#50 Years of the Porsche 917

[mensfactory]

Bruce’s unfinished masterpiece...

Titled ‘Bruce’s Unfinished Masterpiece’ in honour of Bruce McLaren, the founder of McLaren, the M6GT is the latest race car to be stripped bare in INK’s signature minimalistic aesthetic. INK’s commemoration of McLaren’s vision revives the lost history of a car that almost slipped into obscurity.

An homage to speed and form in the purest sense, the Plainbodies series takes historical race cars and peels away their classic liveries to reveal the practical beauty in the bodies underneath. Rendered in white, the McLaren M6GT is the latest to join a line-up that includes the Ferrari 250 GTO, Ferrari 330 P4, Ford GT40, Jaguar D-Type, Porsche 917 and Porsche 959, to name a few.

Bruce McLaren, pioneering race car driver, designer, and engineer, began to conceive of the M6GT in the late 1960s, imagining it as the fastest road car in existence. Bruce McLaren’s vision for the M6GT is the genesis for all McLaren road cars. Based on the latest race technology, the M6GT was superlight, blistering quick, confidence inspiring and safe, and continues to define the McLaren brand today.

In 1969, new manufacturing regulations required McLaren to build 50 identical models of the M6GT car, a requirement that McLaren could not meet at the time. This rule would ultimately doom the M6GT, leaving it confined to the pages of history as an unfinished masterpiece.

Unfortunately, just one year later in 1970, Bruce McLaren passed away and his vision for the M6GT died with him. His legacy lived on through a race-spec prototype, the OBH 500H, which continues to tell the story of McLaren's innovative ambition to race at Le Mans and deliver a road-legal supercar only a few years after the establishment of his company.

Photos © INK and McLaren Automotive

[itracing]

50 Years of the Porsche 917 – ‘Colours of Speed’ Exhibition

This year possibly the most prominent racing car in Porsche motor racing history is celebrating its 50th birthday: the Porsche 917. The Porsche Museum is honouring the 50th anniversary of the racing sport icon from 14 May to 15 September 2019 as part of a comprehensive special exhibition entitled “50 Years of the Porsche 917 – Colours of Speed”. A total of 14 exhibits – including ten 917 models alone with a total of 7,490 PS – will be on show.

917- 001 restored to its original 1969 condition The Group 4 sports car, which was developed to secure an overall win at Le Mans 24 hour race and to win the World Championship for Makes, was manufactured in 1969 and was the first of a total of 25 vehicles required for type approval. The Number One marks the start of the unprecedented success story of the 917 racing car, and is therefore the highlight of the special exhibition. For more than a year, museum mechanics, former technicians and engineers from Zuffenhausen and Weissach, the Porsche AG historic archive, as well as partner companies, have worked on restoring this first 917. It is now in exactly the same condition as it was on 12 March 1969, when it was presented to the world at the Geneva Motor Show.

917 short-tail – the Le Mans winners of 1970 and 1971 Two further highlights of the special exhibition are both winning vehicles of the Le Mans 24 hour race from 1970 and 1971. In 1970, Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood drove the 917 KH (short-tail) with start number 23 and in the world-famous red-white Salzburg Design to the first of so far 19 overall wins for Porsche at the circuit on the River Sarthe. The following year, Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep managed to repeat this success. Covering a distance of 5,335 km with an average speed of 222.3 km/h, they set two records that were to remain unbeaten for 39 years.

A detailed look at the fascinating technology of the Porsche 917 Alongside seven other 917 models – including the 917 PA Spyder, which became a test car with 16-cylinder engine, as well as the long-tail and turbo versions – the special exhibition also provides an in-depth insight into its technology. The fine art of the twelve-cylinder engine designed by Hans Mezger is illustrated by numerous small exhibits such as crankshafts, piston and cylinder sleeve sets, camshafts and turbochargers. Glass-fibre components from the restoration phase of the 917- 001 demonstrate the high standard of body construction at the time.

The 911 Turbo shows how racing technology has made its way into series production with components such as the turbocharger and the brake system. With this model, the turbo technology previously used with success in the 917/10 and 917/30 found its way into a Porsche production sports car in 1974. A short time later – for the 1978 model year – the 911 Turbo also benefited from a brake system which had previously been developed for the 917 in a very similar form. The fixed brake callipers were manufactured from light alloy material, just like in the racing car, and had four pistons.

The 917 as an inspiration for Porsche engineers and designers Two further exhibits demonstrate the extent to which the 917 has also remained in the minds of Porsche engineers and designers across the decades. In 1970, a studio model was created on a scale of 1:4, which was originally one of the draft designs during the development of the 917/20 “Pink Pig”. This model was further developed by the team under Anatole Lapine, the Head of Design at the time. They turned it into a visionary future vehicle which even had a computer unit in addition to its streamlined body.

