Porsche 917, 935, 956, 962 Sports Racers Gold Portfolio - R M Clarke

During the mid-1960s Porsche decided that if it was to enjoy outright success at Le Mans (rather than class wins) it would need a car somewhat larger and more powerful than those it already had. It was time for something completely different. It was time for the Type 917. Mid-engined like so many earlier Porsches, it had a 12-cylinder air-cooled boxer engine that produced 580 bhp from 4.5 liters when first announced in 1969. After a period of "development" in 1970, the 917 became almost unbeatable, winning at Le Mans and virtually every other circuit. By 1972 the 917 was enjoying success in the hugely popular Can-Am series in America with a turbocharged 5.0 liter engine of 950 bhp and later a 5.4 liter unit that produced over 1,000 bhp! The hero driver was usually the late Mark Donohue. Later came the 935, 956, and the evergreen 962 that enjoyed a race-winning life of many years, way beyond the normal two or three years.