Manufacturer Vern Schuppan Ltd Body style Coupé | Class Sports car Layout RMR layout | |
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Production 1992-93
5 believed to be produced Assembly Modena Cars, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire (final construction) | ||
The Schuppan 962CR was a vehicle built in 1994 by Australian racecar driver Vern Schuppan. It was built as a tribute to Schuppan's 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans victory and 1983 All Japan Sports Prototype Championship title (Schuppan won both driving a Porsche 956). The 962CR is based on the dominant Le Mans-winning Porsche 962 race car of which Schuppan raced and owned with his own team.
The 962CR is a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive vehicle weighing 1,050 kg (2,315 lb). Powering the car is a 3.3-litre Type-935 Flat-6 featuring twin KKK turbochargers giving 600 hp (about 182 hp/L) mated to a five-speed manual transmission. This unit was borrowed nearly directly from the standard Porsche 962 unit used in the North American IMSA GT Championship with a slight decrease in displacement. The car's top speed is 230 mph (370 km/h) with a 0–60 mph acceleration time of 3.5 seconds.
The carbon monocoques were built entirely by Reynard, the body by Schuppan, although it featured design elements from the 962 race car. Assembly took place at the VSL 60,000 ft² race and production facility in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England. Funding was provided by Japanese investors who support Schuppan's race team that ran in the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship.
At just over US$1.5 million in 1994, the Schuppan 962CR is among the most expensive vehicles ever sold new. Rumors circulated for several years that the 962CR was sold new for US$2.5 million, but this rumor was eventually dispelled by author and Porsche enthusiast Karl Ludvigsen who listed a price of ¥195 000 000 (Approximately US$1.9 million at the time).
It is unknown how many Schuppan 962CRs were ever completed, with the number believed to be five. Payment failed to arrive for two of the vehicles after they were shipped to Japan. This, coupled with the high cost of the car's construction and a worldwide economic recession, forced Schuppan to declare bankruptcy, folding his car company.
In November 2014, the #6 built car appeared at Daytona International Raceway on showcase for a Classic 24 hour race. The car was not put on the racetrack but was there for display. The current owners confirmed that it was never put on the road and had 0 miles. The vehicle was believed to be the only one in the United States, and even though 5 were built, there were only 4 remaining in existence due to one being destroyed in a fire.