The original and fully restored Porsche 917 goes on show at the Porsche Museum this spring.
STUTTGART: Porsche is celebrating the 50th anniversary of one of its most famous racing cars — which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970 and 1971 — by showcasing a fully restored original 917 as well as a spectacular 917 concept study at the automaker's museum in Stuttgart, Germany.
The Porsche 917 made its debut on March 12, 1969, at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland, and went on to rule the race track in endurance competitions the world over.
The Porsche Museum in Stuttgart is marking the car's 50th anniversary by showcasing a 917-001 — the first model ever produced — fully restored to its original 1969 condition, including white and green bodywork. This painstaking restoration took over a year to complete, drawing on the brand's archive documents.
The 917 concept study.
On the track, it notably made its mark in the light blue and orange brand colors of US oil company and sponsor, Gulf. Note that Steve McQueen famously drove a Porsche 917 in the "Le Mans" movie depicting a fictional 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race.
On May 14 to Sept 15, the Porsche Museum will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 917 with a special exhibition titled "Colors of Speed - 50 Years of the 917," featuring 14 exhibits, including ten 917 models. For the occasion, the Porsche Museum will also exclusively present a 917 concept study, specially created in homage to the first Le Mans victory in 1970.
The red-and-white show car — finished in the same colours as the car that won the race at the time —was designed by a small team of designers and engineers, bringing a contemporary twist to the vehicle while maintaining its original distinctive looks.
