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The Porsche 917 Story

A brief look at one of the most famous race cars ever made.

Porsche 917 Featured Stories

Unlock The Porsche 917 with our Special Features. These are our exclusive, members-only stories packed with rare documents, behind-the-scenes stories and insights into this dominant racing machine you won’t find anywhere else.

Porsche 917 Variant Guide

There’s no shortage of prominent number combinations at Porsche, but the sequence 9-1-7, at least when it comes to racing, is the most famous of all. It stands not only for the most powerful and fastest Porsche race car to date, but also for an entire generation of racing cars that only changes to the rules—not competitors on the track—could stop. Between 1969 and 1973 a total of 13 "versions" of the Porsche 917 were made. Below we go through each one in our individual model guides.

Notable Porsche 917 Cars & Chassis Numbers

Discover the stories behind the most iconic Porsche 917s ever built in our Notable Porsche 917 Cars & Chassis Numbers section, highlighting the legends, victories, and unique histories tied to each chassis.

What racing success did the Porsche 917 achieve?

The Porsche 917 achieved legendary racing success and played a pivotal role in establishing Porsche as a dominant force in endurance motorsport. Developed in the late 1960s, the 917 initially struggled with high-speed stability, but once refined—particularly with the introduction of the 917K (Kurzheck, or "short-tail")—it became nearly unbeatable. Its combination of raw power, cutting-edge aerodynamics, and bulletproof endurance made it one of the most successful and revered race cars of all time.

The most historic milestones came at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the 917 secured Porsche’s first overall win in 1970, followed by another in 1971. In 1970, Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood took victory in a 917K run by Porsche Salzburg. A year later, Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep won again, driving a magnesium-framed 917K that set a distance record (5,335 km) that stood for nearly 40 years. These back-to-back wins at Le Mans were transformative for Porsche, lifting the brand from class competitor to overall victor on the global stage.

Beyond Le Mans, the 917 dominated the World Sportscar Championship, claiming numerous victories at iconic tracks like Daytona, Sebring, Monza, Spa-Francorchamps, Brands Hatch, and Zeltweg. It won the World Championship for Makes in 1970 and 1971, solidifying its status as the most fearsome endurance racer of its era. With drivers like Pedro Rodríguez, Jo Siffert, Brian Redman, and Derek Bell behind the wheel, the 917 became synonymous with victory.

Later, in its turbocharged 917/10 and 917/30 variants, the car went on to dominate the North American Can-Am series, particularly in 1972 and 1973. In 1973, the 917/30, piloted by Mark Donohue for Team Penske, delivered one of the most overwhelming seasons in motorsport history. With over 1,000 horsepower, the 917/30 crushed the competition, helping Donohue clinch the Can-Am title and cementing the car’s legacy as a race-winning machine in both Europe and North America.

All told, the Porsche 917 won nearly every major endurance event it entered between 1970 and 1973 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest race cars ever built. Its combination of innovation, power, and success reshaped the future of sports car racing and forever altered the trajectory of Porsche's motorsport legacy.

What engine did the Porsche 917 use?

The Porsche 917 was powered by a mighty flat-12 engine—an air-cooled, naturally aspirated powerhouse that became one of the most iconic racing engines in motorsport history. Designed from the ground up for endurance racing, this engine was unlike anything Porsche had built before, both in scale and performance.

The original version of the 917 engine debuted in 1969 with a 4.5-liter displacement, producing around 580 horsepower. Over the next two years, Porsche developed the engine further, increasing its size to 4.9 liters and eventually 5.0 liters, with output reaching up to 630 horsepower in race trim. It featured dual overhead camshafts per cylinder bank, twin ignition, and a dry-sump lubrication system—crucial for long-distance reliability.

This flat-12 wasn't just powerful—it was a marvel of engineering. Its design was incredibly compact for a 12-cylinder unit, helping Porsche maintain balance and keep the car’s center of gravity low. The distinctive shriek of the 917’s flat-12 at full throttle became an unforgettable soundtrack of the early 1970s racing scene.

When Porsche entered the Can-Am series, they took the 917 to the extreme by adding twin turbochargers. The result was the 917/10 and later the 917/30, which used a 5.4-liter turbocharged flat-12 capable of producing up to 1,100 horsepower in race trim, and reportedly over 1,500 hp in qualifying. The 917/30, driven by Mark Donohue, is still considered one of the most powerful race cars ever built.

