917 short-tail – the Le Mans winners of 1970 and 1971
Two further highlights of the special exhibition are both winning vehicles of the Le Mans 24 hour race from
1970 and 1971. In 1970, Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood drove the 917 KH (short-tail) with start number
23 and in the world-famous red-white Salzburg Design to the first of so far 19 overall wins for Porsche at the
circuit on the River Sarthe. The following year, Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep managed to repeat this
success. Covering a distance of 5,335 km with an average speed of 222.3 km/h, they set two records that
were to remain unbeaten for 39 years.
A detailed look at the fascinating technology of the Porsche 917
Alongside seven other 917 models – including the 917 PA Spyder, which became a test car with 16-cylinder
engine, as well as the long-tail and turbo versions – the special exhibition also provides an in-depth insight
into its technology. The fine art of the twelve-cylinder engine designed by Hans Mezger is illustrated by
numerous small exhibits such as crankshafts, piston and cylinder sleeve sets, camshafts and turbochargers.
Glass-fibre components from the restoration phase of the 917- 001 demonstrate the high standard of body
construction at the time.
The 911 Turbo shows how racing technology has made its way into series production with components such
as the turbocharger and the brake system. With this model, the turbo technology previously used with
success in the 917/10 and 917/30 found its way into a Porsche production sports car in 1974. A short time
later – for the 1978 model year – the 911 Turbo also benefited from a brake system which had previously been
developed for the 917 in a very similar form. The fixed brake callipers were manufactured from light alloy
material, just like in the racing car, and had four pistons.
The 917 as an inspiration for Porsche engineers and designers
Two further exhibits demonstrate the extent to which the 917 has also remained in the minds of Porsche
engineers and designers across the decades. In 1970, a studio model was created on a scale of 1:4, which
was originally one of the draft designs during the development of the 917/20 “Pink Pig”. This model was further
developed by the team under Anatole Lapine, the Head of Design at the time. They turned it into a visionary
future vehicle which even had a computer unit in addition to its streamlined body.
More than 40 years later, the designers once again picked up the theme of the 917 – this time in the form of a
concept study from 2013 with the title “917 Living Legend”, which the Porsche Museum is presenting to the
public for the first time as part of this special exhibition. This 1:1 model was created in modelling clay for the
return of Porsche to the LMP1 elite class of endurance racing, and the objective of further overall wins in Le
Mans associated with this. A small team of designers, aerodynamic experts, package specialists, chassis
and drive technicians designed this tribute to the legendary 917 with start number 23 in “Salzburg design” in
just six months.
The history and technology of the 917 come alive
Visitors can experience the “racing car of the century” with a total of six toolboxes: alongside the fascinating
technology of the 917, they reflect the racing world of that time, the brand sponsorship, as well as the transfer
of technology from the 917 to subsequent Porsche racing and series production vehicles. Interactive media
stations enhance the visitors’ experience of the history of the 917 – using multimedia presentations with
gripping film scenes from races of the day.
A real racing atmosphere and anniversary book
The special exhibition, which probably has the highest horsepower rating of any so far, is rounded off with
numerous racing posters and small exhibits. For the 50th anniversary of the 917, the Museum shop is also
selling a special range of 917 products, including the anniversary book entitled “Colours of Speed – 50 Jahre
Porsche 917” (Colours of Speed – 50 Years of the Porsche 917) published as part of the “Edition Porsche
Museum”, along with a barbecue apron designed as a tribute to the 917/20 “Pink Pig”.
The Porsche Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 am to 6 pm. All relevant information can be found
at www.porsche.de/museum.
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