There are automobiles, after which there are legends. Automobiles that draft into the zeitgeist to outline an period, happening to be lusted after, talked about, and revered for many years to come back.
It’s an almost inconceivable process, however one which the 1969 Porsche 917K Chassis Quantity 917-022 has effortlessly completed, capturing lightning in a bottle to develop into a permanent icon in each motorsport lore and popular culture. The celebs aligned, cementing its standing as one of the vital recognizable race automobiles of all time.
A STAR IS BORN: MCQUEEN’S ACQUISITION
From the outset, this Porsche 917 was destined for greatness. After leaving the manufacturing unit in West Germany
in 1970, it was bought by Hollywood’s high-octane insurgent, Steve McQueen, via his Photo voltaic Productions firm.
McQueen, an avid motorsports fanatic, had simply completed second on the 12 Hours of Sebring in March 1970, driving a Photo voltaic Productions Porsche 908/2 alongside Peter Revson. Fueled by this success, McQueen set his sights on not solely producing a movie concerning the world’s biggest endurance race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but additionally competing within the occasion himself. His formidable plan was to drive a Porsche 917K, with none aside from Sir Jackie Stewart as his co-driver.
Nonetheless, the dream of racing at Le Mans got here to an abrupt halt when Cinema Middle Movies, a manufacturing firm concerned within the making of Le Mans, forbade McQueen from collaborating. Their considerations over the monetary dangers—if McQueen had been to be injured or worse—in the end outweighed his ardour to compete.
A DRIVE IN THE COUNTRY AT 200MPH: FILMING LE MANS
Undeterred, McQueen shifted focus to telling the story of the storied race on display. The newly acquired Porsche 917 was shipped to northwest France, prepared for its starring position in Le Mans (1971), now considered one of the vital genuine and uncooked depictions of motorsport ever captured.
The manufacturing itself was as grueling because the races it sought to recreate. Filming started throughout the true thirty eighth working of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June 1970 and stretched on for months. In entrance of fifty,000 spectators, 19 cameras, operated by a 45-member crew, had been positioned across the monitor to report the high-octane motion.
However the true technical innovation got here from McQueen’s group. They entered a Porsche 908 geared up with front- and rear-mounted cameras into the precise race to movie alongside the opponents. The automobile not solely completed eighth, but it surely additionally captured greater than 70,000 toes of footage, providing viewers unprecedented views and views of the race.
THE HEART OF THE STORY: MCQUEEN’S PURSUIT OF AUTHENTICITY
To make sure full authenticity, McQueen enlisted a group of 221, together with prime drivers and 45 cameramen. After the race, Andrew Ferguson, a British racing group supervisor, arrange a specialised racing division to prepare filming, hiring 56 skilled drivers and sourcing 25 of the world’s quickest automobiles, together with 4 Porsche 917s, Ferrari 512s, and extra. This dedication to realism outlined Le Mans.
On the heart of the manufacturing was the Porsche 917-022, with its aerodynamic design and iconic Gulf Oil blue-and-orange livery. Because the hero automobile pushed by McQueen’s character, Michael Delaney, it turned a logo of the movie’s high-speed drama.
McQueen himself carried out stunt driving in 917-022, a automobile specifically outfitted for manufacturing. For these sequences, crews connected digicam brackets to the automobile’s framework, enabling intense in-car pictures of McQueen and his co-drivers at velocity. Remarkably, these mounting factors stay intact at the moment, an enduring testomony to the automobile’s position in capturing a few of the movie’s most thrilling moments.
In Le Mans, McQueen begins the race in 917-022, bearing the well-known Gulf Oil No. 20 livery. Though his character crashes out of the race, the true automobile survived. Cleverly, the filmmakers used Lola T70 chassis disguised with Porsche bodywork for crash scenes, preserving 917-022 for later use. Some declare the automobile was repainted as No. 21 in sure scenes, however there’s little question about its starring position on display.
Reverse McQueen’s Porsche 917, German actor Siegfried Rauch performed Delaney’s Ferrari-driving rival, whereas Elga Anderson supplied sturdy assist. Nonetheless, Le Mans wasn’t a typical Hollywood movie. Critics famous its documentary-like really feel, praising its uncooked, unfiltered give attention to precise wheel-to-wheel racing—giving the film a visceral realism that continues to be impactful at the moment.
Particular results had been overseen by Sass Bedig, well-known for orchestrating the long-lasting chase scene in Bullitt involving McQueen behind the wheel of a 1968 Mustang, outrunning henchman in a sinister black Dodge Charger. As in Bullitt, the place McQueen did his personal stunts, his dedication to authenticity in Le Mans solidified his place as each a critical actor and a real gearhead.
SUCCESS ON THE CIRCUIT: RACING HISTORY POST-LE MANS
After filming for Le Mans wrapped, Porsche 917-022 embarked by itself storied journey, transitioning from film star to full-out race automobile as soon as once more. In 1971, it was bought by Reinhold Joest, an completed driver and future racing legend who bought his begin successful hillclimb races within the German mountains. Joest, who would later win the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 6 Hours of Nürburgring (twice) and information his group, Joest Racing, to an astounding 15 victories at Le Mans, campaigned 917-022 with Staff Auto Usdau Racing. Alongside Porsche manufacturing unit driver Willi Kauhsen, Angel Monguzzi, and Joe Siffert, Joest loved nice success through the 1971 World Producers Championship season, additional cementing the legacy of 917-022 on the monitor.
