Any car nut with a passing interest in Le Mans will know of the Porsche 917. Through 11 different variants it arguably more than any other car defined sportscar racing in the 70s. That it took Porsche until its recent hybrid hypercar to use the next number in the line shows how highly regarded the 917 is. A certain
Steve McQueen film
appearance will have helped...
This is just a rendering...
Ian Howe is one of the many people captivated by the Porsche 917, and he's head of the
Project 917
. Its premise is simple: using one of
Bailey Cars' 917 recreations
, the project wants to involve young and upcoming automotive talent to create a 21st century version of this racing icon.
Given the basis this won't of course be a total overhaul, but it gives the opportunity for those who will never have seen a 917 in period to bring new ideas to it. Any project to give young engineers and designers a chance to prove themselves has to be a good thing, right?
Speaking to Ian, it's clear he's extremely passionate about the car but also aware of the potential issues. "What we don't want to do is to create a facsimile of the original", he says, which is probably a wise course of action. The aim is to "build a contemporary version based on the creativity of a younger generation" and to finish with "something totally unique but of the 21st century!"
... and what a Bailey 917 looks like
On that theme, the build will be documented not only with an online portal but also with tutorials along the way; the techniques and skills used will be available for all to learn. Construction will take place in Coventry, with all the knowledge that area holds. The final goal is to auction the completed car off, repeat the process and hopefully point those involved towards employment in the industry. Simple.
Now of course that aim is a way off, given it's a nascent project right now. It is being crowdfunded, details of which can be found on the website. There are gifts at different donation levels ranging from artwork to models to watches, so get your pledges in now! We'll be following the project as it progresses and hope to hear more from the guys soon. Good luck!