What engine was in the Porsche 917?
The 917 gave Porsche its first overall wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970 and 1971….Porsche 917.
| Porsche 917 Porsche 917 K | |
|---|---|
| Engine | 4.5 L Type 912 Flat-12 4.9 L Type 912 Flat-12 5.0 L Type 912 Flat-12 |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual 5-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,300 mm (90.6 in) |
Was the Porsche 917 engine air cooled?
Porsche 917 KH Coupé As the successor to the successful 907 and 908 types, the 917 got an air-cooled twelve-cylinder engine whose power in 1970 was an imposing 580 hp (426 kW) at 8,300 rpms. On June 14, 1970, Porsche bagged the first of 16 overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
What was the top speed of the Porsche 917?
The 917 engine initially had 520 horsepower, could do the zero to 60 miles per hour (96.6 kilometers per hour) dash in 2.5 seconds and had a top speed of close to 250 miles per hour (402.3 kilometers per hour) [source: Read ]. The engine was capable of far more than that.
How many variants of the Porsche 917 are there?
There are at least eleven variants of the 917. The original version had a removable long tail/medium tail with active rear wing flaps, but had considerable handling problems at high speed because of significant rear lift.
What was the purpose of the Porsche 917K?
The 917K models were generally used for the shorter road courses such as Sebring, Brands Hatch, Monza and Spa-Francorchamps. The big prize for Porsche however, was Le Mans. For the French circuit’s long, high speed straights, the factory developed special long tail bodywork that was designed for minimum drag and thus highest maximum speed.
When did Porsche 917 no longer compete in Le Mans?
The 917 had racked up 15 endurance victories, including the brand’s first two overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, before its 5.0-liter, 12-cylinder engine was no longer permitted to compete in 1972.” It couldn’t compete in Europe, but here in North America there was this thing called the Can-Am.