VIN: the works Porsche 917 Spyder chassis 028
History of chassis 028
Chassis 028 was one of two 917s constructed by Porsche to Group 7 Spyder trim in anticipation of the company’s 1969 Can-Am programme.
The sister car (chassis 027) remained in Germany as a development mule while, following a series of tests at Weissach, 028 was sent across the Atlantic to contest the 1969 Can-Am Challenge Cup where it ran under the Porsche-Audi banner.
Chassis 028 was driven exclusively by Jo Siffert throughout that 1969 campaign, during which the car normally appeared with an array of updates at every outing. 028 was ready in time for round five of the series (Mid-Ohio) after which Siffert contested all the remaining races of the eleven round series.
The new Porsche qualified seventh for its debut and went on to finish fourth. It arrived at Road America two weeks later where Siffert started eighth but dropped out after only six laps with a blown engine.
Chassis 028 then took its first podium finish of the year at Bridgehampton having qualified seventh. This was followed up with a third place start at Michigan. Despite a badly smoking engine, Siffert finished fourth.
Chassis 028 lined up sixth on the grid at Laguna Seca, however, its race was compromised when McLaren’s Dan Gurney misjudged a pass and biffed the Porsche which necessitated an unscheduled stop. Siffert went on to claim fifth with 028 understeering badly as a result of the earlier contact.
Porsche’s penultimate event of the year with 028 came at Riverside where Siffert had his worst qualifying session of the year. He started eleventh owing to an off-colour engine that with a persistent oil leak. The problem could not be rectified for the race and 028 was ultimately black-flagged at quarter distance to post its first DNF of the season.
The Can-Am finale at Texas was also marred by an oil leak and Siffert was only able to qualify ninth. Nevertheless, he finished fourth even though 028’s engine cooling fan broke during the race.
Siffert finished a creditable fourth in the championship standings. However, it was clear that Porsche were still a long way behind the dominant McLarens which had won every race in 1969.
Having been mothballed for 1970, chassis 028 was sold to California Porsche dealer Vasek Polak who ran the car in the 1971 Can-Am Championship for Milt Minter. Meanwhile, Porsche and Jo Siffert returned to the series after a one year absence with the first generation 917-10 which proved much more competitive.
In anticipation of its second coming, 028 was uprated with the latest 4907cc Flat 12 engine, some minor bodywork tweaks and the latest rollover bar.
Now painted white and with a wide blue centre stripe, Minter’s best results in 1971 were a pair of fifth place finishes at Road Atlanta and Edmonton. Bodywork was modified during the year and eventually incorporated ugly shortened front and rear clams.
In this configuration (but with a 4.5-litre turbocharged engine) Sam Posey then did the last two 1972 Can-Am races. He scored a fifth at Laguna Seca and retired with gearbox problems at Riverside.
For 1973, further changes were made to 028.
The ugly modified body was discarded in favour of a new soft nose 1972-type Group 7 Spyder shell. A full five-litre normally aspirated engine was fitted and the white car was given a blue noseband and centre stripe.
Vasek Polak ran 028 for Steve Durst in 1973 whose best result was fifth in his first outing with the car at Mosport. However, unhappy with the old Porsche, Durst later switched to a McLaren M8F run by Motschenbacher Racing.
Before the end of the 1973 Can-Am season, Vasek Polak gave chassis 028 its final revamp.
Polak fitted a turbocharged engine and the full shovel nose bodywork that normally accompanied the forced induction engine.
Polak contracted Brian Redman to drive the plain white car in the last two races of 1973, but Redman failed to finish on either occasion.
In later years chassis 028 joined the Collier collection in Florida, since which time it has been restored to 1969 trim.
Notable History
Porsche (Porsche-Audi)
17/08/1969 CAM Mid-Ohio (J. Siffert) 4th oa (#0)
31/08/1969 CAM Road America (J. Siffert) DNF (#0)
14/09/1969 CAM Bridgehampton (J. Siffert) 3rd oa (#0)
28/09/1969 CAM Michigan (J. Siffert) 4th oa (#0)
12/10/1969 CAM Laguna Seca (J. Siffert) 5th oa (#0)
26/10/1969 CAM Riverside (J. Siffert) DNF (#0)
09/11/1969 CAM Texas (J. Siffert) 4th oa (#0)
Sold to Vasek Polak (Vasek Polak Racing Inc.), Hermos Beach, California
4.9-litre engine fitted
13/06/1971 CAM Mosport (M. Minter) DNS (#0)
27/06/1971 CAM St. Jovite (M. Minter) 8th oa (#0)
11/07/1971 CAM Road Atlanta (M. Minter) 5th oa (#0)
25/07/1971 CAM Watkins Glen (M. Minter) unused (#0)
22/08/1971 CAM Mid-Ohio (M. Minter) 6th oa (#0)
29/08/1971 CAM Road America (M. Minter) DNS (#0)
12/09/1971 CAM Donnybrooke (M. Minter) 7th oa (#0)
26/09/1971 CAM Edmonton (M. Minter) 5th oa (#0)
17/10/1971 CAM Laguna Seca (M. Minter) 9th oa (#0)
31/10/1971 CAM Riverside (M. Minter) 6th oa (#0)
28/11/1971 USC Road Atlanta (M. Minter) DNF (#10)
4.5-litre turbocharged engine fitted
15/10/1972 CAM Laguna Seca (S. Posey) 5th oa (#20)
29/10/1972 CAM Riverside (S. Posey) DNF gearbox (#20)
5-litre engine fitted
10/06/1973 CAM Mosport (S. Durst) 5th oa (#3)
08/07/1973 CAM Road Atlanta (S. Durst) 7th oa (#3)
22/07/1973 CAM Watkins Glen (S. Durst) 7th oa (#3)
12/08/1973 CAM Mid-Ohio (S. Durst) 10th oa (#3)
26/08/1973 CAM Road America (S. Durst) DNS (#3)
917-10 body and turbocharged engine fitted
14/10/1973 CAM Laguna Seca (B. Redman) DNF (#3)
28/10/1973 CAM Riverside (B, Redman) DNF (#3)
Later sold to the Collier Collection, Naples, Florida
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Supercar Nostalgia & Porsche - https://www.porsche.com
