Looking For A 917?

[David Ray]

My nephew is in town and he's a hugh Porsche lover. After watching the AX this weekend he asked if there was any place within a 2-3 hour drive to see a 917? Do any exist on the West Coast ( I would drive further to see one)?

After a disappointing Fnot event two weeks ago Porsche looks really good to a 13 year old (even a scrappy 944 S2 ).

[ttweed]

If I was on such a mission, I would call Andial to see if they knew of any in So Cal. Vasek Polak had one, but I do not know where it went when he died. The nearest other one I know of is at Bruce Canepa's shop in the SF Bay area (Scott's Valley).

TT

[Tim Comeau]

1. Did Symbolic Motors, La Jolla, finally sell their 917K?
2. Karl Thompson, formerly of Vasek's, has/had the freshest 917K in existence. L.A. area. Not sure how to get a hold of him.
3. I've heard Jerry Seinfeld has one in his collection at the Santa Monica airport? Don't know if it's a K, LH, 917/10, or what.
4. Ask Wayne Baker who might have one in the local vintage/collector circles?
There's a start......

[993Panzer]

Jerry Seinfeld's is a 917 K, #20 Gulf colors from the movie Me Mans.

[993Panzer]

That was Le Mans. fat fingers on the keyboard.

[Tim Comeau]

Ok, thanks , Dave. Do you know the chassis number?

[ttweed]

Ok, thanks , Dave. Do you know the chassis number?

Tim-
Seinfeld has 917-022 from Solar Productions (Steve McQueen's company) as far as I know. I thought it was in New York at his new garage, but maybe it's in Santa Monica??? See the registry at 962.com:
http://962.com/registry/917/index.htm
Carl Thompson's is the new one that was fabricated recently out of parts, using the last existing spare chassis, I believe. There was a great article in Excellence about it not too long ago.

I saw the one at Symbolic (the "hippie" Martini model) but it has been gone for quite awhile. You might try calling Bill Noon there, though, he is a pretty accessible guy and has his finger in a lot of pies. He may know where one is.

[Tim Comeau]

Yep. Thompson's 917 was in Excellence, but I' don't know where he is.
Your info on Seinfeld may be newer than mine.
I never saw the hippie car. That would have been cool. I was referring to the Le Mans winner with red and white stripes, also the subject of an Excellence article.
Neat old cars, but scary to think about driving fast.

[ttweed]

I never saw the hippie car. That would have been cool.

Yes, it was 917-043, raced by Martini at Le Mans in 1970 and by Wyer in 1971. http://962.com/registry/917/917-043/index.htm

I was referring to the Le Mans winner with red and white stripes, also the subject of an Excellence article.

Oh yeah, I saw that one too when they had it at Symbolic for awhile, #917-023, the one that came from the Matsuda collection via Vasek Polak, and had the chassis plate switched there. There was some controversy over which car had actually raced and won at Le Mans in 1970.http://home.pacbell.net/eye4cars/917k_23.html

TT

[MVZ944T]

Richard Price might have a good line on where to look. He has a pretty sweet collection of his own including just about the nicest Speedster you will find.

[993Panzer]

If I'm not mistaken, the 917 K #23 (Red & White) that won at LeMans is in the Porsche factory collection. It was the first car Porsche won Lemans out right with. It was at the reunion last year at Daytona though I don't think they ran the car. Jerry ran his #20 at the reunion last year in Daytona.

[ttweed]

If I'm not mistaken, the 917 K #23 (Red & White) that won at LeMans is in the Porsche factory collection. It was the first car Porsche won Lemans out right with.

No, that was what was commonly believed and was the basis of the dispute I mentioned above. The car in the museum was NOT the car that won at LeMans, the one in the Matsuda collection was. Vasek changed the ID plate when he had it. This was all cleared up in the courts, finally, because so much money rides on such provenance. Read the link I posted above and then this one too.

TT

[Tim Comeau]

Cool old race cars.........

[David Ray]

Thanks - Does anyone have Jerry's number?

You really have to admire the 917, today it would probably still be the one to beat at Le Mans (even with the chicane). Peter Morgan's book is great

[993Panzer]

Very cool Tom. Thanks for the information. The 917 is my favorite car and part of what started my love of Porsche way back in 1969 - 1970.