This Uncommon Street-Legal 911 Hides an Authentic F1 Engine | Carscoops

      Prost secured third place at the 1987 Hungarian Grand Prix with this engine.

      8 hours ago

      by Brad Anderson

      This vehicle is equipped with the identical 1.5-liter twin-turbo V6 from Prost’s 1986 Formula 1 car.

      It is one of only 11 units produced, having recorded a mere 311 miles on the odometer.

      At Monterey Car Week, it is anticipated to sell for between $1.8 million and $2.1 million.

      A few years back, Lanzante caught the attention of the Porsche 911 restomodding community by unveiling a revamped 1988 911 Turbo fitted with a historic Formula 1 engine, which became known as the TAG Turbo. Just 11 of these remarkable cars were created, and one, with only 311 miles (500 km) on the clock, is now slated for auction.

      The auction house estimating the sale values this car between $1.8 million and $2.1 million at the forthcoming Monterey Car Week auction. This model is uniquely painted in Mintgrün and was initially delivered to the US before returning to the UK, where Lanzante upgraded and serviced it in March.

      Road-ready Formula 1 heritage

      Each TAG Turbo produced is equipped with an engine that competed in the F1 world championship. This particular car features the 1.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engineered by Porsche for the McLaren MP4/2 and MP4/3, which was branded as TAG, a shareholder of the British racing team at the time.

      This engine powered Alain Prost’s vehicle during the 1986 German Grand Prix and the 1987 Hungarian and Japanese Grands Prix. In the Hungarian race, Prost achieved a third-place finish, indicating that this engine has driven an F1 podium finisher.

      The turbocharged V6 generates 510 hp delivered to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. To prepare the engine for the demands of street driving, Cosworth installed new pistons, connecting rods, valves, valve springs, turbochargers, and oil heat exchangers.

      In addition to its authentic race car engine, the TAG Turbo features lightweight carbon fiber body panels. It includes two radiators positioned behind the front grille and a custom engine cover housing tailored intercoolers, while the interior has been rejuvenated with new black leather, green and blue fabric inserts, and one of Porsche's updated sound systems.

      For those interested in a 911 restomod with a narrative as intriguing as its performance, RM Sotheby’s listing deserves attention. This isn't just a rare Porsche; it connects the racetrack to the road in a manner that few vehicles can. Check out the listing here.