This 1971 Porsche 917K Martini, serial #917-019, has a flat-twelve air-cooled engine mounted midship, twin overhead camshafts and fuel injection. The car is displayed in late 1971 configuration and is quite conservative given the liveries of other 917s during the two championship years. A Martini car was modishly decorated in psychedelic colors. For Le Mans, Porsche Styling painted an experimental 917/20 pink with dotted lines representing the various cuts of meat available from swine. It was named Big Bertha, The Truffle Pig of Zuffenhausen. One can be cheeky when one is a champion. The car was part of Porsche Salzburg in 1970. In 1971 it raced at Le Mans as a member of the Martini Racing Team, sponsored by Martini and Rossi and driven by Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep. It sported numerous experimental features including a magnesium tube frame.
Background
- Manufacturer: Porsche
- Year: 1971
- Model: 917K (Kurzheck, or "short-tail")
- Team: Martini Racing
Specifications
- Engine: The 917K is powered by a 4.9-liter flat-12 engine. This engine produces around 600 horsepower, allowing the car to achieve incredible speeds.
- Transmission: It features a 5-speed manual transmission.
- Chassis: The car is built on a lightweight aluminum spaceframe chassis, designed for rigidity and lightness, contributing to its superior performance.
- Suspension: The front suspension consists of double wishbones with coil springs and anti-roll bars, while the rear suspension features multi-link with coil springs and anti-roll bars, providing excellent handling and stability.
Design and Features
- Body Style: The 917K has a low-slung, aerodynamic body designed for high-speed stability and minimal drag. The "K" stands for Kurzheck, or "short-tail," which was developed to improve handling and performance on twisty tracks.
- Livery: The Martini Racing livery is one of the most recognizable in motorsport history, featuring a striking combination of blue, red, and silver stripes. The 917K's Martini livery became an enduring symbol of racing success.
- Aerodynamics: The 917K features advanced aerodynamic design for its time, with a focus on downforce and stability at high speeds. The short-tail design helped to balance the car's aerodynamics, improving its performance on different types of tracks.
Performance
- Speed: The 917K could reach top speeds of around 220 mph (354 km/h), making it one of the fastest race cars of its era.
- Acceleration: It could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 2.5 seconds, showcasing its immense power and performance capabilities.
- Handling: The car's advanced suspension, lightweight construction, and powerful engine provided exceptional handling and driving dynamics, making it a formidable competitor in endurance racing.
Historical Significance
- Le Mans Victory: The 1971 Porsche 917K Martini is best known for its victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1971. Driven by Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep, the car not only won the race but also set a distance record that stood for decades.
- Endurance Racing Dominance: The 917K was a dominant force in endurance racing, contributing to Porsche's legacy in motorsports. Its engineering and performance set new standards for race cars in the 1970s.
Legacy
- Collector's Item: The Porsche 917K, especially the Martini-liveried examples, is one of the most valuable and sought-after race cars among collectors and enthusiasts. Its historical significance and racing pedigree make it a prized possession.
- Cultural Impact: The 917K has been celebrated in various forms of media, including documentaries, books, and films, cementing its status as a cultural icon. It played a prominent role in the film "Le Mans," starring Steve McQueen.
- Engineering Influence: The innovations and advancements made with the 917K influenced future race car designs and contributed to the development of high-performance engineering in the automotive industry.
You may purchase a print of the 1971 Porsche 917K Martini in our dElegance 2018 online gallery.