My son and I went to the Simeone museum today. They were getting the 917 ready for something on Saturday and had it out in the back parking lot. What a great place! I've been here 10 years and have yet to go. More pics to come....

 

1970 Porsche 917L

Chassis Number: 917-043
Engine Number: 015
Violet and Light Green with Maroon cloth
Engine: Flat 12-cylinder, dual overhead camshafts, Bosch mechanical fuel injection, 4999 cc, 630 bhp at 8400 rpm, 434 lb-ft at 6500 rpm; Gearbox: 5-speed Porsche transaxle; Brakes: 4-wheel disc; Suspension: front, independent by unequal control arms with coil springs over tubular shocks; rear, independent by unequal control arms and radius rods with coil springs over tubular shocks; Right hand drive.
Porsche built the 917 with one underlying goal: to win its first overall victory in the 24 Heures du Mans.
Starting in July 1968 twenty-five 917s were conceived, designed and built in only ten months to meet the FIA production minimum. Those first 25 examples incorporated remarkable technology: Porsche’s first 12-cylinder engine, an aluminum tube space frame chassis, myriad components from titanium, magnesium and exotic alloys, even suspension springs made from titanium wire. Over the next three years the Porsche 917 was to become a symbol of modern road racing technology, an effect far greater than would be expected from only the 37 examples built.
From the beginning, Porsche spent great efforts developing bodies with low aerodynamic drag for the Mulsanne Straight. They succeeded admirably, but on the track the slippery shape proved to be seriously unstable. At a late ‘69 test session which included the first prototype Can-Am 917, they realized the Can-Am car’s chunky high downforce design solved the 917’s stability problems and thenceforth ran two versions of the 917, the 917K (kurzheck, or short tail) and 917L (langheck). The latter were used in racing only at Le Mans. Only five 917Ls, of which this is one, were built, specifically to achieve Porsche’s ultimate goal, overall victory in the 24 Heures du Mans.

 

Did you hear it run?

 

Quite cool!

That golden fiberglass popped something to mind: All that fiberglass (it seems to me) renders this increasingly a "hanger queen" because of it's resin.
And that's a shame.

(I'd posit that late 60's resins were chosen at the time more for ease of fabrication than 40+year stability against material/chemical decomposition ["aging"], distillates exposure, and light/atmosphere exposure resistance. Throw on top of this, original weight-saving thicknesses, and this becomes an aging body and peripherals. That engine fan and [to a lesser extent the] fan cowling spooks me a bit, in this regard.
The engine and chassis, no doubt can sustain their old strengths.
But that power, against original f/g pieces, wouldn't surprise me having surprising cracks & failures popping up.)

But, boy - those pancake 12's sure sang a sweet song!

 

I've been in Philly for 23 years and never heard of this place!
Apparently a private collection that went public just two years ago.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/desti...r-museum_N.htm

Here is what is brewing for Saturday:

"This Saturday’s Legends Of Motorsport” To Feature Porsche; Racing Legend Vic Elford
The car everyone has been asking to see and hear run - the Porsche “Hippie” 917 - will be demonstrated Saturday, November 6th at Noon. Our special guest of honor will be Vic Elford, one of the few drivers who mastered the 917. Joining the 917 will be two other important racing Porsches: the Havoline 962 that won Sebring twice and a recreation of the 911 that Elford drove in the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally. The weekend is being sponsored by the Philadelphia Metropolitan Porsche Dealers, who will have several new Porsche models on display.

Vic Elford was one of the world’s great sports car drivers; being one of only four drivers ever to record six major victories at the Nurburgring (the other drivers being Rudolf Caracciolo in the 1920’s, John Surtees and Stirling Moss). But he is also a Targa Florio, Sebring and Daytona winner,to mention only a few. He was primarily known for racing Porsches, but also drove the legendary Chaparral “Sucker” Can-Am car, and raced in Formula One."

 

Laker,

Was that you I spoke to at a light on 130 S in NJ a few weeks ago? I was in a white A6.

