1970 Porsche 917 Explained
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 มี.ค. 2020
- The Porsche 917 is a sports prototype race car developed by German manufacturer Porsche. The 917 gave Porsche its first overall wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970 and 1971.
Powered by the Type 912 flat-12 engine of 4.5, 4.9, or 5 litres, the 917/30 Can-Am variant was capable of a 0-62 mph time of 2.3 seconds, 0-124 mph in 5.3 seconds, and a test track top speed of up to 240 mph.
The car was designed by chief engineer Hans Mezger and was built around a very light spaceframe chassis weighing only 93 lb which was permanently pressurized with gas to detect cracks in the welded structure.
Power came from a new 4.5-litre air-cooled engine designed by Mezger, which was a combination of 2 of Porsche's 2.25L flat-6 engines used in previous racing cars.
The original 4.5-litre engine, which had produced around 520 bhp in 1969, had been enlarged to 4.9-litres making 600 bhp to 5-litres and produced a maximum of 630 bhp. The 917K models were generally used for the shorter road courses such as Sebring, Brands Hatch, Monza and Spa-Francorchamps. The big prize for Porsche however, was Le Mans. For the French circuit's long, high speed straights, the factory developed special long tail bodywork that was designed for minimum drag and thus highest maximum speed. On the car's debut in 1969, the 917L proved to be nearly uncontrollable as there was so little down force. In fact, they generated aerodynamic lift at the highest speeds. For 1970, an improved version was raced by the factory and for 1971, after very significant development in the wind tunnel, the definitive 917L was raced by both factory and JW. These cars were so stable that the drivers could take their hands off the steering wheel at speeds which reached 246 mph.
In 1971 Jo Siffert raced an open-top 917PA Spyder which was naturaly aspirated in the 1971 CanAm series. There is also the "Pink Pig" aerodynamic research version (917/20), and the turbocharged 917/10 and 917/30 CanAm Spyders. Porsche 917s also raced in the European Interseries in various configurations. In the 1973 Can-Am series, the turbocharged version Porsche 917/30 developed 1,100 bhp.
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The car that really put Porsche on the map. There needs to be a movie about this car
My two absolute favorite cars - 917 and 918! :)
I don't blame you for it. What famous machines they are!
This has to be one of the best videos I've seen on the Porsche 917.
Legendary Porsche ever
I own 2 hot wheels of this car and always wondered what it sounded or really looked like and was shocked to see this
I've raced a Porsche 911 at ears Point for 14 years. What I wouldn't give to pedal that beast around this track...
It's too bad Porsche never produced a 2 seat, roadgoing version of this, like Ford did with the GT40. They would have destroyed any street Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Pantera, anything.
It was in its way, incredibly fragile and very basic. With a race car it is stripped back to basics between every race, the chassis tested for leaks (it carried the oil from the cooler in the nose to the engine), the engine rebuilt (they were fragile - blew at 9,500 RPM - gear shift was at 9,400). The bodywork was fiberglass and very thin. I think by the time Porsche made a 917 for the road it would have lost the magic it had as a race car. That said there were a couple of replicas that were road going but without the flat-12 engine which are as rare as hens teeth.
They all have a second seat, it was part of the rules of sports car racing. Even the 962s had a second seat. Usually they weren't much better than a child's seat. I remember reading a story by a journalist after a ride in a Porsche 956 and he mentioned how small the seat was and how uncomfortable it was and that it only existed because of the sports car rules.
@@tonywilson4713 Tony that may have been the ride Peter Brock gave to a journalist at Le Mans in 1983 (possibly - can't remember the actual year). The journalist described being crammed in, his head at an angle to get the helmet in, I don't think there were belts and Brock did a race speed lap.
@@peterlovett5841 I'm Australian so it could easily have been that article. I actually stood beside that car the Melbourne Motor Show. It was a teenage boys 4 wheel orgasm machine.
Years later (late 90s) I had a boss who was into racing cars and had 2 Formula Holdens. One of the mechanics was a brit who had worked on 956s and 962s at Le Mans. Among the freaky things he told me was that some of the teams welded the heads onto those flat 6 motors for the simple reason you can't blow a head gasket if there isn't one.
The craziest shit was that at Le Mans in those days the teams were just 2 drivers. I can remember my bosses drivers getting out of the F-Hs after 1/2 an hour looking like they had done a marathon. So how those guys did 12 hours is reality defying.
@@tonywilson4713 Absolutely, it wasn't long after Brockies Le Mans run that they went to 3 and sometimes 4 drivers for the 24 hours. If I recall that attempt came to an end when Larry Perkins pranged it at something dark o'clock due tiredness.
THAT SOUND.!!!😮😊 I still have an old electric slot car race track set made by Tyco from 1975-76. Two cars included were a red Ferrari, and the the exact color Gulf oil company logo blue copy of the Porsche 917 Lemans car.!! My favorite car ever built.! A Christmas gift at 10 years old from my oldest brother.! A VIETNAM Veteran NCO that was still in the United States Army.!😊 Thanks for posting this video.!!! AWESOME.!!!🥇😉😉😉😁
I've liked the 917s since I saw the movie LeMans in 1971. I was 6. Forever since, I've considered that the perfect racecar shape. Though the Ferrari of the time was beautiful too.
