The 1969 Porsche 917K Chassis 917-022 accomplished a near impossible task. It captured lightning in a jar to become a lasting icon in motorsport history and pop culture. It was as if the stars were aligned to make it one of most iconic race cars in history.
This Porsche 917 had greatness written all over it from the start. Steve McQueen purchased the Porsche 917 in 1970 after it left its factory in West Germany.
McQueen was a motorsports enthusiast who had just finished in second place at the 12 Hours of Sebring, driving alongside Peter Revson a Solar Productions Porsche 908/2, in March 1970. McQueen was fueled by his success and decided to not only produce a film on the 24 Hours of Le Mans but also compete in it himself. McQueen’s ambitious plan was for him to co-drive a Porsche 917K with Sir Jackie Stewart.
McQueen’s dream of racing in Le Mans was abruptly put on hold when Cinema Center Films – a production company that is involved with the making of Le Mans – forbade him from taking part. They were worried about the financial risk if McQueen was injured or worse. This ultimately outweighed McQueen’s passion for racing.
McQueen was not deterred and shifted his focus to tell the story of this legendary race on film. The Porsche 917, newly acquired, was sent to the northwest of France in preparation for its role as the star of Le Mans (1971), which is now considered one of most authentic and raw depictions ever captured of motorsport.
The production was just as difficult as the races that it attempted to recreate. Filming started during the actual 38th 24 Hours of Le Mans race in June 1970, and lasted for several months. The action was recorded in front of 50,000 spectators by 19 cameras operated by a 45 member crew.
McQueen’s team was responsible for the real technical innovation. The team entered a Porsche 908 with cameras mounted on the front and back to film the race. The car, which finished in 8th place, captured over 70,000 feet footage. This gave viewers a unique perspective of the race.
McQueen assembled a team of 221 people, including 45 cameramen and top drivers. Andrew Ferguson, a British racing manager, created a specialized racing division to organize filming. He hired 56 professional drivers, sourced 25 of the fastest cars in the world, including four Porsche 917s and Ferrari 512s and more. Le Mans was defined by this commitment to realism.
The Porsche 917-022, a Porsche with an aerodynamic design, was at the heart of the production. Its iconic Gulf Oil blue and orange livery made it a standout. It was the car that McQueen drove as Michael Delaney in the high-speed drama.
McQueen performed stunt driving himself in 917-022, an automobile specially equipped for production. Crews mounted camera brackets on the car’s frame to capture McQueen driving at high speeds. These mounting points are still intact, which is a testament to how important the car was in capturing the most exciting moments of the movie.
McQueen starts the Le Mans race in the 917-022, sporting the Gulf Oil No. 20 livery. 20 livery. The real car was still there, even though his character crashed out of the race. The filmmakers cleverly used Lola T70 bodies disguised as Porsche for crash scenes. This preserved 917-022 to be used later. Others claim that the car was repainted to No. There are scenes where the car appears as No. 21. But there is no doubt that it plays a prominent role in the film.
Elga Andersen provided strong support. Siegfried Rauch, a German actor, played Delaney’s Ferrari-driving competitor opposite McQueen’s Porsche 917. Le Mans was not a typical Hollywood movie. The film’s documentary-like style was praised by critics for its unfiltered, raw focus on real wheel-to-wheel races. This gave the film a visceral, realistic feel that is still impactful to this day.
Sass Begig, who is famous for directing the chase scene from Bullitt in which McQueen drives a 1968 Mustang and outruns henchmen in a sinister Dodge Charger, was in charge of the special effects. McQueen’s dedication to authenticity, as in Bullitt where he did his own stunts in the film, cemented his position as a serious actor, and true gearhead.
Porsche 917-022 began its own journey after filming Le Mans was completed. It went from being a movie star to a full-on race car. Reinhold Joest was a future racing legend and accomplished driver who began his career winning hillclimbs in the German mountains. Joest, the man who won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 6 Hours of Nurburgring twice, as well as leading his team Joest Racing to 15 victories at Le Mans with an incredible record, drove 917-022 for Team Auto Usdau Racing. With Porsche factory drivers Willi Kauhsen and Angel Monguzzi as well as Joe Siffert Joest achieved great success in the 1971 World Manufacturers Championship, cementing the legacy 917-022 has on the track.
