cars news 10: Holy Crap, There’s a New Porsche 935

We’re in the middle of Rennsport Reunion VI, an over-the-top celebration of everything Porsche that takes place every other year. And while we knew Porsche planned to reveal something new, there was no way we could have predicted it would be a new 935.

That’s right. There’s a new 935, and it’s not a concept. Porsche plans to actually sell it. In honor of Porsche’s 70th anniversary, only 77 will be built, each costing an eye-watering €701,948 (a nod to the year the first Porsche 356 was built). In U.S. dollars, that works out to about $817,000, nearly three times the cost of the 911 GT2 RS it’s based on.

“This spectacular car is a birthday present from Porsche Motorsport to fans all over the world,” said Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, Porsche’s vice president of Motorsport and GT Cars, in a statement. “Because the car isn’t homologated, engineers and designers didn’t have to follow the usual rules and thus had freedom in the development.”

The 935-inspired body panels are almost all made from a carbon-fiber composite to keep weight right around 3,000 lbs. And while the styling was heavily dictated by the legendary LeMans car, Porsche says the aero elements are all functional. Even the incredible red wheels were designed to optimize aerodynamics. Like the 911 GT2 RS it’s based on, the 935 is powered by a 700-hp 3.8-liter twin-turbo flat-six and a seven-speed DCT.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, yes, Porsche will offer the new 935 with an optional Martini livery.

Inside, the Spartan cabin is dominated by the 911 GT3 R’s carbon-fiber steering wheel and a single display screen. The wooden shift knob, meanwhile, serves as a nod to previous race cars such as the 917. And since the new 935 is meant to be taken to the track, it comes standard with a single seat, a six-point harness, and a full roll cage. An optional passenger seat is also available for drivers who want to ride with a friend.