Porsche Top 5, A Colourful Mixture Of The 917 Models Liveries
The Porsche 917 models have had some colourful liveries over the years. From the original Le Mans winning red and white to the John Wyer Gulf cars in orange and blue. So cool even Steve McQueen was seen in one.
This is Porsche’s Top 5.
Number 5 - 1969 Porsche 917-001
The first is a actually the number 1 from 1969.
This car with body number 917-001 was a demonstration car completed just two days before the Geneva Motor Show and was never actually raced. Available for demonstrations and as a test vehicle. Still, it really looks the part with the original design being a little different from those later ones.
On the 50th anniversary of the car, Porsche spent a great deal of time and money on its restoration. Now in its original condition, the colour scheme is accurate to the first time it was displayed. You can read about the restoration in the article here.
Number 4 - 917/20 “The Pink Pig”
The 917/20 is oftern better known as “The Pink Pig”. The car is over 24cm, or nearly a foot wider than a regular 917. Futher modifications were sone to seek aerodynamic improvement made for a rather chubby looking car. I guess the overweight look to the 917 gave rise to the name.
The body design gave inspiration to the designers in 1971 to give the car a pink finish and show cuts of meat using dotted outlines. I don’t recall seeing anything like this since.
Number 3 - Porsche 917 Long Tail Martini
The previous year to this car’s Le Mans entry the car was still wearing its psychedelic green and purple stripe pattern. Sadly the car retired due to engine failure and was unable to cover the full Le Mans race distance. It did the same thing the year earlier too.
But, this 917 model was the first racing car to set a record average speed of over 240 km/h at Le Mans. And the hightst top speed on the Mulsanne straight at 396 km/h. Impressive stuff.
Number 2 - John Wyer Gulf
To many people Porsche’s number 2 would actually be number 1.
The 917 was immortaised by Hollywood as a film star with Steve McQueen. Arguably the car was the biggest star of the rather fantastic film Le Mans.
John Wyer’s sponsors Gulf lending their coloursheme to the 917 has produced perhaps the most iconic race car livery of all time. Thus making these 917s the most valuable of all.
Number 1 - Porsche 917 Salzburg Red Le Mans Winner 1970
The 917 in Salzburg Red was Porsche’s number 1 choice, understandably so. It gave porsche the first of many Le Mans victories. You can read more about that in this article.
The colour scheme was based on that of the Austrian Flag.
Many thanks to Porsche for the fantastic images.
