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Porsche 917 4.5 V12 (520 Hp)
Overall Rating
Porsche 917:
The Porsche 917 is a sports prototype race car developed by German manufacturer Porsche to exploit the regulations regarding the construction of 5-litre sports cars. Powered by a Type 912 flat-12 engine which was progressively enlarged from 4. 5 to 5. 0 litres, the 917 was introduced in 1969 and initially proved unwieldy on the race track but continuous development improved the handling and it went on to dominate sports-car racing in 1970 and 1971.
In 1970 it gave Porsche its first overall win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a feat it would repeat in 1971. It would be chiefly responsible for Porsche winning the International Championship for Makes in 1970 and 1971. Porsche went on to develop the 917 for Can-Am racing, culminating in the twin-turbocharged 917/30 which was even more dominant in the role. Porsche drivers would win the Can-Am championship in 1972 and 1973. 917 drivers also won the Interserie championship every year from 1969 to 1975....(Read more on Wikipedia)
917 Overview:
Porsche 917 (917). With 451 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. Weighing only 896 kg, it’s quite light. Rear‑wheel drive offers dynamic handling and sporty feedback. The top speed reaches 320 km/h. A two-door car with a fixed roof, known for its sporty design and dynamic performance. Seating for 2 makes it ideal for daily use.
The Porsche 917, a pure racing prototype from 1969, predates Euro NCAP testing by decades. Its design prioritizes performance and driver protection within racing regulations of its era, not modern road safety standards.
4.5 V12 (520 Hp) Verdict:
Performance Verdict
This 4.5-liter flat-12 engine, known as the Type 912, delivered a staggering 520 Hp, propelling the lightweight 917 to incredible speeds, making it a formidable and dominant force on the world's most challenging race tracks.
Fuel Economy
As a high-performance racing engine, fuel economy was secondary to power output and endurance. It consumed vast amounts of fuel, typical for a competition vehicle of its time, optimized for performance, not efficiency.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Iconic status and legendary racing heritage
- • Groundbreaking performance and speed for its era
- • Innovative engineering and design
- • Dominant success in major endurance races (e.g., Le Mans)
- • Exceptional collector's item and investment
Cons:
- • Not road legal or practical for public roads
- • Extremely high running and maintenance costs
- • Minimal comfort and refinement (pure race car)
- • Challenging to drive at its limits
- • Safety features are rudimentary by modern standards
Specifications:
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Porsche |
| Model: | 917 |
| Generation: | 917 |
| Modification (Engine): | 4.5 V12 (520 Hp) |
| Start of production: | 1969 |
| End of production: | 1970 |
| Powertrain Architecture: | Internal Combustion engine |
| Body type: | Coupe |
| Seats: | 2 |
| Doors: | 2 |
| Engine: | |
|---|---|
| Power: | 520 Hp @ 8000 rpm. |
| Power per litre: | 115.7 Hp/l |
| Torque: | 451 Nm @ 6800 rpm. |
| Engine Model/Code: | Type 912 |
| Engine displacement: | 4494 |
| Number of cylinders: | 12 |
| Engine configuration: | 180° flat V-engine |
| Number of valves per cylinder: | 2 |
| Fuel injection system: | Multi-port manifold injection |
| Engine aspiration: | Naturally aspirated engine |
| Valvetrain: | DOHC |
| Engine layout: | Rear, Longitudinal |
| Cylinder Bore: | 85 mm mm |
| Piston Stroke: | 66 mm mm |
| Compression ratio: | 10.5:1 |
| Performance: | |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type: | Petrol (Gasoline) |
| Maximum speed: | 320 km/h |
| Weight-to-power ratio: | 1.7 kg/Hp, 580.4 Hp/tonne |
| Weight-to-torque ratio: | 2 kg/Nm, 503.3 Nm/tonne |
| Space: | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight: | 896 |
| Size: | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 4290 mm mm |
| Width: | 1880 mm mm |
| Height: | 920 mm mm |
| Wheelbase: | 2300 mm mm |
| Front track: | 1488 mm |
| Rear (Back) track: | 1457 mm |
| Powertrain: | |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain Architecture | The Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the rear wheels of the vehicle. |
| Drive wheel | Rear wheel drive |
| Number of gears | 5 |
| Transmission type | Manual |
| Front brakes | Ventilated discs |
| Rear brakes | Ventilated discs |
| Steering type | Steering rack and pinion |
| Wheel rims size | Front wheel rims: 9J x 15 |
| Front suspension | Independent coil spring, Transverse stabilizer |
| Rear suspension | Independent coil spring, Transverse stabilizer |
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