1971 Porsche 917K Martini

1971 Porsche 917K Martini

This Porsche 917K, serial #917-019, has a flat-twelve air-cooled engine mounted midship, twin overhead camshafts and fuel injection.  The car is displayed in late 1971 configuration and is quite conservative given the liveries of other 917s during the two championship years.  A Martini car was modishly decorated in psychedelic colors.  For Le Mans, Porsche Styling painted an experimental 917/20 pink with dotted lines representing the various cuts of meat available from swine.  It was named Big Bertha, The Truffle Pig of Zuffenhausen.  One can be cheeky when one is a champion.  The car was part of Porsche Salzburg in 1970.  In 1971 it raced at Le Mans as a member of the Martini Racing Team, sponsored by Martini and Rossi and driven by Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep.  It sported numerous experimental features including a magnesium tube frame. 

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