More than 40 years later, the designers once again picked up the theme of the 917 – this time in the form of a concept study from 2013 with the title “917 Living Legend”, which the Porsche Museum is presenting to the public for the first time as part of this special exhibition. This 1:1 model was created in modelling clay for the return of Porsche to the LMP1 elite class of endurance racing, and the objective of further overall wins in Le Mans associated with this. A small team of designers, aerodynamic experts, package specialists, chassis and drive technicians designed this tribute to the legendary 917 with start number 23 in “Salzburg design” in just six months.

The history and technology of the 917 come alive Visitors can experience the “racing car of the century” with a total of six toolboxes: alongside the fascinating technology of the 917, they reflect the racing world of that time, the brand sponsorship, as well as the transfer of technology from the 917 to subsequent Porsche racing and series production vehicles. Interactive media stations enhance the visitors’ experience of the history of the 917 – using multimedia presentations with gripping film scenes from races of the day.

A real racing atmosphere and anniversary book The special exhibition, which probably has the highest horsepower rating of any so far, is rounded off with numerous racing posters and small exhibits. For the 50th anniversary of the 917, the Museum shop is also selling a special range of 917 products, including the anniversary book entitled “Colours of Speed – 50 Jahre Porsche 917” (Colours of Speed – 50 Years of the Porsche 917) published as part of the “Edition Porsche Museum”, along with a barbecue apron designed as a tribute to the 917/20 “Pink Pig”.

The Porsche Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 am to 6 pm. All relevant information can be found at www.porsche.de/museum.

[rennsportwagen]

This weekend we are celebrating 50 years of victories for Porsche at Le Mans, and we couldn’t do it without evocating the 917 !

One of Porsche’s most victorious race cars, it is notably famous for bringing the 24 Hours Of Le Mans trophy to the Stuttgart house in 1970 and 1971.

After several more successes in GT championships all around the world in the early 70′s, the 917 became a true legendary race car. Ahead of its time, an engineering work of art and perfection, even by today’s standards this machine stays a beast capable of excellent results. An example : the 917 set the record of the longest distance covered during the 24h Of Le Mans 1971, we had to wait until 2010 to see this record beaten by the winning french Peugeot team.

But the 917 truly became iconic after being featured and Steve McQueen’s film Le Mans. Any time one thinks of the Le Mans now, the pictures of the orange and light-blue Gulf Porsche comes to the mind.

The Porsche 917 at Le Mans : https://youtu.be/grDe7gi5pQI https://youtu.be/c9EtKZUDHY0 https://youtu.be/j9XCEM4S2yY https://youtu.be/3mM1Ms0vqjc

Porsche at Le Mans - The Definitive History : https://youtu.be/Y0lQLPUTFa8

Porsche 917/043 Long Tail "Hippie" Le Mans 1970 : https://youtu.be/9cBfzhJREZk

James may with the Porsche 917 : https://youtu.be/dQpflffL8rA

I hope you enjoy a great Saturday, take care of yourselves !

[blakejphotography]

Celebrating 50 years of the definitive Porsche racecar - the Porsche 917 @pebblebeachconcours @porsche @porsche.museum ______________________________________ #carweek #monterey #california #pebblebeach #pebblebeachconcoursdelegance #concoursdelegance #pebblebeachconcours #ferdinandporsche #porsche #porsche917 #917 #50thanniversary #driveon2021 #blakejphoto (at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTBnMhGLnWl/?utm_medium=tumblr

[clubmulholland]

