One to Buy: ex-Gulf Racing 1970 Porsche 917 K
/
Although Porsche’s back catalogue is filled with beautiful and successful machinery, the iconic Group 4 / 5 917 raced between 1969 and 1971 remains unmatched in terms of status and desirability.
Conceived to exploit the FIA’s decision to halve the 50 vehicle homologation requirement for Group 4 Sports cars (a category where engines of up to five-litres were permitted), the 917’s arrival made the Group 6 Prototype class (where a three-limit engine was imposed) an irrelevance.
Following some major investment from Fiat, Enzo Ferrari took the challenge to Porsche with the 512 S, but aside from victory at the 1970 Sebring 12 Hours, the Ferraris were vanquished that season and the Maranello firm pulled the plug on a works programme for 1971.
In addition to its stellar results (to include Porsche’s first outright wins at the Le Mans 24 Hours), the Group 4 / 5 917 wore some of the most iconic liveries in motor sport history; thanks primarily to the Gulf Oil-backed John Wyer Automotive Engineering squad, Porsche Salzburg and Martini Racing, the 917s remain etched in the memory of racing fans.
Currently on offer at the Fiskens showroom in central London is a 917 campaigned by the John Wyer team at Le Mans in 1970. Chassis 026 was driven by David Hobbs and Mike Hailwood but failed to finish after it aquaplaned and crashed into a stationary Alfa Romeo during the fifth hour. However, chassis 026 (which wore number 22 in the race) proved the inspiration for the winning car in Steve McQueen’s seminal movie Le Mans.
After its outing at la Sarthe, chassis 026 was rebuilt back at the Porsche factory as a 917 Spyder. For carnet reasons it was fitted with chassis plate 031 and is thus often referred to as 917-031/026.
For 1971 chassis 026 was sold to Team Shell Heckersbruch and raced by Jurgen Neuhaus in a stunning yellow and red livery. After one race in 1972, the 917 passed to George Loos whose team campaigned it until 1973.
In recent times chassis 026 has undergone an exacting restoration back to its 1970 Le Mans trim.