Perfect race car shape? This thing is missing the lower end of its rear🤖
@@cyberdannydmorgan5863 yeah, move that engine up a bit to make space for a nice diffuser and that missing rear end suddenly becomes very useful. If only underfloor aerodynamics would have been a thing back then.
I've read the 917 was a "homologated production" sports car where only 25 needed to be produced (for homologation). For 69-71 "production" cars could have 5 litre engines whereas prototypes were limited to 3 litres. The FIA didn't think any manufacturer would build 25 cars to a new design. Porsche did. I recall Frrrari did with the 512.
RIP HANS MEZGER
Cars like guitars reached their maximum level in 1969
Great car.
Couple of stories I heard differently
1) Mark Donoghue 917/30 CanAm was 257mph
2) 917 Long Tail - on a hot day in testing they noticed the lack of splattered insects around the rear of the car, suggesting why the rear wing was so ineffectual! No air flowing over it!
The 017/30 was the twin turbo model was it not?
@@johncarlson8029 Yes, the 917/30 was the CanAm model. Reputed 1500bhp in qualifying trim.
Not quite such a thing of beauty, but worthy of respect.
Pretty sure it was John Weyer that discovered that, but it may have been ex-Lola designer Eric Broadley.
@@Tj930 I still have 2 Aurora AFX 1/64th scale (HO) 917 Can Am slot cars stashed away. A white/red L&M car, and a blue/yellow Sunoco car.
True.....Late Fall 1969 testing at Osterreichring, in Austria. John Horsman of the Wyer team noticed the many fly splatters on the nose and front of the car, but nothing on the rear flaps. The adjustable rear flaps were then raised incrementally, and test runs made until the flaps were positioned STRAIGHT up (!)....and even THEN there were no bug splats. The air was flowing over the top of the flaps which showed them to be totally ineffective. The Wyer team used plywood and tinsnips to fashion a raised rear tail section, and that took off 3 seconds per lap and the drivers said the car was then immensely stable. That became the 917K a few months later after Porsche took that test resuilt and made a proper rear section....the car won the very next January at Daytona.
I love the Gulf Oil livery of that era.
The greatest race car of all time!!!
I agree 100%
And I add the legendary Porsche 935 "Moby Dick" (1978)
That car is insane!
Love this car and have watched the build of one and hope to just sit in it one day
A 93 pounds space Frame. Holy shit...
Still so beautiful I saw one at Laguna seca couple years ago wow the best.
King of the road. Period. Even the Porsche test drivers were scared of it. It is said that this model n/a engine pulled as hard in 4th as it did in 1st. Can you say serious foot pounds of torque?
Spine chilling sound and none like it on the earth. Simply the most fave badass car ever created. Fuck all the electronics i want the MEAT!
Before the chicane on the Mulsanne straight the short tail 917K would regularly exceed 252 mph at 7900 8000 rpm
I got to know this thing INTIMATELY in Gran Turismo 7's license tests
My ocd is going off on that 21 on the side, favorite lemans era car tho.
Great video. 👍🏻 Which circuit was it filmed at?
Mazda speedway in the Usa
Sears point. Sonoma California
@@billswim Looks like Sonoma Raceway with the rolling hills.
Great production, history and picture quality but why not let the 917 shine Flat Out on the Mulsanne Straight? Get a proper pedal to the floor driver! Demonstrate this thing's raw power, and its sweet, unforgettable roar!
That car is worth millions, which prevents damn fools from owning or driving them. And those vintage tires are 50 years old.
@@donellmuniz590 ...they would not run 50 year old vintage tires today.
@@TheWilferch I hope you're right. Not sure those old Dunlop race tires are being reproduced.
@@donellmuniz590 ...Wyer team had a Firestone contract. Porsche factory team prior ran mostly Dunlop. Most vintage racers of today (at least "some"), run Avon tires.
Damn fools are people who praise cars , and store them in garages for decades💀
The first 917s were evil handling monsters that could snap and kill ya, no matter how skilled you were. I think it was John Weyer who examined the cars, and fashioned an impromptu wickerbill for the tail of Brian Redman's car. Apparently the difference was night and day.
Porsche of Austria developed the langheck version.
Awesome!
And I do mean"sound like that!" I've always been a sports car guy: MGB'S, Triumph TR4A and a Barracuda Formula S. Once got to take a short spin in a 66 Plymouth 2 door stripper. Not even a heater, with a Hemi, close ratio 4 speed and a 4:10 posi. I don't know which scared me the most, the indescribable viisceral power, or trying to get the thing to go around a corner. It had one purpose - quarter mile. No ability to handle or stop. No balance of power to handling whatever. But then that's not what it was built for and the reason they built Barracuda Formula S cars for guys like me. And it was improved when they swapped the 273 hipo for the 340, one of the most underrated engines ever. Man it can wind and pare it with a 3:02 posi and a wide ratio 4 speed and it does everything well. Still won't scream like a 917 or a Ferrari V12 but then it costs about a much as a wheel for one of them.
