Driving the Last Porsche 917 to Race at Le Mans

When the Porsche 917 bowed out of international competition in the mid-1970s, few people ever thought they would see the model race in anger again. That all changed in 1981 when one final example-dubbed the 917-K81- was built by Kremer Racing for a final last-gasp tilt at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. What followed was one of the great underdog stories from the world of motorsport. Join us as we fire up the legendary 5-litre flat-12 and take it back where it belongs: the track.
For more information, please visit rmsothebys.com...

[@ianchmp]

What a clear evolution of the 917 from the early cars to this car to the 956 and 962 that followed. Each one a legend.

[@hakkalocken]

The 956 wasn't an evolution of this particular Kremer 917 though. The 936 is the missing link as far as factory evolution is concerned.

[@achilleconte4385]

​@@hakkalocken exactly! Don't forget the Joest Racing TWR too.

[@sirswerve2493]

My Favorite was the CAN-AM series cars.

[@crusherbmx]

I never expected a 917 to be racing at Le Mans in 1981, I never knew it did, or maybe I did know and forgot....I was 10, I had a 917 HO scale slot car that I thought was crazy cool, I had some books that mentioned the car, I knew a lot about it, I knew that it was as old as me....but I don't remember one racing at Le Mans that year.

[@chrisrandom1404]

Ok, hear me out...... a 917 modified to modern hypercar specs with hypercar aero. Just think about it for a minute. BTW, this car is absolutely stunning. A rolling piece of art. Awesome video.

[@yoder903]

@@chrisrandom1404 Yesir, with records that still compete today, and the I believe unbroken 1970 Daytona 45 lap victory

[@maranello78racingdesigns74]

the sound is magic simply and absolutely beauty

[@BMW7series251]

What a superb beast!! Many thanks for posting. All the best, John. (UK).

[@writeStevie]

Lurcy Levis, great little play track!

[@charlescrites-wb9kl]

It did not win the 1969 race at LA Mans

[@cashmoney7660]

Correct it was won by a five-year-old Ford

[@JimNorthBend]

It’s a Porsch-ah.

[@johncarlson8029]

There is no sound on the earth better where engines are concerned

[@TastierBackInThe80s]

A superb piece of content. Very nicely produced and presented.

[@RMSothebysInc]

Appreciate it!

[@Jarek_73]

Well it was more like speaking than driving! We came here to hear the motor not endless list of facts we can google any time we like.

[@yoder903]

I wish those flat 12s weren’t soooo expensive, I would get a 917 kit and put one of those engines in it. I think the engine and transmission are like 4-5mil

[@Normally_aspirated]

That is some of the best audio of the 917 I've ever heard. Anywhere.

[@christophercole3055]

Way too much commentary, not nearly enough aural experience.

[@sandasturner9529]

I wanna see this go head to head with a Jaguar 427 V12 xjr12

[@homerp.hendelbergenheinzel6649]

parental advisory: sound porn xD

[@johnmanley7859]

The sound of that flat 12. Chefs Kiss!

[@kaneshuppert636]

first word was "driving". kinda misleading

[@Predator27007]

Does anyone know this track and where it is?

[@quentindd1952]

😍😍

[@romuloamorim880]

Foi com muita satisfação que vi o retorno do Porsche 917 em 1981!

[@trance9158]

The 917 is the ultimate race car... Love it. Mark Donahue is my all time favorite driver too!!

[@buggyante1]

Such an iconic machine. The 917 will always be in my heart.

[@DonAl9114]

Legend , engineered and manufactured in Germany. 🙃🙃🙃

[@jase6370]

Made aerodynamically stable by the British at JWA

[@brooksobrien5290]

For the 1972 season the 917 was outlawed not 1973. And it's "Por-sha" not " porch".

[@fernandogarcia2944]

Porsche is actually pronounced as he pronounced it. Porsche even did a whole video on how to pronounce it, it's 16 seconds long but explains that it's pronounced "Por-shuh", not "Por-sha". "Porch" is really close to "Por-shuh".

[@ducedevlstear2471]

Get out boys, it's not Porscha, it's not Porshuh, it's simply Porsche.
So don't go high on your own farts.

[@trance9158]

​@@fernandogarcia2944 Wrong... Even Porsche states how the proper pronunciation is and it's Porschaaaaa

[@trance9158]

Look up Feli from Germany she even tells you how it's pronounced

[@markfarnon6742]

Anyone know what it fetched at the auction?

[@loonatticat]

$3,370,150 USD or 2,648,750 British Pound sterling

[@markfarnon6742]

@@loonatticat wow, thanks.

[@maxhofer3223]

this car looks a little bit strange to other 917 s…….?!

[@slowery43]

maybe watch and pay attention to the video

[@andrefranca3697]

This one ran in 1981. The swansong for the 917.

[@fredklink4492]

Poor-sha! Not "porsh". It's a family name so show them some respect and pronounce it correctly. Otherwise, great video.

[@JohnDoesItAll]

Porsh I sez

[@fredklink4492]

@@JohnDoesItAll That's OK if you don't mind being wrong. Do you say Chev-row-let? Or Dahdgee? Also family names.

[@cashmoney7660]

Limey pronunciation

[@trance9158]

It's Porschaaaaa

[@jean-marcpoirier9340]

Not a replica with a flat 6 🤣 or a V8 😱

[@sleebanger]

price guide?

[@jamesgilbert-e8f]

3.5 to 5 million euros

[@MetalSimVR]

​@@jamesgilbert-e8fWhy this range?