The Porsche 917 is a German racing car that was first presented to the general public in 1968. Its series production started the same year and lasted until 1968. Production was concentrated in Stuttgart, Germany. Only 25 units of this car were produced for the commercial market.
The Porsche 917 was developed as a successor to the brand’s other racing cars: the 907 and especially the 908, and its designer was Hans Mezger. In terms of design, it was very clearly based on the 908 model. Compared to its predecessor, the Porsche 917 differed primarily in a much more powerful drive unit, as it used Type 912 engines with a capacity of 4.5 to 5 litres, compared to the maximum 3-litre engines in the “908”. The aerodynamics of the new car were also significantly improved and the dimensions of the vehicle were changed, which – as it turned out on the tracks – improved grip and traction. The car turned out to be successful and gave Porsche the desired victories in the Le Mans races in 1970 and 1971.
