- Porsche hinted that it will build a road-legal version of its 963 Hypercar that it races in WEC and IMSA.
- The teaser came as Porsche reminded fans of a unique 917 race car that one very well-connected owner registered for the roads in 1975.
- The new model would almost certainly be a one-off, with Porsche hinting that it will be revealed in June.
Almost exactly 50 years ago, on April 28, 1975, possibly the most unique Porsche 917 ever built left the factory in Weissach. Porsche built some 65 examples of the 917 race car during its racing years. One of those cars, the first of only two ever configured for street use, 917 chassis 30, was modified for street use. And now, Porsche is hinting that another endurance race car could be modified to meet road-use regulations. PorschePorscheChassis number 30 wasn’t originally built for the roads. Instead, it started its life like every other 917, in the inferno of endurance racing. Following that aspect of its life, its owner, Teofilo Guiscardo Rossi di Montelera, known more simply as Count Rossi, issued Porsche with the herculean task of homologating the car for the road. The car was fitted with a rudimentary set of mufflers, mandatory side mirrors, turn signals, and a horn—it even stored the then-mandatory spare tire under its rear clamshell. The two seats in the cabin were refinished from their racing days in a tan leather commissioned from Hermès, with suede lining the dashboard and roof.PorscheWhile the car first wore Alabama license plates (seemingly the only place Count Rossi could find to register it), it’s now registered in the United Kingdom—though the current owner keeps it in the south of France. It’s still finished in Martini Silver and was recently restored, but most importantly, it’s still street legal.Along with reminding fans of Count Rossi’s 917, Porsche released a brief video celebrating the 50th anniversary of the date when chassis 30 took to European roads. Near the end of the video, Porsche asks the question, “What if?” The simple question is followed by a clip of a modern racing steering wheel, along with a silhouette of what looks to be a Porsche 963 prototype car. Given the context, we can only assume the brand has built a street-legal version of the modern race car. PorschePorscheMore details are set to be revealed in June, presumably at or around this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. As with chassis 30, we think this modern version will be a one-of-one creation, making it exceedingly special. Is it June yet?More on PorscheJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.
Source: caranddriver.com
