1970 Porsche 917 K (Spyder bodywork also present)
- Engine
- 5.4L flat-12, ~628 bhp (numbers-matching Interserie-era unit, rebuilt from 5.0L)
- Colour
- Gulf livery (light blue with orange)
Porsche 917 chassis 917-031/026 carries a direct lineage to the 1970 Le Mans 24 Hours, where it was entered by JW Automotive under the Gulf-Porsche banner for David Hobbs and Mike Hailwood. After retiring in that race, the original chassis was returned to Porsche, rebuilt as a 917 Spyder around a replacement chassis numbered 917-031, and later immortalised in Steve McQueen's film Le Mans as the depicted race winner. Its subsequent career took it through the 1971 Interserie Championship with Team Shell Heckersbruch and driver Jürgen Neuhaus, before passing to Georg Loos' Gelo team.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$16,000,000 – US$18,500,000
- 1970 → 1970Factory deliveryJW Automotive Engineeringfull documentation
Operated under the Gulf-Porsche banner with full factory backing. After the 1970 Le Mans race the original chassis was returned to Porsche following reconstruction around a replacement chassis numbered 917-031.
- 1970 → 1971Private salePorsche (factory spare parts stock)full documentation
Original ex-Hobbs/Hailwood chassis returned to the factory, repaired, and held as a spare part before being used to construct a 917 Spyder configuration in early 1971.
- 1970 → 1971Factory deliveryJW Automotive Engineeringfull documentation
Newly reconstructed car built around replacement chassis 917-031 continued as a works entry through the 1970 and 1971 seasons before transfer to a new team.
- 1971 → 1972Private saleTeam Shell Heckersbruchpartial documentation
Car ran in a vivid red and yellow livery reflecting the team's principal sponsor, with Jürgen Neuhaus as the nominated driver for the Interserie Championship.
- 1972 →Private saleGelo team (Georg Loos)partial documentation
Purchased mid-season from Team Shell Heckersbruch by wealthy German privateer Georg Loos, with Frans Pesch taking over driving duties.
Competition
- 1970World Sportscar Championship1970 Le Mans 24 HoursDriver: David HobbsDNF — accident
Co-driven by Mike Hailwood. Car qualified 10th and ran as high as 3rd before Hailwood lost control on lap 49 at Dunlop Curve while on inappropriate tires in heavy rain, colliding with a stricken Alfa T33/3.
- 1971Mainz-FinthenDriver: Jürgen Neuhaus1st
Another non-championship win; Neuhaus defeated Michel Weber driving a comparable 917 Spyder.
- 1971-04-01Nürburgring 300 KMDriver: Jürgen Neuhaus1st
Non-championship event; Neuhaus beat Teddy Pilette's McLaren M8C-Chevrolet to claim victory in the car's first outing under Team Shell Heckersbruch.
- 1972Interserie ChampionshipNürburgring — 1972 Interserie opening roundDriver: Jürgen Neuhaus5th
Final appearance by Neuhaus in this car before it was sold to the Gelo team mid-season.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1970MaintenanceJW Automotive Engineering
Following the 1970 Le Mans race, the car was returned to JW Automotive, stripped down, and a new factory-supplied replacement chassis (917-031) was assembled in its place. The rebuild was re-documented under the original customs number '026' to satisfy international transport regulations, as confirmed in a letter to Porsche dated 10 July 1970.
The chassis swap was formally communicated to Porsche's 917 programme director Helmut Flegl.
- 1971ModificationPorsche factory
The original ex-Le Mans chassis, held by Porsche under the number 031, was repaired after its race damage and then converted into a 917 Spyder configuration, fitted with a 5.0-litre engine also numbered 917-031.
Conversion to Spyder configuration was described as common practice for the period. The engine retains its original number to this day.
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