400km/h Porsche sells for $4.4 million

Subject: 400km/h Porsche sells for $4.4 million Wed Aug 18, 2010 5:20 am

One of the rarest and fastest Porsches on the planet has set a new world record at auction.

A United States auction house is claiming a world record for a Porsche sold at auction, with a legendary 917K model selling for $US3.97 million ($4.4 million).

The car, an open-top version of the legendary racer immortalised in the Steve McQueen movie Le Mans, sold at the Bonhams & Butterfields auction in Carmel Valley, California.

400km/h Porsche sells for $4.4 million Porsche-917k_420-420x0

400km/h Porsche sells for $4.4 million Porsche-917k_420-420x0

The 12-cylinder 917 is still regarded as one of the most lethal racing cars ever developed. Later turbocharged versions reportedly developed a staggering 1180kW in qualifying mode, while British driver Derek Bell clocked 394km/h on Le Mans' Mulsanne straight in 1971. The top speed stood for 17 years.

Faster versions of the 917 were capable of a 0-100km/h time of just 2.3 seconds, although the car sold at auction was a much less powerful version, developing roughly 460kW.

The 917 gave Porsche its first victory at Le Mans in 1970 and dominated endurance racing - and the rival Ferrari 512 - for three years from 1969 to 1971.

The car sold at auction competed at Le Mans in 1970 in the distinctive orange and blue livery of the Gulf Oil team, but crashed out on lap 50 with multiple world motorcycle champion Mike Hailwood at the wheel.

The car aquaplaned in heavy rain after Hailwood had turned down a set of wet-weather tyres at a pit stop a couple of laps earlier.

The Brit reportedly returned to the pits with only the car's steering wheel in his hand and team chief John Wyer greeted him with the words: "Good evening Michael. Is that what caused it ... or is that all that's left?"

The car was re-built as a spyder - as one of two open-top 917s ever made - and competed in endurance races until 1973.

ANCAPS ANARCHO-CAPITALISTS

400km/h Porsche sells for $4.4 million

400km/h Porsche sells for $4.4 million

Anarcho-Capitalist Categorical Imperatives

AnCaps In Science, Technology & Environment