In short, the Porsche 917’s flat-12 engine wasn’t just the heart of a legendary race car—it was a milestone in racing engine design, combining endurance, efficiency, and jaw-dropping performance in a way that defined an era.

What made the 917 so special?

The Porsche 917 was special because it represented the moment Porsche transitioned from being a class winner to an outright dominator on the global motorsport stage. It wasn’t just a fast race car—it was a technological leap, a powerhouse, and a symbol of bold ambition that redefined what was possible in endurance racing.

At its core, the 917 featured a radical air-cooled 4.5- to 5.0-liter flat-12 engine, delivering up to 630 horsepower in its Le Mans-winning configuration. The engine was lightweight, compact, and symmetrically balanced, making it ideal for the rigors of long-distance racing. Its scream down the Mulsanne Straight became legendary, but it wasn’t just about power—it was about endurance, innovation, and precision. Later turbocharged variants for the Can-Am series pushed output beyond 1,100 horsepower, making it one of the most powerful race cars ever built.

What truly elevated the 917 to icon status, however, was its success. It delivered Porsche's first overall win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970, followed by another in 1971. It dominated the World Sportscar Championship, and then conquered North America in the Can-Am series with the monstrous 917/10 and 917/30. It wasn’t just fast in a straight line—it could go the distance, lap after lap, with stunning reliability and composure.

But perhaps what made the 917 most special was its mythic status. It pushed drivers to the edge. It intimidated with its speed and presence. And it symbolized a golden era of motorsport where innovation came fast, rules were flexible, and courage defined champions. The 917 wasn't just a race car—it was Porsche’s bold declaration that it belonged at the very top of the racing world—and it delivered, spectacularly.

How fast was the Porsche 917?

The Porsche 917 was one of the fastest race cars of its era, and even by today’s standards, its top speeds and acceleration remain jaw-dropping. How fast it was depended on the specific variant and the circuit setup, but in almost every configuration, the 917 pushed the limits of speed and engineering.

The original 917s, such as the 917K (Kurzheck or "short-tail"), used for endurance racing at places like Le Mans, Monza, and Daytona, could reach top speeds of around 220 to 240 mph (354 to 386 km/h). On the long Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans, the 917’s streamlined Langheck ("long-tail") bodywork allowed it to maximize straight-line performance, reaching well over 240 mph in testing conditions.

Acceleration was equally impressive. Thanks to its lightweight construction and flat-12 engine producing up to 630 hp, the 917 could go from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds, a remarkable feat for a 1970s-era car.

The speed only increased with the turbocharged 917/10 and 917/30 Can-Am variants. The 917/30, often cited as the most powerful race car ever built, produced upwards of 1,100 to 1,500 horsepower depending on boost settings. It could reach top speeds in excess of 250 mph (402 km/h) and accelerate from 0–100 mph in under 5 seconds—performance figures that rival modern hypercars.

In short, the Porsche 917 wasn’t just fast for its time—it was terrifyingly fast, revolutionary, and a true benchmark of speed that helped redefine what race cars could do on the world’s biggest stages.

How many Porsche 917s were made, and what are they worth today?

Porsche originally built 25 units of the 917 in 1969 to meet the FIA’s homologation requirement for Group 4 sports car racing, which mandated a minimum of 25 production examples. These cars were part of a bold effort by Porsche to go after overall wins in endurance racing, particularly at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Once homologated, the 917 program expanded significantly. Over the next several years, Porsche developed a range of variants—including the short-tail 917K, the long-tail 917LH, and later, the turbocharged 917/10 and 917/30 for Can-Am racing. While production numbers vary slightly depending on how test mules and rebuilds are counted, it’s generally believed that Porsche built between 50 and 60 chassis in total across all versions from 1969 through 1973.

Today, the Porsche 917 is one of the most valuable and desirable race cars in the world. Its rarity, combined with its immense historical significance, makes it a true holy grail for collectors. Cars with notable racing histories—especially those with Le Mans entries or victories—can command well over $15 million, with some sales reaching into the $18–20 million range. The 917 that won Le Mans in 1970, chassis 917-023, is held by the Porsche Museum and is considered essentially priceless.

Due to their scarcity and legacy, 917s rarely come up for public auction. When they do, they draw global attention from museums, collectors, and investors alike. The Porsche 917 isn't just a symbol of racing dominance—it's a rolling piece of motorsport history, and one of the most revered machines ever built.

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