIA informed of his progress.
I can’t help but think that seeing this car on Sicilian soil, ready to run the course as its predecessor did all those years ago, may be an absolutely unmissable event. Taking a classic 911 road trip from the UK to Sicily to watch it happen could be irresistible.