In 1975, Joest sold the legendary car to Brian Redman, a Porsche factory driver, seasoned endurance competitor, and Race Hall of Famer. Redman raced in 1970’s 24 Hours of Le Mans with a Porsche 917K wearing the blue and orange Gulf Oil No. The 917-022 in McQueen’s film was painted with the same livery, which is 20.
Richard Attwood, a World Championship Grand Prix veteran and fellow Porsche driver, received 917-022 three years later. Attwood drove a Porsche 917K in 1970 to win the Le Mans race. He campaigned 917022 at various European historic racing races. Attwood refinished the car at one time in the striking red and white livery of the Salzburg 917K that he drove with Hans Herrmann to Porsche’s 1st overall victory in Le Mans 1970.
Attwood kept 917-022 in his possession for more than two decades, before selling it to Attwood in 1999. Before the sale, Attwood had the car restored in its iconic Gulf Oil livery to pay tribute to its Le Mans starring role. Frank Gallogly purchased the car, and in 2001, he passed it to Jerry Seinfeld, a comedian, TV star, and Porsche enthusiast.
Since joining Jerry Seinfeld’s collection, 917 022 has become a prominent feature at prestigious automobile events including the Monterey Historic Automobile Races in 2009, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance again in 2020, and the Porsche Rennsport Reunion V.
The Porsche 917-022 in Van Nuys is now more stunning than ever thanks to Cavaglieri Restorations. The main goal was to restore the car’s original specifications, while revitalizing all of its mechanical components. Ed Pink Racing Engines, located in Van Nuys, handled the engine rebuild. John Bunin, Adrian Gang, and their team of experts worked on the transmission to bring the powertrain to its best performance.
A new fuel cell, custom-made to match the original unit, was part of the project. The 917K frame was tested for leaks and cracks during the project. Repairs were made as needed. The four-wheel ventilated hydraulic disc brakes as well as the four wheel independent suspension were both magnaflushed and refurbished.
This meticulous transformation was completed in August 2024. It included repainting the entire vehicle, including the frame, to its original finish. Gulf Oil No. 20 is a classic blue and orange livery. The livery of the Le Mans 20 was meticulously matched, down to the new graphics installed by experts, to its grand appearance on screen.
The appeal of the 917-022 goes beyond its cinematic appearance. It was a great competitor. The model first appeared in 1969 and won the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans. Richard Attwood, Herrmann and #23 livery drove a red and white example. Helmut Marko, Gijs Van Lennep and a blue-and-white 917 won the 1971 Le Mans race in a blue-and white livery.
Chassis No. The original Type 912 4494cc DOHC 180-degree air-cooled V-12 engine is used in 917-022, paired with the 4-speed manual all-synchromesh transaxle. This powerful setup features Bosch mechanical fuel injectors with a bore of 88mm and stroke of 66mm, as well as a compression ratio 10.5:1. This engine produces 580 BHP and 366 lb.ft. of torque at 8,400 RPM. It is a powerful force on the track as well as in motorsport history.
There are iconic movie cars, racing machines that will make your heart race, and classics owned beloved celebrities. It’s rare to find a rolling jewel that combines all of these captivating elements in one package.
Porsche 917-022 is an exceptional car that seamlessly blends cinematic history and genuine motorsport pedigree. It is an exceptional piece of automotive art, with its legendary role on the silverscreen and its real-world performance at racetracks.
It’s still not over. The star-studded, one-of-a kind 917-022 will be auctioned at Mecum’s The World’s Largest Collection Car Auction(r) in 2025 Kissimmee.
The world will watch as this magnificent vehicle, under the Florida sun shatters all records and cements its legacy as the most sought after treasure in automotive history.