From narrow ribbons of tarmac to historical battlegrounds of speed, the Porsche 911 ST lived, breathed, and fought its way to racing glory during an era dominated by higher displacement engines and bulkier bodywork. While the world was roaring with the sounds of V12s and the scent of burnt rubber, and Porsche was building towards glory with racers like the 917, behind the scenes their engineers had been quietly forging a beast that would live in the hearts of purists forever. Initially based on the 911 S and extensively reworked to feature high-compression pistons, larger valves, mechanical fuel injection, and race-spec camshafts, the ST was Porsche’s secret weapon, designed to unleash terror among cars boasting far more power than the ST's 270 horses. While many left Stuttgart and immediately tackled the apexes of circuits like the Nürburgring, Spa Francorchamps and Le Mans, other STs would find their groove tearing up iconic road rallies like the Targa Florio and Monte Carlo Rally. Now, the ST belongs to the highest echelons of the Porsche dynasty; a model so rare it’s likely even some of the most esteemed car spotters are yet to find a real one. And yet, on this particular day high up in the very same Monegasque mountains in which the car earned its fame, M.C.C. Monaco brought together four 911 STs who traded paint in period with some of racing’s best. Let’s take a closer look at each one’s journey…
1970 Porsche 911 ST - Chassis 911031010
Regarded by M.C.C. Monaco as the jewel among a quartet of glistening gems, this ST boasts an illustrious racing pedigree, having competed in both the 1970 and 1971 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 1970, it secured a class victory in the GT class and an impressive 7th overall, piloted by Erwin Kremer and Nicolas Koob, finishing just behind the dominant Attwood–Hermann Porsche 917 and the Posey–Bucknum Ferrari 512S.
Beyond its Le Mans glory, this 911 ST would also go on to claim class wins at equally-legendary circuits, including a win at the Monza 1000 km, the Spa 1000 km, and the Nürburgring, among other prestigious events. Now, this 911 is presented in wonderfully restored condition throughout, and is ready to be enjoyed to its fullest once more, either in historical rallies or at events such as Le Mans Classic.
1970 Porsche 911 ST - Chassis 9110301003
Built for the year 1970 and delivered new to Porsche works driver Hans Herrmann, chassis 9110301003 exemplifies the rugged spirit of long-distance motorsport we all know and love so fondly. The car would change hands over to Swiss privateer Pierre Greub, who campaigned this 911 for multiple years, entering it into the 1971 Targa Florio and claiming a highly respectable 8th overall finish. In the same year as the relentless Italian endurance race, Greub entered the ST into the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which would sadly lead to Greub and his privateer team retiring due to camshaft issues with the car. 1971 would also see the car finish 17th overall at the gruelling Nürburgring 1000 km.
Determined to right the wrongs of 1971’s Le Mans efforts, Greub return to Circuit de la Sarthe in 1972, and the car would race through the Dunlop bridge one more time in 1973, making it one of the most decorated 911 STs in history, with more than 20 period entries to its name. After the heavy toll of endurance racing, the car underwent a factory-correct restoration by German experts Roock Sportsystem. Incredibly, this ST still boasts its original engine, serving as a true testament to just how infallible Porsche’s creations were during an era where racing was arguably at its hardest!
1971 Porsche 911 ST - Chassis 9111300612
If the two STs we’ve already mentioned were endurance racers, chassis 9111300612 was an all-out sprint star. Leaving Stuttgart in 1971, only to be used as Porsche’s press car for a short amount of time, this 911 was then registered by the brand and resprayed in ‘Martini Silver’. Just three years prior, at the start of 1968, advertising unrelated to racing was permitted for the first time on the bodywork of racing cars, which would first appear on a Porsche: the 910 raced by Scuderia Lufthansa Racing Team in April of 1968. For this 911 ST to be painted in such a significant colour suggests Porsche’s intentions of a potential sponsorship, but the car would then be sold to famed Porsche tuner Louis Meznarie in 1972 and its path to sporting glory was set.
Within a few months of acquisition, Meznarie had entered the car into a flurry of hardcore events, including the Mont Ventoux Hill Climb and French Grand National, which the ST won on both outings. While this car, arguably the most potent of today's quartet due to its 2.4-litre flat-six and kerb weight of just 930 kilograms, may not have multiple Le Mans entries under its sculpted body, that win during the 1972 Grand National is arguably just as impressive. This event was a high-speed tour of France that totalled over 3,000 kilometres, spanning mountain passes and wide open roads aplenty.
1970 Porsche 911 ST - Chassis 9110301138
Finally, chassis 9110301138 enjoyed similar successes to its siblings featured above. A slightly earlier car that was produced in 1970, this ST was destined for German racer Hans Braun, who had entered multiple events since the early 1960s. While other STs were tackling some of France’s best racetracks and rally stages, this example stayed closer to reality with entries at Circuit d’Albi, Dijon and Circuit de Pau-Ville. It did eventually venture north of France, being entered into the Zandvoort Junioren Trophy in 1971, where it claimed a podium position. Now, once again, this ST has been treated to a wonderful restoration and presents itself as an ideal candidate to dominate historical events once more.
Regardless of which one you’d go for, these four examples serve as a reminder that the Porsche 911 ST is more than a race car. It is a statement of intent from a manufacturer that has always prioritised performance through engineering excellence, and models like the ST represent the unwavering determination to achieve racing glory, be it in the hands of their works drivers or plucky privateers looking to make a name for themselves. In today’s market, the ST is by far one of the most collectable of 911 variants, with very few making it onto the collector car market, which makes M.C.C. Monaco’s quartet all the more special!
