Date of birth : May 11 1940
Deceased : May 24 1981
Biography Herbert Müller
Herbert Müller Rebmann (11 May 1940 – 24 May 1981) was a racing driver from Switzerland. He was born in Menziken. He was the oldest of 3 children and he went to school in Menziken, Reinach, and later Montreux. Herbert Müller wasn’t the tallest and that gave him the nickname Stumpen-Herbie. In 1956 finishes Herbert Müller studies as a metalworker and starts working in his parent’s company. 1960 is not only the year that Herbert Müller marries but he drives his first F3 race too in a Norton with a 4th place overall as a result. In 1964 dies the father of Herbert Müller and he takes over the parental metal company.
1961 was the first time Herbert Müller raced a Porsche. Teaming up with Heini Walter, they raced a Porsche 718 RS60 at the Nürburgring. A crash however made them leave the race. It looks like he must have loved racing in a Porsche. In 1962 he races the complete season in a Porsche 718 RSK. Among other successes, he won the Targa Florio twice. In 1966 Herbert Müller teams up with Willy Mairesse in a Porsche Carrera 6 and the duo won the race. In 1973 he mainly teamed up with the dutch Gijs van Lennep. In a Porsche 911 RSR 2.8, decorated in the iconic Martini livery, Herbert Müller and Gijs van Lennep win the Targa Florio
In 1981 Herbert Müller died while racing the 1000 km Nürburgring in his Porsche 908 Turbo, racing with his longtime friend Siegfried Brunn. Before the event, Herbert Müller stated that he would retire from motorsports after the end of the race. On lap 17 of the race, Müller crashed while attempting to avoid the car of Bobby Rahal who had spun in front of him. He collided heavily with an earth bank and then hit a previously retired car, causing a large explosion and fire. He was dead by the time he was removed from the burning car; he had not been wearing his safety belts at the time of the crash and was killed in the initial impact. The race was stopped after 17 laps and was not completed.
We recommend reading Herbert Müller’s biography “Herbert Müller – alles zu langsam!” which will learn you a lot more about this great driver.
The Porsches of Herbert Müller
Herbert Müller loved to race in Porsche. He thought the brand of Zuffenhausen had a car available for any kind of race. Herbert Müller’s private car used to be a Porsche 911 for a long time, a car he extensively used to drive to the different race tracks in Europe.
Porsche 718 RSK
Porsche 718 RS60
Porsche 356 Carrera Abarth
Porsche 904 Carrera GTS
Porsche 911 Carrera RSR
Porsche 908
Porsche 917
Porsche 934
Porsche 935
Major Race Successes of Herbert Müller
1962 9th class victory and 2nd overall in the Swiss Championship
1963 5th overall in the European Hill Championship
1964 2nd overall in the European Hill Championship
1965 1st overall in the European Hill Championship
1966 1st in the Targa-Florio
1967 Lap record in the Targa-Florio
1971 2nd overall at the Le Mans 24H
1973 1st in the Targa-Florio
1973 Swiss sportscar champion
1974 2nd overall at the Le Mans 24H
1974 Interserie champion
1975 Interserie champion
1976 Interserie champion
1979 4th overall at the Le Mans 24H
