Iconic Race Cars / #7

When what it took to be a driver was testosterone and chest hair, traction control contained with your right foot, The Gulf livery, Steve McQueen, LeMans… This car bring up so many images of the golden days of auto racing.

The car? Porsche 917

Flat 12 twin spark engine producing 520 BHP when first released, was notably unstable, but bonkers fast. It won porsche's first 24 hours of LeMans in 1970 and then in 1971. Later variations of the car only got faster. Engine displacement changed from 4.5, 4.9 or 5 liter engines.

• Can-Am variant was capable of a 0-60 of 2.3 seconds, 0-120 in 5.3 seconds and top speed of 240mph (390km/h)
• There are at least eleven variants of the 917
• Can-Am version produced insane 1580 BHP with car weighing 815 kg

Did you know?

Despite the car's impracticality, at least two 917s were road-registered

Bonus video