906-001
September 18, 2003

Here are pictures as we disassemble 001.

Undoubtedly, these rivet holes were to mount an additional running light?? The ID light is blue, when lit, it would tell the team the driver is ready to come in for driver's change, fuel, tires, etc.
Remember, there were no radios in early 1960s.

This sticker is real cool. It is the tech sticker from 1966. We will remove the windshield, crate it and return it to its owner in Germany. Hopefully, Klaus will put this on a pedestal, keeping it for museum purposes only. We will make a new sticker and stick it on a remanufactured windshield. The 904 Store is where we get some of the rare parts for these 904s, including the windshield and windshield rubber. Notice the second key on the hood. Somewhere down the road, somebody decided to make the front hood lockable. This is an ingenious way to keep nosy people out.

Trick, trick, trick. This car has so many really cool parts that other 904s don't. Notice the center fill gas tank. This tank is the only one I have ever seen that has strengthening creases on the face of the tank and the sides. The other picture shows an additional horn. Undoubtedly, this baby makes some noise.

The suspension looks the same, but that is where it stops. Instead of rubber flan blocs, all the control arms were mounted with pin bearings, same as the big sister 906 prototypes.

The shocks are different and the mounting perches they sit in are different.

Brake reservoirs are mounted under the dash! All the gauges, relays, and water bag are exactly how they were because no one has ever messed with them.

The wire harness under the dash is like new.

Take a look at the black buttons on the headlight cover. And look at the brake duct glued at each end.

You can see the extra large holes on the headlight bucket. The other picture shows plastic retainers that actually hold the headlight cover on. I have seen these on two other 904s. The reason they are plastic is that when they are installed, they are just pushed into the hole (the plastic has an expanding end which holds it tight). When you break a headlight cover during a race, you risk damaging the headlight (no headlight - no see), plus the car becomes less aerodynamic (Mulsanne straight). With the plastic retainers, you can change a headlight cover in 1/8th the time, really cool!!

Disassembly was a gang bang. Seven guys stripped the car in two days.

Pictures were taken of every aspect of disassembly (more than 300 photos were taken).
The owner will get all the photos and you will see a select few.

After the car was stripped, it went on the frame table to make a new stand that enables us to turn the car upside down.

This is a copy of our other stand which has 067 upside down. The stand will come off 067 and 068 will get it while the bottom of it is being done.

Jack and I are steam cleaning the dirt between the cockpit and the floor.

The car was in pretty clean condition. Remember, this car didn't have a very rough life because it was parked between 1966-1967 through 2003.

We always check the chassis to make sure there is no rust. The tape identifies where we cut the chassis open both in the front and the rear.

The frame rails looked really great, so we sprayed rust inhibitor inside and welded up the holes.

Front is welded, rear is about to be welded.

<< Previous Update | Next Update >>