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Featured in the Steve McQueen cult classic on endurance racing, 'Le Mans', this 1969 Porsche 917 was sponsored by the Gulf-Wyer Team and led literally two lives during its World Manufacturer's Championship run.
The factory 917K #004 was to finish 8th overall in the 1969 Nurburgring 1000-Km, behind five 908/2s, a Ford GT40 and Alfa Romeo 33/2, driven by David Piper and Frank Gardner. This K-for-Kurzheck (short tail) 917 ventured out next at Brands Hatch the next year, now with John Wyer Automotive, driven by Jo Siffert and Brian Redman, only to crash badly. It was then successfully 'built into' #017, this car, as an even 'better 917.' Porsche built a relatively large number of 917s over quite a range of specifications with ever-developing technology and aerodynamic detail changes.
Thus it depends on one's interpretation as to whether the history of this car begins with the first appearance of the original #004 or the original #017. It competed in a number of races in Europe and scored a win at the 1970 Spa-Francorchamps 1,000 Kms with Pedro Rodriquez and Leo Kinnunen at the wheel. At the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, it took pole position and fastest lap (at an incredible 161 mph average speed) driven by Rodriguez. After transmission failure at Spa, it was assigned to Jo Siffert and Brian Redman for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Siffert had a five-lap lead at 2 A.M. when he missed a shift and the over-rev destroyed the engine. As a result, the car appears in race footage used in the Le Mans film. The car was then raced by Siffert with Derek Bell three times in 1971, its best result being a second-place finish at Monza. In 1975, Porsche sold the car to Florida collector Gerry Sutterfield. It then passed through Waldron Motors to Los Angeles Times publisher Otis Chandler, who entered it in a few vintage races, including at Riverside in 1979 driven by John Thomas. In 1992, 004 was sold to the current owner who continued to enter it in vintage racing events and displays around the country.
The factory 917K #004 was to finish 8th overall in the 1969 Nurburgring 1000-Km, behind five 908/2s, a Ford GT40 and Alfa Romeo 33/2, driven by David Piper and Frank Gardner. This K-for-Kurzheck (short tail) 917 ventured out next at Brands Hatch the next year, now with John Wyer Automotive, driven by Jo Siffert and Brian Redman, only to crash badly. It was then successfully 'built into' #017, this car, as an even 'better 917.' Porsche built a relatively large number of 917s over quite a range of specifications with ever-developing technology and aerodynamic detail changes.
Thus it depends on one's interpretation as to whether the history of this car begins with the first appearance of the original #004 or the original #017. It competed in a number of races in Europe and scored a win at the 1970 Spa-Francorchamps 1,000 Kms with Pedro Rodriquez and Leo Kinnunen at the wheel. At the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, it took pole position and fastest lap (at an incredible 161 mph average speed) driven by Rodriguez. After transmission failure at Spa, it was assigned to Jo Siffert and Brian Redman for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Siffert had a five-lap lead at 2 A.M. when he missed a shift and the over-rev destroyed the engine. As a result, the car appears in race footage used in the Le Mans film. The car was then raced by Siffert with Derek Bell three times in 1971, its best result being a second-place finish at Monza. In 1975, Porsche sold the car to Florida collector Gerry Sutterfield. It then passed through Waldron Motors to Los Angeles Times publisher Otis Chandler, who entered it in a few vintage races, including at Riverside in 1979 driven by John Thomas. In 1992, 004 was sold to the current owner who continued to enter it in vintage racing events and displays around the country.
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1969 Porsche 917 K
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