By 1975, Joest determined to half methods with the legendary machine, promoting it to Porsche manufacturing unit driver and seasoned endurance competitor and race Corridor of Famer Brian Redman in January of that yr. Notably, Redman had raced within the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Porsche 917K that bore the identical blue-and orange Gulf Oil No. 20 livery because the 917-022 seen in McQueen’s movie.
Three years later, Redman handed 917-022 alongside to his good friend and fellow Porsche driver and World Championship Grand Prix veteran, Richard Attwood. Attwood, who had piloted a Porsche 917K to victory within the 1970 Le Mans race, campaigned 917-022 in numerous European historic racing occasions. At one level throughout his possession, Attwood selected to refinish the automobile in a hanging red-and-white livery, echoing the Salzburg 917K he and Hans Herrmann drove to Porsche’s first total win at Le Mans in 1970.
Attwood held onto 917-022 for over twenty years earlier than deciding to half with it in 1999. Previous to the sale, he had the automobile restored to its iconic blue-and orange Gulf Oil livery, paying tribute to its starring position in Le Mans. The automobile was bought by famend Porsche collector Frank Gallogly, who, in 2001, handed it on to comic, tv star and passionate Porsche fanatic Jerry Seinfeld.
THE LEGEND LIVES ON: THE RESTORATION OF 917-022
Since becoming a member of Jerry Seinfeld’s spectacular assortment, 917-022 has develop into a outstanding fixture at prestigious automotive occasions, together with the Monterey Historic Car Races, the Pebble Seashore Concours d’Class in 2009 and once more in 2021, and the Porsche Rennsport Reunion V in 2015.
As we speak, Porsche 917-022 is extra breathtaking than ever, due to a complete overhaul by Cavaglieri Restorations in Van Nuys, California. The first aim was to return the automobile to its authentic screen-used specs whereas revitalizing its mechanical parts. Specialists from Ed Pink Racing Engines in Van Nuys dealt with the engine rebuild, whereas John Bunin and Adrian Gang introduced their specialised experience to the transmission, bringing the automobile’s powertrain again to its peak efficiency.
As a part of the trouble, a brand new gasoline cell was custom-fabricated to match the unique unit. Throughout the challenge, the 917K’s body was pressure-tested for cracks and leaks, with repairs made as needed. Each the four-wheel hydraulic ventilated disc brakes and the four-wheel unbiased suspension underwent magnafluxing and refurbishment.
Accomplished in August 2024, this meticulous transformation included a repaint of your entire automobile, even returning the body to its authentic black end. The enduring blue-and-orange Gulf Oil No. 20 livery from Le Mans, proper right down to the expertly put in new graphics, was meticulously and accurately matched to its grand on-screen look.
PRECISION ENGINEERING MEETS RACING DOMINANCE
The immense enchantment of 917-022 extends properly past the cinematic highlight. The mannequin was a terrific competitor, first showing within the 1969 season and securing victory on the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans with a red-and-white instance with #23 livery pushed by Richard Attwood and Herrmann taking prime honors. One other victory was secured at Le Mans in 1971 with a blue and white 917 being pushed to first place by Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep.
Chassis No. 917-022 is powered by its authentic, matching-numbers Sort 912 4494cc DOHC air-cooled 180-degree V-12 engine, paired with a 4-speed all-synchromesh handbook transaxle. This powerhouse setup contains Bosch mechanical gasoline injection, with an 88mm bore and 66mm stroke, and a ten.5:1 compression ratio. The result’s a formidable output of 580 BHP at 8,400 RPM and 366 lb-ft of torque at 6,800 RPM, making the Sort 912 engine a formidable pressure each on the monitor and within the annals of motorsport historical past.
WORLDWIDE APPEAL: AN AUCTION FOR THE AGES
There are unforgettable film automobiles, heart-pounding race opponents, and timeless classics owned by beloved superstar figures. But, it’s a uncommon rolling gem that manages to infuse all these alluring parts into one gorgeous bundle.
Porsche 917-022 is that distinctive automobile, seamlessly mixing cinematic historical past with real motorsport pedigree. From its iconic position on the silver display to its real-world racetrack efficiency, it’s a outstanding piece of automotive artistry, eternally linked to these pop-culture legends, Steve McQueen and Jerry Seinfeld.
But it surely’s not time to roll credit or drop a checkered flag, as its story isn’t over. The one-of-a-kind, star-studded 917-022 is ready to cross the public sale block at Mecum’s 2025 Kissimmee public sale, The World’s Largest Collector Automobile Public sale®.
Because it takes heart stage underneath the Florida solar, the world will probably be watching as this spectacular car shatters data and secures its legacy as one of the vital sought-after treasures in automotive historical past.
