Throwback: When Porsche turned a Le Mans winner into a road car

Porsche celebrates 50th anniversary of the road-legal 917

Like most Porsches, the 917 is one of those vehicles that need no introduction. Apart from having one of the most distinct exterior designs, the 917 (AKA 917K Short Tail) is most probably known for winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970 and 1971, cementing itself as one of the greatest race cars to take part in the endurance race.

With an air-cooled, 5.0L flat-12 engine cranking out over 600 HP, the Porsche 917 was able to beat Ferrari in two consecutive seasons. But did you know there was a road-going version of the legendary Le Mans-winning race car?

Half a century ago, on April 28, 1975, a one-off Porsche 917 left the Weissach development center. But instead of directly heading to the track, this one took to the public roads. Its destination was Paris, where its owner personally drove the one-off, road-legal 917 from Germany back home to France. That's right, 917 chassis 30, which was originally a race-built car, was transformed into a street-legal vehicle at the request of Italian businessman and Martini heir Gregorio Rossi di Montelera, known more simply as “Count Rossi”. 

The Porsche enthusiast had his personal 917 painted in Martini Silver, comes with rudimentary exhausts, gets additional mirrors to help Count Rossi safely navigate while on public roads, and is even equipped with turn signals and a horn. It also has a spare tire beneath its rear clamshell.

Inside, everything was simple and still has remnants of the 917’s race car days. However, it has been kitted out for on-road comfort as it gets tan leather seats commissioned from Hermes and suede surfaces on the roof lining, doors & dashboard. Last but not least, the wooden gear knob has been carried over, which serves as a reminder of its race car origins.

Count Rossi may not be with us anymore, but his 917 is still on the road and being enjoyed by its new enthusiastic owner. It has undergone a recent restoration (albeit preserving its original paint) and sees regular use in the south of France.

Fifty years later, Porsche has once again surprised everyone when they revealed the 963 race car as a road trip-spec hypercar. They even recreated the France to Germany journey with the latest 963 MSP alongside the road-legal 917. Now that’s one heck of a tribute.