There’s no doubt that the Porsche 917 is one of the most important racing cars in the manufacturer’s history. Introduced in 1969, the 917 transformed Porsche from a cash-strapped builder of lightweight sports cars into the titan of international motor sport we know today. Back-to-back victories at Le Mans in 1970 and 1971 were followed by success in the American Can-Am series, and set the stage for the marque’s prolific successes in sports car racing throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.
Yet among the 64 examples of the 917 that were built, chassis 917-022 stands out. Ironically, it is not for its on-track exploits, but for the role it played in Steve McQueen’s 1971 Le Mans film, which is widely regarded as one of the most innovative, gritty and realistic motor-racing movies of all time. Le Mans forever immortalised the 917 – and, next year, 917-022 is set to cross the auction block in Mecum’s Kissimmee 2025 sale.
“Even as he was filming Bullitt in 1968, my dad already had visions of an epic racing film in his head – a super-realistic, immersive, visual experience,” recalled Steve McQueen’s late son, Chad, in Magneto issue 9. Even then, McQueen was fixated on making a racing film unlike anything audiences had ever seen.
917-022 has all the makings of a record-breaking sale
His plan was to race in the 1970 Le Mans 24 Hours alongside Formula 1 World Champion Jackie Stewart, and to use the actual race footage as the basis of the film. In the era of Formula 1’s Drive to Survive and countless other behind-the-scenes racing documentaries, McQueen’s concept now seems almost typical. However, in 1970, it was nothing short of radical – and 917-022 played a central role.
His idea was to blur the line between fiction and reality, but when the risks involved became too great for the film financiers, the plan was vetoed. Instead, McQueen and his Solar Productions company acquired chassis 917-022, among others, and decided to film at the Circuit de la Sarthe, capturing the movie’s action sequences in as close to a true racing environment as possible.
Chassis 917-022 was among the first run of 25 cars Porsche built in 1969. Colloquially referred to as the ‘secretaries’ cars’, these early models were hastily built by a motley crew of Porsche employees, ranging from dedicated production staff to office workers. 917-022 was converted from long-tail to short-tail (K) specification shortly before it was acquired by Solar Productions.
The car’s new vocation as a high-speed star of the silver screen meant further modifications had to be made so that cameras could be rigged to the bodywork to capture the thrilling racing sequences. Remarkably, these camera-mounting points remain intact to this day.
“These days, when someone makes a film with fast cars in it, a lot of that is done with computer-generated images – or visual effects, as we call it,” explained Le Mans producer Peter Samuelson in Magneto issue 9. “We didn’t have any of that, so we had to actually film it. We did it by bolting on cameras, sometimes on long arms anchored at three points to the side of racing cars. And we had them at speeds in excess of 200mph, with a camera hanging five feet off the side of the racing car, affecting its handling and with other cars whizzing by.”
Despite the danger of filming flat-out racing, McQueen was determined to create the most authentic motor sport film that audiences had ever seen. To achieve this, Solar Productions assembled a glittering cast of professional drivers – Richard Attwood, Masten Gregory, Brian Redman and Jacky Ickx, to name just a few – who pushed Porsche 917s, Ferrari 512s and Ford GT40s to the limits of adhesion in the name of realism.
Unfortunately, capturing cars at racing speeds could have catastrophic consequences – as Derek Bell and David Piper both discovered. Bell suffered facial burns when the Ferrari 512S he was driving went up in flames. Piper, meanwhile, suffered grievous injuries when his Porsche 917K (chassis 917-013) blew its tyre and careened into the barriers at speed. He suffered a deep laceration to his right leg, and had to have his right foot amputated because the wound became infected with brake fluid and debris.
Such misfortune was compounded by the film going significantly over budget. It was only through McQueen’s sheer single-mindedness that the production ever got over the finish line. “When the last day of shooting with the cars came to an end, they all drove into the pits and lined up,” remembered Haig Alltounian, who worked as the film’s mechanic. “Steve got out and was greeted by his family; it was all very emotional. Being so deeply involved in an epic movie that, even today, captures motor racing at its pinnacle in a way that no other film ever has, was undoubtedly the experience of a lifetime.”
With filming completed, 917-022 began the next fascinating phase of its life. McQueen sold the car to Reinhold Joest in 1971, and the latter’s team entered it into eight races during that year’s World SportsCar Championship. 917-022’s standout performance came at Italy’s Grand Prix Repubblica Vallelunga, where Jo Siffert, who also worked as a professional driver on Le Mans, claimed second place. Another highlight was Joest and Willi Kauhsen’s fourth-place finish at the Spa 1000km.
In 1975, 917-022 ownership passed on to Porsche Works driver Brian Redman, who purchased it for the princely sum of $15,000. Redman kept the car for two years before selling it to Richard Attwood, who had famously secured Porsche’s first Le Mans victory in 1970 driving another 917K. To commemorate his historic achievement, Attwood decided to change 917-022’s Gulf livery to the iconic Salzburg colours that adorned his Le Mans-winning machine.
Richard then decided to sell the car in 2000, consigning it in RM Sotheby’s Monterey Sale. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it set a record for the model at the time, achieving $1,320,000 (including fees). The winning bidder was New Jersey-based Porsche collector Frank Gallogly, whose eight-month tenure of ownership ended in 2001 when he passed the 917 on to California-based dealer Symbolic International, which displayed the car at its Los Angeles showroom.
While there, 917-022 is said to have caught the attention of its current owner, US comedian Jerry Seinfeld. Symbolic then invited Seinfeld to Willow Springs Raceway, where he could see the car in action with Chad McQueen at the wheel. It’s said that Seinfeld then agreed to buy the car despite one of the front wheels falling off while Chad lapped the dusty circuit.
A renowned car collector and enthusiast, Seinfeld showcased 917-022 at the 2015 Rennsport Reunion and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2009 and 2021. The comedian also sold 18 Porsches from his collection in 2016 for a cool $22,000,000. It would be unsurprising if 917-022 eclipsed that total.
Recently, Seinfeld subjected 917-022 to a comprehensive overhaul by Cavaglieri Restorations in Van Nuys, California. The car was restored to Hollywood specifications and its mechanical components have been revitalised. The flat-12 Type 912 engine was rebuilt by experts from Ed Pink Racing Engines, while John Bunin and Adrian Gang employed their specialist knowledge to refurbish the transmission. The restoration was completed in August 2024.
With its meticulous restoration complete and an illustrious backstory to match its Gulf-liveried beauty, 917-022 has all the makings of a record-breaking sale. For more information, click here.