Not my 9 most-popular images, but it’s nine images that summarise another very special year. From top left, clockwise: • 1. @clubmulholland Iceland Grantour. _An unbelievable adventure that created life-long memories. What a place. • 2. @teamperfectcircle GT3R. _To be a part of this was amazing. From testing at Silverstone and Donington; to designing the livery and racewear; to working with @denis_plesca and @tomwheatley.eu on the films and images; to going to South Africa to watch my friend @frisco_911 realise a 50 year dream at @kyalami9hour. Very, very special. • 3. Planning @rennsportcollective. _Hugely ambitious event that brought together Porsche owners of very special Motorsport-inspired cars. Building the ‘Collective’ community has been amazing. • 4. @rennsportcollective Event. _It all came together. In July we had over 80 very special Porsches, curated by colour, at @donington.hall. Some amazing cars, brilliant photographic talent, and plenty of people visiting that all like their Porsches to have a little motorsport flavour. • 5. @clubmulholland Wales Grantour. _Trackday and driving in wonderful Wales. Great few days with friends new and old. • 6. @24hoursoflemans _My 21st Le Mans in a row. @clubmulholland event with @astonmartinracingofficial Hospitality. Love it. • 7. @rennsportcollective Trackday. _Theres plenty of choice for Porsche events nowadays, but we combine ours with an unrestricted Trackday too. Porsche 917 running next to a 2.8RSR next to a new GT2 RS. Just fabulous. • 8. @clubmulholland Alpine Grantour. First of two week-long drives on amazing roads. Who cares how big your garage is or how many cars you you have. Take them out, and drive them. Hard. • 9. @clubmulholland Sicily Grantour. _Great trackday at @autodromopergusa followed by driving @targaflorioofficial and the incredible roads around Mount Etna. The volcano spitting lava whist we had front row seats sipping G&T’s at @belmondgrandhoteltimeo. • Thanks to everyone that supported the events or came on the drives. Already have a 2020 event schedule that will give 2019 a run for its money! @rennsportcollective will be at @stowehouse on 08.08.2020 so make sure you save the date! (at Stowe, Buckinghamshire) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6v97o3DEwI/?igshid=1hly0cvp6sxw6

[carsthatnevermadeitetc]

Porsche 917 Concept, 2014. To be part of the Colours of Speed – 50 Years of the 917 exhibition that opens on May 14 at the Porsche Museum. Originally proposed as a concept car that would pay homage to the Porsche 917 which won the company’s first overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970, the 917 Concept never advanced beyond the clay-model stage. The Porsche Museum exhibition will be the first public appearance of the model that was created as a foil-clad design study in 2013 but then put into storage 

[itcars]

The Porsche 917 Concept Study – Celebrating a Legend

The 917 concept study is an homage to the 917 from 1970 that achieved the company’s first overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Get a closer look in this video or visit the special exhibition „50 Years of Porsche 917 – Colors of Speed” in the Porsche Museum to see this design study in person.

[1boblog]

This day, exactly 50 years ago, the Porsche 917 was presented to the public at the 1969 Geneva Motor Show.

[uncrate]

Porsche 50 Years of the 917 Exhibition

[latestnewsplus]

Porsche Releases Photo of the Special Concept Vehicle for the 50th Anniversary of 917

Porsche first introduced the 917 to the world 50 years ago at the Geneva Motor Show. Today he is celebrating his 50th anniversary by presenting us with a concept car that will keep our mouths open. In 1970, Porsche released a photograph of the concept car, which honored the first 917 winners of Le Mans. The company did not provide much detail, but the car is presented as a concept study designed by a small designer and engineer team. The concept is also expected to be exhibited at the 50th Anniversary of the 917 Exhibition, to be opened at the Porsche Museum on May 14 this year.

The number 23, which won the first Le Mans, '23' is proudly displayed in the concept. At the same time the car was decorated with red and white lines, which were fashionable in the 1970s cars. This concept is not the only one Porsche announced today about 917. Porsche also announced that the first 917 produced in 1969 was restored to its original condition and that it would be exhibited in the museum with its concept vehicle. Porsche said the priority was to reuse and protect parts of the original car as much as possible, but had to replace the body parts removed from the front and rear parts and the parts at the rear of the aluminum field frame.

Porsche did not participate in any race with this first 917. However, he kept the vehicle as a test and presentation tool throughout his life. The car was painted several times and in 1970 a short-tailed version was also tried. Porsche introduces the vehicle in Geneva with a white body with a green front. Porsche exhibits the same colors in the vehicle museum. Read the full article

[beecam]

(via Porsche celebrates 50 years of the 917 at the Porsche Museum - Acquire)

[theloudpedal]

Porsche Paradise: Rennsport Reunion IV

Starting this Thursday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is the return of Rennsport.  The Rennsport Reunion VI returns to the rolling hills of Salinas in what will be a full sensory overload of all things Porsche.  It is a living and breathing display of Porsche history for four full days that will by all predictions, rival and surpass anything in the automotive and motorsports world.    We covered the last Rennsport Reunion back in 2015 and were blown away at the size and atmosphere of the event.  We live and breath cars and car culture, but we left the last one in utter silence taking days to process what we witnessed.  It was so much we wrote about it in two separate post here and here.

