Matt Farah Hits L.A. Streets in a Le Mans Prototype Race Car!

Ever wondered what it would be like to sit on the 405 in a $1.5 million piece of history? This is the Koenig C62.

Most of us have heard the saying “there is a time and place for everything.” However, we think that the good people over at the Los Angeles Porsche Experience Center may not be familiar with the phrase — because they let somebody drive a Le Mans Prototype in mid-day Los Angeles traffic! Did we mention that this car is an historical limited production piece and is worth the price of a couple of new Lamborghini Aventadors?

We introduce you to what is most likely the most unconventional review of the Koenig C62 race car ever done. However, this is no race car anymore. This Le Mans racer somehow is now road-legal. For those unknowing, Koenig Specials (the creators of this machine) made this C62 from an original Porsche 962 race car after the legendary Group C racing series was disbanded. This sudden closure left the brand-new ready-to-race chassis without a purpose. So Willy Konig, founder of Koenig Specials, said something along the lines of “I have an idea.” Only three–yes, three–of these Porsches were converted. The one featured in the video above is the first to be built. Thanks to The Smoking Tire on YouTube, we join host Matt Farah along on his first ride in the iconic C62.

Let’s add a little bit more context to this interesting vehicle. The chassis is powered by a 3.4L air-cooled Carrera engine that makes around 800 HP thanks to two turbos. The car weighs under 2,200 pounds. That’s less weight than a first-generation Mazda Miata, but with 8 times the power. It has a 5-speed dogleg transmission that is geared for 235 MPH (an average top speed for a Group C car at Le Mans on the Mulsanne Straight). According to Farah, he was handed the keys to the C62 with “zero further instruction” and had to “figure it out on my own.”

We’ll be honest with you guys, the 405 freeway in mid-L.A. is not the place you want to figure it out on your own in a 1-of-3 historic race car. However, Farah said he wouldn’t have given up the opportunity for anything. He does clarify, however, “driving this on a public road is an absurd proposition.” After watching this video, we couldn’t agree more. The race clutch is essentially unusable in stop and go, the car scrapes on every dip and bump, and doesn’t make any power until 5,000 RPM. Somewhere between his panic and trying to explain details about the car, Farah manages to keep the car on the road without it exploding or breaking.

The video is without a doubt pure entertainment. We never thought somebody could suffer this much while driving something so cool. Like we said “time and place for everything.”

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