That thing looks like it's carrying ordnance 🎉🎉🎉
Watch the movie LeMans, fellas. Fast forward thru the chick shit and watch the racing. Best movie racing ever. The 917 is the star, THEN McQueen.
Have you ever seen the "making of" that's available on the DVD?
Most of the cars were Lola T70s because there wasn't enough 917s and Ferrari 512s available and certainly none to crash. But there's a bit where Chad McQueen describes driving with his dad in a 917 down the Mulsane. He sat in has dads lap and at one point his dad took his hands off the wheel and let him steer. He doesn't say how fast they were going but its one of the best father son stories I know of.
That and some of the other stuff is incredible.
What I'd like to know is what would happen if Porsche factory built a batch with a few modern tweeks - Carbon fiber, ABS brakes, launch control,...etc. but keep that magical shape untouched as far as practical.
I wonder how fast they would get sold.
I wonder how many deposits Porsche would get at just a hint it was available.
@@tonywilson4713 Of course, several times. Too bad the ordeal of making the movie RUINED racing for McQueen. Scary stuff about the Manson/Tate murders, Steve and Neile were gonna be there. Also a shame he was such an unfaithful creep. And I cant believe David Piper still OWNS a 917!
@@tonywilson4713 I remember shakin' my head when that dumb blonde actress said there was too much focus on the cars, and not on "romance" in LeMans. Cuz as we all know, there are FAR too many gritty, authentic, realistic racing movies, and not NEARLY enough chick flicks!🙄
@@donellmuniz590 Brilliant on both comments.
Except the unfaithful bit. Which Hollywood guy hasn't been unfaithful at some point? Compared to people like Weinstein and others he was an angel, just not a perfect one.
@@tonywilson4713 Based on what I saw in the LeMans doc, he was really brazen and shameless about it, just like Evel Knievel was. They felt entitled to do as they pleased, while the wives remained faithfully at home. Very cruel. The only good part is, Neile says she and Steve missed the Sharon Tate party because he was off with some floozy that night. That doesn't make it right, though.
We need road cars with boxer-12 engines.
Flat 12's aren't boxers. They're similar, but the opposing pistons share crank-pins like a V-12 except at 180 degrees and the firing orders are drastically different.
At Sonoma Raceway!
Top 3 Fastest Porches Duck s
1. 917/30 Turbo Panzer did 256 mph - 413 km/h on a closed track , 2. Dauer 962 - 251 mph - 404 km/h at Ehra Lessien , 3. 917 LH did 246 mph - 396 km/h in prerace test
Any idea what type of aluminum was used to make the frame?
Apparently, a custom alloy that Porsche had made. Source: Driver61 TH-cam channel.
@@nickssmirkingrevenge Apparently.....
@@jpete190 Fair point. That was an unnecessary application of that word. 😅
It look very different like my favorite car Euro Circuit Racer in burnout 3 takedown and burnout dominator
Which track is this?
I wonder why the Porsche 917 isn't referenced that much, this car is better than Jaguar XJ220!
You must be drunk💀
RIP Jo Siffert
NO MUSIC !!!
It may not be the prettiest. But the Gulf Porsche 917 is phenomenal in every respect!
No it's the prettiest.
Pretty or not- still a beast 🎉
It’s pretty- ugly to me, the rear atleast💀
Who shot this? might wanna get a quieter camera car and a directional mic for the chase shots, you can barely hear the 917.
Ken Miles would love this car if he was still alive. Then again, I don’t he could drive a Porsche after his beef with him and Porsche in the past.
Other than about $25? million, wonder how I can get my flat 6 to sound like that?
♥️😊♥️
Dailey driver, SCOTT'S VALLEY BRUCE CANNEPA
240 mph!!
That fast
The rear killed the looks of the car the original version looked way better. Even if it was unstable💀
Another tidbit of slight exaggeration.....Karl Ludvigsen's excellently-researched book on Porsche, list the 917 frame weight at ( a still incredible).... 104 lbs.
4 thumbs down must be chebby or gm junk owners. No class.
Haha what? The 350 small block has literally moved more vehicles land, sea, and air with more HP/BHP than probably any other engine. It is the most commonly used engine in performance and it's a Chevy. I'm a Chevy/Ford owner and I did not downvote this video. But even I know Honda makes the best engines.
Wait what? For such a rare privilege to shoot & run with a 917 on track, this video is very blah. From shooting to editing this has to be an amateur experiment. Instead of a mike on the 917 an in camera car one picking up all ITS noises is actually used??? With 917 music at your disposal??? Then strangely even that audio vanishes to people talking. The bizarre finale is the lengthy silent time lapse of a 917 just sitting there, no recognizable action nor a word of narration? Wth? 🤔
The start with car sound ,then it goes to shite with "music"!!!
The VW ID R electric will probably top it now decades later
Stop with those miles nonsense. It’s a german car. Kilometres please.