This time around, Rennsport could be even bigger, if that’s even possible.  This year is also the 70th anniversary of the brand, creating what is sure to be additional motivation to make it an unforgettable weekend.  The theme this year is “Marque of Champions��� which will highlight the legends of the brand: championship-winning Porsche race cars, the engineers who designed them and the men who drove them to victories around the world.  Approximately 50 legendary drivers, 500 historic and customer cars, including 350 cars in competition, and the full Porsche Factory racing team will be in attendance. As a highlight, the original 356 “No. 1” Roadster will be on display, giving all Porsche enthusiasts a look at the car whose shape, dynamic design, and lightweight construction has inspired all Porsche sports cars. 

This year will also feature a historic line up of Porsche drivers.  Hurley Haywood, the most successful American endurance driver ever; Brian Redman, co-creator of Porsche Rennsport Reunion and racing driver extraordinaire, Vic Elford, who is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his legendary 1968 season, Norbert Singer, lead engineer known as the father of the Porsche 962 as well as the man behind the Carrera GT V10 engine; and Jacky Ickx, six-time Le Mans winner.  Overall, there will be 50-plus legendary drivers on hand.

Twelve current Factory Drivers will also be at the Monterey track, including Patrick Long, Earl Bamber, Timo Bernhard and the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans GTE Pro winning trio of Kévin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor and Michael Christensen. 

Porsche will also demonstrate something unexpected, Tractors.  Porsche manufactured tractors until 1963 in partnership with industrial firm Mannesman, and on Saturday and Sunday two Porsche tractors will take to the track, Le Mans style as drivers will run to their tractors and start the engines in a race over the first five corners of the track.  The race is expected to take 15 minutes.

We will bring you sights and sounds from that snails paced spectacle and from any others that happen over the weekend. Stay tuned on our Facebook and Instagram pages if you want to follow along. We will bring you all the Porsche action we can this weekend and in the weeks to follow.

Schedule:

FRIDAY, September 28, 2018

7:00am Gates Open

7:00am - 5:00pm Registration: Embassy Suites, Seaside 8:00am - 8:25am Practice Group 1 - PCA Sholar-Friedman Cup

8:35am - 9:00am Practice Group 7 - Flacht Cup

9:10am - 9:35am Practice Group 6 - Stuttgart Cup

9:45am - 10:15am 919 Exhibition Laps

10:15am - 10:40am 917 Exhibition Laps

10:50am - 11:15am Practice Group 3 - Eifel Trophy

11:25am - 11:50am Practice Group 2 - Werks Trophy

11:50pm - 12:55pm LUNCH

12:00pm - 12:20pm PCA Parade Lap (120)

12:20pm - 12:45pm 911RSR Exhibition Laps

12:55pm - 1:20pm Practice Group 4 - Weissach Cup

1:30pm - 1:55pm Practice Group 5 - Gmund Cup

2:00pm - 2:20pm 918, 911R & GT2RS Parade Laps

2:20pm - 2:45pm Practice Group 7 - Flacht Cup

2:55pm - 3:20pm Practice Group 3 - Eifel Trophy

3:25pm - 3:45pm Parade/Exhibition laps of Porsche Racing History

3:45pm - 5:45pm Concours on Pit Lane

4:00pm - 5:30pm Photo & Video track time

SATURDAY, September 29, 2018

7:00am Gates Open

7:00am - 5:00pm Registration: Embassy Suites, Seaside

8:00am - 8:25am Qualifying Race Group 1 - PCA Sholar-Friedman Cup

8:35am - 9:00am Qualifying Race Group 5 - Gmund Cup

9:10am - 9:35am Qualifying Race Group 4 - Weissach Cup

9:35am - 10:20am 919 Exhibition Laps

10:20pm - 10:45am Practice Group 6 - Stuttgart Cup

10:50am - 11:10am 918, 911R & GT2RS Parade Laps

11:15am - 11:40pm Qualifying Race Group 3 - Eifel Trophy

11:50am - 12:15pm Qualifying Race Group 2 - Werks Trophy

12:15pm - 1:55pm LUNCH

12:25pm - 12:50pm 911RSR Exhibition Laps

12:50pm - 1:10pm PCA Parade Laps (120)

1:15pm - 1:45pm Tractor Race

1:55pm - 2:20pm Qualifying Race Group 7 - Flacht Cup

2:25pm - 2:45pm 959 Gathering, R Gruppe & 356 Outlaw Parade Laps

2:50pm - 3:15pm Qualifying Race Group 6 - Stuttgart Cup

3:20pm - 3:40 pm Parade/Exhibition laps of Porsche Racing History 3:40pm Pre Race

