08/13/2026
George Barber never got to drive a Porsche 906. He ordered one of the new lightweight homologation specials to replace a 904 damaged in the 1965 12 Hours of Sebring. When the factory stepped in to dictate his co-driver, however, Barber canceled his order.
This 906 is one of three Porsche reproduction projects currently underway at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. Some years ago, Barber saw an advertisement for a 906 in a car magazine and asked Senior Restoration Technician Lee Clark to look into it.
Barber struck a deal, with the car to be delivered complete, minus the engine and transmission. Circumstances surrounding the coronavirus pandemic delayed fulfillment, so Clark picked up the body and rolling chassis and trailered it to Birmingham.
“I spent a lot of time finishing the car and correcting some things, like modifying the chassis to accept a 3.2-liter 911 engine and type 915 gearbox,” said Clark. “Our intent was to build a car that we could easily maintain with available parts so we can demonstrate it.
“When I first drove it, the engine sounded great, the transmission shifted well, and the brakes stopped the car. Casey Hooper at Eurasian Auto Service set up the chassis, and I’ll do a final test drive after I install a driver’s harness.” Somewhere, George Barber is smiling.
Photo: Wes Johnson/Sparks Photography
