Mecum Unveils 1970 Porsche 917K, Steve McQueen's Hero Car from 'Le Mans' for Auction

by Porsche | August 16, 2024

917-022 to Headline The World's Largest Collector Car Auction® in Kissimmee This January

Highlights:

•Mecum unveils 1970 Porsche 917K (917-022), Steve McQueen's Hero Car from 'Le Mans,' announcing it will be auctioned at Kissimmee 2025, The World's Largest Collector Car Auction®

•The 'Le Mans' Porsche was purchased new by McQueen and used in the movie he produced, later competing in and winning many off-screen races as well

•Several other high-profile vehicles to be offered at Kissimmee 2025 were also on display in Monterey, including the famed Essex Wire Cobra—possibly the winningest Cobra of all time—and more celebrated race-driven vehicles like a Le Mans-winning 1976 Porsche 934, a 1983 Porsche 935/84 and a 1966 Lola T90 Ford Indy Car

Walworth, Wis. – August 16, 2024 – Following its unprecedented unveiling before a stunned crowd at the 2024 Mecum Monterey auction, Steve McQueen's Porsche 917K, the 'Hero Car' from the 1971 film 'Le Mans' and one of the most recognizable race car in all of history, will be offered at auction this January 2025 by Mecum Auctions at The World's Largest Collector Car Auction® in Kissimmee, Florida. This star-studded icon of the movie screen and race scene is undoubtedly among the most historically significant and culturally consequential cars ever to take to the auction stage.

Celebrated movie cars typically owe their fame more to the silver screen than to their mechanical pedigree or striking design. However, there is one exceptional case where cinematic star power converges with top-tier automotive engineering. Steve McQueen's Porsche 917K, the 'Hero Car' from the 1971 film Le Mans is unequivocally this exceptional case. It is not only a cinematic icon purchased new by the King of Cool, but also a world-class racing machine.

Defying the typical trajectory of movie cars, McQueen's Porsche 917K transitioned seamlessly from the film set to the highest echelons of world endurance racing, where it secured multiple victories. This illustrious 917, with a complete and known ownership history, has been owned by legendary Porsche racers in the time since it was purchased and possessed by McQueen himself.

The announcement of the car's upcoming offering at the Jan. 7-19 Kissimmee 2025 auction was made at Mecum Monterey 2024. Having just emerged from a meticulous restoration, the McQueen Porsche was presented in its 1970 specifications as seen in the 1971 movie 'Le Mans' and driven by Steve McQueen.

Other vehicles on display in Monterey that will be offered at the 2025 return of The World's Largest Collector Car Auction® included the famous Essex Wire Cobra, a 1965 Shelby 427 Competition Cobra that is arguably the winningest Cobra of all time; the 1976 Porsche 934 that was driven to a Group 4 Class Victory in the 1977 24 Hours of Le Mans; the 1983 Porsche 935/84 driven by Bob Akin to 5th place in the 1985 24 Hours of Daytona; the 1932 Ford Tommy Foster Roadster that won Most Outstanding Car at the 1953 Detroit Autorama; the 1966 Lola T90 Ford Indy Car driven by Jackie Stewart to 6th place in the 1966 Indianapolis 500; and an AACA and CCCA award-winning 1930 Ruxton Model C Roadster that is one of seven Baker-Raulang-bodied roadsters in existence.

For professional imagery, video and other media asset requests, contact David Morton at dmorton@mecum.com. For more details on upcoming auctions, to consign a vehicle or to register as a bidder, visit Mecum.com, or call (262) 275-5050 for more information.

Photo credit: Dan Vaughan / conceptcarz.com
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