Porsche 917 X17

Forty years after its 1969 debut, racing fans still regard the Porsche 917 with awe as one the greatest sports cars ever built. In PORSCHE 917 X 17: THE CARS AND DRIVERS IN STUDIO, renowned automotive photographer and director Jeff Zwart follows up his award-winning book, 'Porsche Rennsport', with exquisitely rendered images of 17 of the most beautiful and historic 917s. Highlights include the first Porsche to win Le Mans overall, the 917K shared by Richard Attwood and Hans Hermann; the Gulf-Wyer 917K shared by Pedro Rodriguez and Jackie Oliver in 1971; and the notorious "Pink Pig" - a 917/20 that was raced just once by Willi Kauhsen in 1971. Using dramatic angles and controlled lighting, Zwart provides a fresh perspective on these iconic cars. He reveals each 917's distinctive characteristics and patina, and shows artful technical details from inside the cockpit, chassis, and engine compartments. These photographs are accompanied by engaging portraits and vivid recollections from 15 Porsche drivers - including Derek Bell, Vic Elford, Brian Redman, and Hurley Haywood - who look back on the anticipation, fear, and excitement they felt driving the 917. With its heavy matte art paper, spot varnish, metallic silver ink, and cloth-covered slipcase, the book's high-quality production is as lavish as Zwart's photography. Of all the recently published 917 books this one stands alone in offering Porschephiles an all-new take on the cars and drivers.

After the 917 broke Porsche's 19-year drought at Le Mans in 1970, it went on to win the Can-Am Series two years running. Porsche expert Peter Morgan gained unprecedented access to Porsche records and 917 engineers and drivers to bring enthusiasts the story of this legendary race car in full-color. Detailed are the rivalry between Ferry Porsche's sons and his nephew, Ferdinand Piech, who spearheaded the development of the 917. Engineers describe the development of turbochargers for auto racing, while drivers like Dickie Attwood, Hans Herrmann, and Derek Bell chronicle the 917's brilliant motorsport career.

This 70 page book describes the development and successes of the Porsche 917 sports car, including Le Mans, and the Spa and Austrian 1000KMS. Also included are cutaway drawings of the 917 and engine details.

Hailed by many as the greatest racing car of all time, the 917’s story is packed with superlatives. It began with an incredible display of 25 complete cars to achieve homologation in 1969. The following year, the 917 gave Porsche its first-ever win at Le Mans and repeated the result in 1971. Meanwhile, the factory-backed JW Automotive 917s captured the World Championship of Makes for Porsche in both years. Gordon Wingrove worked for JW Automotive during the 917 years and saw first hand what made these cars so special. In a book that sparkles with personal experience, he combines substantial contributions by the Porsche engineers who created the car with his own incisive understanding, to produce a remarkable technical appraisal. Every aspect of the design and development of the 917 is considered, from its innovation and ruthless pursuit of performance, to the teamwork and inspirational leadership that produced such startling results. Endurance racing was never the same again after the 917 – this book demonstrates why!

This magnificent book tells the story of the most important Porsche 917 of all – the one that gave Porsche its first victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours. In 1970, the world’s greatest sports car race was ravaged by periods of torrential rain, but through it all came 917-023, driven by Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood. They achieved a landmark success for the German manufacturer. This book provides detailed insight into not only this race, but the six other races 917-023 competed in. Supported by a superb collection of period photographs, many in color, all Porsche fans will love this addition to the “Great Cars” series.

Today, the Porsche 917 is one of the most sought-after and revered classic sports-racing cars of all time. This manual provides a fascinating insight into the design, evolution, operation, maintenance and restoration of the Porsche 917.