The Porsche 908 programme occupies a pivotal chapter in the marque's prototype history, and the open Spyder variant — the 908/02 — became the weapon of choice on technical, slower circuits. At Watkins Glen in October 1969, chassis number 53, a Porsche works entry, delivered one of the cleanest results of the season: a flat-out win for Jo Siffert and Brian Redman in the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, a round of the World Sportscar Championship.
The 908/02 Spyder: open bodywork, flat-eight precision
Introduced in 1969, the 908/02 Spyder was developed directly from the closed 908 coupe by stripping the bodywork to an open configuration optimised for circuits demanding agility over top-speed stability. Power came from Porsche's air-cooled flat-eight displacing 2997 cc and producing approximately 350 hp. The car weighed around 545 kg, a figure that gave it a decisive edge over heavier rivals on technical layouts. The 908 flat-eight came first, and the 917 flat-twelve was subsequently developed from the same architecture.
Siffert, Redman and the white-and-orange livery at the Glen
Jo Siffert and Brian Redman were among the most effective endurance pairings of the 1969 WSC season, accumulating multiple race wins together. At Watkins Glen, their number 53 908/02 ran in white with orange detailing, entered as a Porsche works entry. The outright win contributed valuable points to Porsche's constructors' tally in a season of intense rivalry with Ferrari. Siffert, who died in a racing accident in 1971 at the age of 35, remains one of the most celebrated Swiss drivers in motorsport history.
The Werk83 1:18 scale model: die-cast detail
Werk83 produces this replica as a die-cast 1:18 scale model car. Werk83 has built a reputation in the collector market for accurate livery rendering and detailed cockpit work on 1:18 racing replicas, with photo-etched components a recurring feature of their releases. Here, the white-and-orange livery, race number 53 and the open Spyder bodywork of the 908/02 are the centrepiece of the reproduction, documenting a confirmed WSC race winner from the 1969 season.
