PORSCHE 917 5LT, FORMERLY OWNED BY RACING LEGEND DAVID PIPER

The Porsche 917 is far more than just a race car; it is a legend—a symbol of the innovative spirit and daring of Porsche engineers who revo-lutionized motorsport. When the model first took to the track in 1969, it set new standards and quickly established itself as one of the most prestigious race cars of all time. Developed under the legendary engineer Dr. Ferdinand Piëch, son of Marie Luise Piëch (née Porsche) and nephew of Ferry Porsche, the 917 was purpose-built to surpass all competitors, primarily Ferrari, at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans for years to come.

The creation of the 917 was fraught with immense challenges that pushed Porsche to the limits of its financial and technical capacities. The powerful, air-cooled 12-cylinder engine, like every other component, was developed from scratch—an undertaking so costly that Porsche was forced to abandon the plan of its own factory team in the World Championship of Makes and to sell almost all vehicles to private racing teams. Independent teams such as John Wyer Racing, David Piper, Joe Siffert, Reinhold Joest, Willi Kauhsen, and many others carried the torch and wrote motorsport history with the 917.

David Piper and his team were among the first to acquire the newly designed Porsche 917 in 1969. Piper not only purchased several Porsche 917s directly from the factory but also participated in early races for Wyer Racing, particularly in testing and qualifying for Le Mans. In 1970, he contributed to the filming of Steve McQueen’s iconic movie Le Mans, where a devastating accident left him with a serious injury. Re-markably, the car involved was later rebuilt and remains in a British collection to this day.

Especially unforgettable is the triumphant victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970, where Sir Richard Attwood and Hans Herrmann secured the first overall victory of the Porsche 917 in this legendary race for Team Porsche Austria—the racing division of the Porsche family. This event cemented the 917 as an icon of motorsport and secured it a firm place in history.

The Porsche 917 5LT presented here initially began life as Porsche 917-021, a long-tail version completed in April 1969, part of the first series of 25 long-tail models. In 1970, the factory upgraded this car to the more stable and better-performing short-tail configuration. It was subsequently sold to the WIHURI Racing Team on April 10, 1970, campaigned as Team AAW SANDEMAN, and raced at events such as:

• 1000 km of Monza, with drivers Leo Kinnunen and Gijs van Lennep
• 1000 km of Spa, also with Kinnunen and van Lennep

In June 1970, Gijs van Lennep and David Piper raced it at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it suffered a significant crash. The car was re-turned to Porsche in Zuffenhausen, repaired using parts from 917-012, and the original 917-021 was ultimately renumbered. Porsche later sold the repaired chassis to David Piper, who renamed it 917 5LT (Long Tail) as a tribute to its heritage and then had the car fully rebuilt.

Over the years, Piper raced multiple Porsche 917s, each in different colors and sponsorships. Owning a full racing team and, like other factory-supported teams of that era, having a close working relationship with Porsche allowed him access to all necessary parts. In fact, a vintage model set of his three cars still exists.

Piper continued racing the car extensively, particularly at vintage events, maintaining it in race-ready condition the whole time. Eventually, he sold it to the collector and racer Carlos Monteverde who further campaigned the 917 at Le Mans Classic and other prestigious events. He repainted the car in red with white stripes over its original green and white livery. This particular Porsche 917 consistently proved itself the fastest in the Le Mans Classic grid, achieving multiple victories.

When it changed hands to its current owner, the car underwent an intensive rebuild to refresh the engine, gearbox, and other com-ponents with painstaking attention to detail, maintaining its authenticity and patina. Now race-ready with current FIA papers and frame X-ray inspection, the Porsche 917 5LT has since appeared at top-tier events across Europe, including Le Mans Classic, Goodwood, and the Oldtimer Grand Prix, largely by invitation.

In total, Porsche assigned 52 chassis numbers for the 917 coupés, but only 44 examples were actually built. Many of these vehicles were rebuilt after severe accidents on re-placement frames and with new bodies to continue the operation of these rare and already then priceless racing machines. Today, barely 33 restored examples of the Porsche 917 exist, most of which are kept in private collections and are rarely accessible to the public.

These collector’s vehicles have become true treasures whose value has skyrocketed to astronomical heights. A Porsche 917 is offered for sale only extremely rarely. The last transactions, which reached historic record prices, testify to the in-comparability of this car.

For example, a completely rebuilt Porsche 917 K, chassis 024, was auctioned for $14 million by Gooding in 2018.

Another example, chassis 026/031—a 917 K—changed hands in the summer of 2024 in England for £20 million. This vehicle was originally built as a Spyder for the Interserie and later extensively restored back to its original state as a coupé.

In January 2025, a new benchmark for the value of the Porsche 917 was set when Jerry Seinfeld turned down a $25 million bid for his Chassis 022 – a vehicle with an especially eventful history. Originally built as a long-tail version and later, like all the first 25 examples, converted to a short-tail, this model was sold to race driver Joe Siffert. Siffert, in turn, sold the vehicle without an engine to Solar Productions, Steve McQueen’s film company. The engine was provided by Porsche on loan, and the vehicle received the famous Gulf livery of the John Wyer Racing Team for the iconic film Le Mans. After filming, the team continued to use the Porsche 917 for several races, with drivers such as Willi Kauhsen, Joe Siffert, Reinhold Joest, Brian Redman, and Sir Richard Attwood at the wheel. Later, this extraordinary vehicle became part of Jerry Seinfeld’s collection, who is now offering it for sale. The auction and Seinfeld’s decision to reject the historic bid have sparked intense discussions and brought the Porsche 917 back into the spotlight. He and other experts believe that the car is worth significantly more. However, one thing is clear: someone was willing to pay $28 million, including the buyer’s premium, for a Porsche 917.

The Porsche 917 remains to this day the fastest vehicle ever to race at Le Mans, achieving speeds exceeding 400 km/h. It forever transformed motorsport history and is etched in the minds of enthusiasts worldwide as one of the most famous—if not the most famous—cars ever built.

This exposé illuminates the fascinating history of the Porsche 917, whose value has grown immensely over the decades—not only materially but also culturally and in the realm of sports. Symbolizing the determination and pioneering spirit of the engineers and designers who crafted it into an icon, the Porsche 917 stands as a milestone in motorsport and a source of eternal fascination due to its legendary performance, impressive speed, and the eventful stories that surround it.

The beautifully conserved Porsche 917 5 LT presented here epitomizes this legacy. As an exceptional, race-ready example with a rich history and a direct connection to racing legend David Piper, it is not just a collector’s item but a living piece of motorsport history. Its uniqueness and enduring significance underscore the un-paralleled impact of the Porsche 917, making the 5LT a standout among even the most iconic race cars of all time.