Racing cars have always held a place at the forefront of human ingenuity, cementing themselves into the history of humanity simply because of our fascination with speed and danger. At the forefront of all cars, the Porsche 917 sits at the top of the pedestal. In this article, we explore  why the   Porsche 917 is such an iconic racing car  due to its history, its design, and the legacy it left behind.

History

The conception for the 917 started in 1968 when the Commission Sportive Internationale (the independent competition subsection of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, or FIA) put forth the message that the speeds seen at the Le Mans race were just too high. Following this, Porsche took the opportunity to redesign their racing cars with the specific goal of winning the Le Mans.

Development

Development started, and after ten months of research and experimentation, Porsche developed what would become the 917. It was evident in the earliest testing phases that the 917 (or at least the prototype version) would not work well on the racetrack. Many test drivers attributed this to the incredibly unstable handling caused by the long tail body generating a significant amount of lift on the straightaways.

Design

As an example of human ingenuity, the Porsche 917 is often considered the best of the best. Many people flocked to the car simply because of the materials from which it was constructed. Such components as titanium and magnesium were used for the construction of the body to keep it as lightweight as possible. Another example of the outside-the-box thinking is the position of the driver’s seat, which was placed at the extreme fore-end of the car, making room for the engine.

Legacy

The Porsche 917 left behind a legacy of greatness through both design and accomplishment. Many of the cutting-edge design elements implemented in the building stages of the 917 are still in place in today’s racing cars. Because of the immense number of wins under its belt, the media recognition, and the continued success of Porsche as a company, the 917 has cemented itself in the international culture of automobile racing.

The much-asked question of  why the   Porsche 917 is such an iconic racing car is often answered with one word: craftsmanship. The Porsche legacy and culture are synonymous with excellent performance and service, something Nahas Motorcars strives to further exemplify. If you’re in the market to buy or  sell your Porsche , you can be confident that Nahas Motorcars will ensure you’re satisfied with our product and service.