Steve McQueen’s Le Mans Porsche 917 is for sale

Le Mans legend

‘Steve McQueen takes you for a drive in the country. The country is France. The drive is at 200mph,’ reads the poster for the 1971 movie Le Mans.

And this was the car.

The 1969 Porsche 917K, chassis 917-022, was bought new by McQueen’s company, Solar Productions, before it starred in the 1971 depiction of the 24-hour endurance race – and now it’s for sale.

Let’s take a closer look at this silver-screen racer, before it crosses the block in Mecum Auctions’ Kissimmee sale at Osceola Heritage Park, Florida, on January 18, 2025.

Prime candidate

The Porsche 917 was responsible for overall victories at Le Mans in 1970 and 1971, making it the perfect protagonist for the event’s big-screen adaptation.

This Gulf-liveried, flat-12-engined sports prototype received a few modifications to turn it into a high-speed camera car.

Star cast

Unsurprisingly, McQueen was not this car’s only famous owner, and later custodians included racing drivers Brian Redman and Richard Attwood, and its current keeper, Jerry Seinfeld, who instigated its recent restoration.

But more on that later.

On a roll

Chassis 917-022 was built by Porsche in 1969, but it returned to Stuttgart in April 1970, when it was converted to short-tail specification.

A month earlier, on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, McQueen and Peter Revson recorded a second-place finish at the 12 Hours of Sebring, driving a Porsche 908/2.

Big plans

Following the podium finish at Sebring International Raceway, McQueen set his sights on the Circuit de la Sarthe in France.

For the Le Mans movie, the American actor planned to compete in the 24-hour challenge alongside Jackie Stewart.

Back to the drawing board

Unfortunately, insurers weren’t comfortable with McQueen actually taking part in the race and his idea of participating was scrapped.

Still, McQueen and director Lee H Katzin were keen to make the movie as authentic as possible.

Creative license

In June 1970, chassis 917-022 was transported to France and prepared for its role in the Le Mans movie, even though it didn’t compete in the race itself.

Instead, the production team had some clever ways of getting the footage it needed.

Super substitute

To get the on-track footage, Solar Productions entered a modified Porsche 908/2 in the 24-hour enduro, equipped with front- and rear-mounted cameras.

By the end of the race, the used film reels measured 70,000 feet.

Amazingly, the car finished 8th overall, too.

Brilliant B-roll

Meanwhile, around the track, 19 cameras and 45 operators captured the most dramatic moments from the race, which unfolded in front of 50,000 spectators.

The footage was authentic and immersive, but filming was far from over.

Home away from home

A 200-plus-strong team, including racing drivers Jacky Ickx, Richard Attwood, Gérard Larrousse, Jürgen Barth, Masten Gregory and Derek Bell, continued to film action sequences at Le Mans long after the 1970 race ended.

The crew constructed a small village on the outskirts of the French city, where those involved in Le Mans were based during the film’s production.

Big names

The Solar Productions Porsche 917K was part of an impressive line-up of endurance racers used for the Le Mans movie, which also included Ferrari 512 prototypes.

Chassis 917-022 was modified with camera mounts and brackets – many are still intact.

The real deal

This Gulf-liveried car’s paintwork was given a refresh during a recent restoration project that was completed in August 2024.

Chassis 917-022’s frame was also returned to its original black finish.

Step inside

Inside, the Porsche 917K’s bright-red seats, worn steering wheel and balsa-wood gearknob (hooked up to a four-speed gearbox in this car) stand out.

In-car cameras captured McQueen behind the wheel of chassis 917-022.

Stunt double

Spoiler alert: McQueen’s character, Michael Delaney, crashes out of the race in Le Mans.

This Porsche 917K wasn’t damaged, though.

The producers used a Lola T70 chassis dressed up as the Porsche for the crash scene.

Hence why chassis 917-022 survives.

Back to the track

This car’s second chapter began in November 1970, when filming for Le Mans wrapped up.

The Porsche 917K was bought by Reinhold Joest, who campaigned it under the Team Auto Usdau banner throughout 1971, often alongside fellow German driver Willi Kauhsen.

Sporting a different livery, it competed in endurance races at the Nürburgring, Brands Hatch, Monza, Spa and elsewhere.

Keep it in the family

In 1975, chassis 917-022 was acquired by British race-car driver Brian Redman, who piloted a similar blue-and-orange 917 at Le Mans.

He didn’t keep it for long, though.

About two years later he sold it to Richard Attwood, who, alongside Hans Herrmann, scored Porsche’s first overall Le Mans victory in 1970, in a 917 Kurzheck (KH).

Out and about

Richard Attwood repainted the Porsche in a red-and-white livery that echoed that of his Le Mans-winning 917 from Porsche Salzburg.

Thankfully, he didn’t keep the race car hidden.

Instead, chassis 917-022 appeared occasionally at historic motorsport events across Europe.

Pastures new

After 22 years, Richard Attwood decided to part company with this Le Mans Porsche 917K, having reinstated its Gulf Oil livery.

It was auctioned during Monterey Car Week in August 2000, where the winning bidder was collector Frank Gallogly, who sold it to comedian Jerry Seinfeld a year later.

Well-known racer

Chassis 917-022 has been part of Jerry Seinfeld’s collection since 2001, but now it’s for sale.

In the past two decades, the Porsche has been displayed at Monterey Motorsports Reunion, Porsche Rennsport Reunion and twice at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Ready to go

Before parting with the car, Jerry Seinfeld decided to restore the ex-McQueen Porsche 917K, remaining loyal to how it appeared in Le Mans.

The work was carried out by Cavaglieri Restorations in California.

Top job

The project went much further than a quick lick of paint.

A new fuel cell was created to match the original unit, while the frame was pressure tested and repaired where necessary.

The suspension and disc brakes were refurbished, too.

Racer revived

Once the bodywork and frame had been repainted, the Cavaglieri Restorations team set about updating the graphics, including the massive roundels.

Beneath the engine cover, the original flat-12 unit remains.

Top-speed machine

The 4494cc air-cooled unit, also known as the Type 912 motor, makes c588HP at 8400rpm.

A central fan keeps the 12-cylinder engine cool. 

On the Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans, the Porsche could top 235mph, however, one 917 clocked 246mph.

That winning feeling

More than 50 years after its starring role in the Le Mans movie, this Porsche 917K is making headlines once again.

Chassis 917-022 will cross the block in the Mecum Auctions sale in Kissimmee, Florida, USA, on January 18, 2025.

No guide price has been released and it will be interesting to see what it achieves when the hammer falls.

To find out more about it, click here.

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