Le Mans (1971): 1970 Porsche 917K

In Hollywood history, few have seamlessly integrated a fervor for racing and cars into both the films they produced and starred in quite like Steve McQueen. The vision for Le Mans was McQueen’s attempt to authentically capture the intense and grueling 24-hour endurance race for the cinema screen. This ambitious project involved extensive on-site production at the actual Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France, and the use of real Porsche 917s and 917Ks throughout filming.

Adding to the film’s realism, McQueen personally entered his own Porsche 908 race car, previously securing second place in the 12 Hours of Sebring. Modified to accommodate cameras on the front and rear, the car, driven by Porsche works drivers Herbert Linge and Jonathan Williams, clinched second place in the Prototype P3.0 category. Despite its considerable weight in comparison to other prototypes on the circuit, it covered 282 laps, equivalent to 3,798 kilometers (2,360 miles). This accomplishment occurred despite additional pit stops and time lost during reel changes for the onboard cameras.

In the context of Le Mans, the 917K played a crucial supporting role. McQueen possessed a keen eye for showcasing cars of any era beautifully on film, and the 917K, both within and outside the film, remains a beloved favorite among classic race car enthusiasts. Propelled by one of the rare flat-twelve racing engines in history, it generated an impressive 572 horsepower from a 4.5-liter engine, all packed into a car weighing just over 820 kg (1,808 lbs). Essentially, it was extraordinarily fast, remarkably reliable, and, given the era’s emphasis on speed over safety, perilously dangerous in the event of a crash, as the driver’s legs were positioned in front of the front axle.