The Porsche 917K is one of the most iconic endurance racing cars of the late 1960s and early 1970s, and its status as a legend of the period was cemented in the 1971 film Le Mans.
The film, starring Steve McQueen, depicted a fictionalized version of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, although it used not only real racing footage from the 1970 endurance race, but also scenes shot specifically for the film.
And in it, this car, chassis 917-022, played the leading role, having been purchased from Porsche when new by McQueen’s Solar Productions company to become the film’s hero car.
It’s now about to be auctioned in the US, with its current owner – comedian Jerry Seinfeld – reluctantly parting ways with the 917K.
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Brought to you by Mecum Auctionsthe Porsche is about to leave Seinfeld’s extensive car collection after nearly 14 years of ownership, although it’s the vehicle’s past that will undoubtedly draw high bids.
Although this 917K was finished in the light blue and orange Gulf Oils livery as Porsche’s factory racers and with the number #20 on it, it was originally intended to compete in the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans with McQueen and Formula 1 legend Jackie Stewart. behind the wheel as the #26.
When their entry fell through, it was renumbered #20, which was used in the race by the 917K of Jo Siffert and Brian Redman, who failed to finish.
The most significant changes from the cars that raced for victory at Le Mans were the camera mounts and brackets, all of which are still intact.
The 4.5-liter flat-12 engine was also the same as in the factory-prepared cars, delivering power to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission.
After filming was completed, 917-022 was purchased by Reinhold Joest’s Team Auto Usdau and raced in the 1971 World Sportscar Championship.
After this, Brian Redman – who would later win Le Mans twice in his class – bought the car in 1975, but did not keep it until 1977 when Richard ‘Dickie’ Attwood bought it from him.
Attwood had won the 1970 Le Mans race and had 917-022 finish in the red and white ‘Salzburg’ livery that adorned his winning car – which was also the first Porsche to take outright victory.
It was used by him in historic races until the end of 1999, when the car was returned to Gulf livery and put up for sale.
Noted historic Porsche collector Frank Gallogly purchased the 917K at an auction in Monterey in 2000, but Seinfeld subsequently acquired it from him in 2001 after being advised to invest in McQueen-related vehicles.
A restoration of 917-022 was completed in August last year by Cavaglieri Restorations, although 917-022 still sports the iconic colors it raced in Le Mans.
In a video promoting the sale, Seinfeld described the 917K as “the best car I’ve ever owned.”
A price estimate has yet to be released, but it’s expected to be well above the $1.32 million Attwood sold it for in 2000 – equivalent to about $2.42 million/$3.9 million today.
The auction record for a 917K was set in 2017, when another example McQueen used for Le Mans (chassis 917-024) sold for $14.08 million – or $18.12 million / $29.17 million adjusted for inflation.
Chassis 917-022 will be auctioned by Mecum in Kissimmee, Florida on Saturday, January 18.