 

Earlier this year I was in Philly for a conference, for kicks while at the hotel I did a "Porsche" search to see if anything interesting popped up...the Simeone museum was just a couple miles away. What luck! I dragged my wife there for a quick tour. I wasn't prepared to see so many significant cars...what an amazing place. A must see if you visit downtown Philly!

http://www.simeonefoundation.org/

The Collection:

ENDURANCE TRIAL
1909 AMERICAN UNDERSLUNG

PRE WORLD WAR 1 RACING
1912 NATIONAL SPEED CAR
1916 STUTZ BEARCAT
1913 MERCER RACEABOUT

AUTOMOBILE RACING CLUB OF AMERICA
1927 BENTLEY 3.5 LITRE SPEED MODEL
1929 ALFA ROMEO SUPERSPORT

WATKINS GLEN
1950 ALLARD J2
1955 MERCEDES-BENZ GULLWING

BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS
1937 SUPERCHARGED CORD
1954 AUSTIN-HEALEY 100-4
1964 COBRA DAYTONA COUPE

BROOKLANDS TRACK
1925 ALFA ROMEO RL SUPER SPORT
1934 ALFA ROMEO 8C 2300 SPIDER

TIMED TRIALS
1930 BENTLEY 4.5 L SUPERCHARGED

HILL CLIMB
1921 VAUXHALL 30/98E

NÜRBURGRING
1937 BMW 328
1938 BMW 328

TARGA FLORIO
1926 BUGATTI TYPE 35
1975 ALFA ROMEO 33 TT 12

MILLE MIGLIA
1933 ALFA ROMEO MONZA
1937 ALFA ROMEO 8C2900A

RIFORNIMENTO
1924 LANCIA LAMBDA

MATCH RACE
1928 STUTZ BB BLACKHAWK SPEEDSTER

SEBRING
1953 JAGUAR C-TYPE
1956 JAGUAR D-TYPE

RALLY
1938 JAGUAR SS-100 3.5L
1972 ALFA ROMEO GTV6

AMERICA’S FIRST INTERNATIONAL WIN
1921 DUESENBERG RACE CAR

AMERICA AT LE MANS
1927 STUTZ BLACK HAWK
1929 STUTZ SUPERCHARGED LE MANS
1929 DUPONT LE MANS SPEEDSTER
1966 FORD GT40 MK II
1967 FORD MK IV

SPORTY CARS
1912 HUDSON MILE-A-MINUTE ROADSTER
1916 OAKLAND SPEEDSTER
1922 PAIGE DAYTONA 6-66 SPEEDSTER
1926 KISSEL 8-75 SPEEDSTER
1928 AUBURN 8-88 BOAT TAIL SPEEDSTER
1933 AUBURN V12 12-165 SPEEDSTER
1935 AUBURN 851 BOAT TAIL SPEEDSTER
1933 SQUIRE ROADSTER
1949 ALFA ROMEO 6C2500 BRIXIA
1956 MERCEDES BENZ GULLWING
1966 CORVETTE 427
1968 FORD MUSTANG

HISTORY OF NASCAR
1938 FORD COUPE
1953 HUDSON HORNET TWIN H-POWER
1970 PLYMOUTH SUPERBIRD
1986 BUICK REGAL NASCAR
1998 FORD THUNDERBIRD NASCAR
2002 NASCAR DYNO MULE

LE MANS
1933 ALFA ROMEO 8C2300 LEMANS
1934 MG K3 MAGNETTE
1936 ASTON MARTIN LE MANS
1936 DELAHAYE 135S
1938 PEUGEOT DARLMAT LEMANS
1954 FERRARI 375MM
1956 MASERATI 300S
1958 FERRARI TESTA ROSSA
1970 PORSCHE 917LH

WINNER’S CIRCLE
1927 MERCEDES BENZ SPORTWAGEN
1937 BUGATTI 57G TANK
1938 ALFA ROMEO 8C 2900B MM
1953 CUNNINGHAM C4R
1958 ASTON MARTIN DBR1

 

@Jonnygo1, nope, wasn't me, but thanks for putting this place on my radar!

@911Jetta, re: "... while at the hotel I did a "Porsche" search to see if anything interesting popped up."
It's a sickness isn't it? lol... thanks for the catalog... I might just repost this Saturday's on the 'events' thread.