3:45pm - 4:10pm RACE Group 3 - EIEFEL TROPHY

4:20pm - 4:45pm RACE Group 2 - WERKS Trophy

4:55pm - 5:15pm 917 Exhibition Laps

5:30pm - 6:10pm Photo & Video track time

SUNDAY, September 30, 2018

7:00am Gates Open

7:00am - 12:00pm Registration: Embassy Suites, Seaside

8:00am - 8:25am Warm-up Group 1 - PCA Sholar-Friedman Cup

8:35am - 9:00am Warm-up Group 5 - Gmund CUP

9:00am - 9:20am PCA Parade Laps (120)

9:25am - 9:50am Warm-up Group - 4 Weissach Cup

10:00am - 10:25am Warm-up Group 7 - Flacht Cup

10:25am - 10:45am Parade/Exhibition of Porsche Racing

10:45am - 11:10am Warm-up Group 6 - Stuttgart Cup

11:10am - 11:35am 959 Gathering, R Gruppe & 356 Outlaw Parade Laps

11:35am - 12:00pm RACE Group 1 - PCA Sholar-Friedman Cup

12:05pm - 12:30pm 911RSR Exhibition Laps

12:10pm Podium, Race Group 1, 2, 3

12:30pm - 1:00pm 919 Exhibition Laps

1:00pm - 2:20pm LUNCH

1:10pm - 1:35pm 917 Exhibition Laps

1:40pm - 2:10pm Tractor Races

2:25pm Pre Race

2:30pm - 2:55pm RACE Group 4 - WEISSACH CUP

3:05pm - 3:30pm RACE Group 5 - GMUND TROPHY

3:35pm - 4:00pm 918 911R & GT2RS Parade Laps

4:05pm - 4:30pm RACE Group 6 - STUTTGART CUP

4:30pm - 5:00pm Photo & Video track time

4:45pm Podium, Race Group 4, 5, 6

5:00pm - 5:25pm RACE Group 7 - Flacht Cup

5:35pm Podium, Race Group 7

Download Schedule

Download Entry List

GALLERY FROM 2015 RENNSPORT

[oldtimeracing]

Roush Ford Mustang at Sebring 1986 by Louis Galanos Via Flickr: Two Roush prepared Ford Mustangs were entered at Sebring in 1986. The #50 Roush Mustang was sponsored by Folgers and driven by NASCAR stars Bill Elliot and Ricky Rudd. They managed to finish 5th overall, second in class behind the Roush prepared #7 Ford Mustang sponsored by 7-Eleven and driven by Scott Pruett and Olympian Bruce Jenner. Both Mustangs finished on the same lap in what some call a controversial finish. It was controversial because Bruce Jenner went to the wall to use a signal board (radios were not working) to call his teammate (Pruett) in for a pit stop. However, Jenner "mistakenly" showed it to the other team car (which was leading in class) being driven by Rudd. This early and unnecessary pit stop for the Rudd/Elliot Mustang cost them time and at the end Jenner and Pruett were able to win their class by 10 seconds ahead of teammates Rudd and Elliot. Were the actions of Jenner a "mistake", or something else. I leave it to you to draw your own conclusions. Motorsports trivia: This was the last year for the full 5.2 mile 12 turn racing circuit that used airport runways and taxi ways. The Feds had finally put an end to that. A big surprise that year was the Roush Mustangs were turning laps as fast as the Porsche 917s and Ferrari 512s had back in 1970. Imagine if you could go back in time to 1970 Sebring with a Roush Mustang. I would like to see the look on Pedro Rodriguez's face when you blow by his 917 Porsche in your Mustang.

[clubmulholland]

50 years ago, David Piper won the #Kyalami9h driving his Porsche 917, wearing the @teamperfectcircle livery. An 8 year old boy, named Andre was there and that started a passion for Motorsport that would never subside. 50 years on and @frisco_911 will be competing in a Porsche in the Kyalami 9h himself. The second film on this great story is now live, link in bio. Filmed by @denis_plesca with @mulhollandcreative for @teamperfectcircle and @rennsportcollective. https://www.instagram.com/p/B1FBLP1jy9C/?igshid=1h8czsjpzld8z

[carsthatnevermadeitetc]

What a difference 50 years makes Juxtaposition of Porsche 917-01, 1969 and Porsche 917 Concept Study, 2019. Porsche is celebrating 50 years since the presentation of the 917-01 at the Geneva Motor Show on 12 March 1969 but re-presenting the original 917-01 in fully restored condition alongside a 917 Concept study that pays homage to the first Le Mans victory of 1970. From May 14 to September 15 2019, the Porsche Museum will honour the 50th anniversary of the 917 with an extensive special exhibition entitled “Colours of Speed – 50 Years of the 917”. A total of 14 exhibits – including ten 917 models – will be on display.