Friday 25th June 2010

Pic Of The Week: Porsche At The Targa Florio

A brace of 908s steeped in 'eau de 1970s'

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As road races go, the Targa Florio has to be one of the most glamorous, gruelling and legendary of them all. Although the 11-lap race around the 45-mile Circuito Piccolo delle Madonie in Sicily was last held in 1977, its evocative legacy lives on.

One of the greatest eras of the Targa Florio was the early seventies, when the race was still a world championship sportscar event, and Alfa, Porsche and Ferrari prototypes streaked through sleepy Sicilian villages.

Of this era the nimble Porsche 908, which won in 1969 and 1970, is perhaps the most memorable of all the Targa winners - and Porsche is very kindly bringing along a pair of the stubby-but-wonderful racers to this year's Festival of Speed.

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So to celebrate this we've delved into Porsche's archive to retrieve these two gems, possibly the two most 1970s pictures in existence.

We love the total and unashamed absence of any form of safety barrier in the black-and-white photo, but it's the period detail and nonchalance of the colour snap that really gets us. Presumably this is a test snap while an 'official' publicity photo is set up, but the cupped cigarette, relaxed atmosphere and carelessly discarded newspaper make it immensely appealing and full of wonderful period detail.

Colour image
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WideScreen (1440x900)
SuperSize (2048x1536)

Black-and-white image
Normal (1280x1024)
WideScreen (1440x900)
SuperSize (2048x1536)

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[R66STU]

You dont see race cars that small very often these days.
cool

[TimmmyT]

Back in a time when life could be lived without nanny states ruining any sort of fun and desperately trying to take away any risk. Okay I was only one myself at the time but it just makes me realise how controlled life has become and makes that black and white picture all the more awesome.

[nelly_h]

On the black and white one, love the fact that in amongst the photographers peeking out from doorways, there's some chap ambling home. Excellent.

[timbo48]

That's Jo Siffert, isn't it?.....Love the car.

[freedman]

timbo48 said:

That's Jo Siffert, isn't it?.....Love the car.

Siffert, Wyer, not sure, Elford?

[chevronb37]

For me 1972 was tge zenith for the Targa with Elford/Marko in the T33 going toe-to-toe with Merzario/Munari in the 312PB. I can understand why it ceased to be, but what a wonderful snapshot of the great days of Italian road racing.

[soad]

Looks almost like a tin toy cars at the first glance. Superb!

[Galsia]

Awesome picture!

[ManOpener]

soad said:

Looks almost like a tin toy cars at the first glance. Superb!

Don't the 908's (or it might be 909's) weigh something like 350kg? That might be why.

[L100NYY]

freedman said:

timbo48 said:

That's Jo Siffert, isn't it?.....Love the car.

Siffert, Wyer, not sure, Elford?

Jo Siffert 1970

[Pwig]

TimmmyT said:

Back in a time when life could be lived without nanny states ruining any sort of fun and desperately trying to take away any risk. Okay I was only one myself at the time but it just makes me realise how controlled life has become and makes that black and white picture all the more awesome.

Or just get yourself to the Isle of Man for the TT

[lightweight]

not wishing to win pedent of the week but surely the 3 JW cars and the Saltzberg car is 4 cars so 2 Brace?

[dinkel]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wnZq9KBBfc

Alfa and Ferrari:







Ford GT roadster:

[Daveyraveygravey]

The B&W pic is stunning, the only thing that "dates" it is the car. It could be a Model T, C type of F1 there almost!

[Eviltad]

I'm loving these retro pictures. Desktop done, but would I be able to pass any of them off as wall art?

[freedman]

L100NYY said:

freedman said:

timbo48 said:

That's Jo Siffert, isn't it?.....Love the car.

Siffert, Wyer, not sure, Elford?

Jo Siffert 1970

I know, I said it was Siffert

[LukeBird]

Fantastic!

Love the B&W.

[torchy6]

Thanks for the pics, awesome period of history.

[EX51GE R]

dinkel said:

Ford GT roadster:

i have a picture of that car too taken from the original negative and signed by both drivers.

Edited by EX51GE R on Friday 25th June 21:33

[loudlashadjuster]

Beautiful, evocative cars.

Says something that a great POTW like this only gets 20 comments where a piece about any old rehashed Ford or Renault hot hatch will get 200+ comments though