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One of the most recognisable and legendary race cars of all time, originally owned and driven by Steve McQueen in the 1971 movie Le Mans, is the star attraction of Mecum’s World’s Largest Collector Car Auction at Kissimmee in Florida from January 7 to 19, 2025.
An icon among Porsche’s famed sports cars, this Gulf oil-liveried 917K with chassis number 917-022 was the hero car in the epic 106-minute motor-sport movie, made with an estimated budget of A$11.2 million. McQueen played the lead role of driver Micheal Delaney.
The movie was a departure from the norm with no audible dialog until the 36th minute and McQueen having just 12 lines in the entire film. But everyone remembers his most famous one: “Racing is life. Anything before or after, is just waiting.”
The Porsche 917-022 was purchased new by McQueen and used in the movie he starred in and produced. He also raced it in many other events after the movie as well.
Celebrated movie cars usually owe their fame more to the silver screen than to their mechanical pedigree or striking design. But the McQueen Porsche 917K is an exception, with the hero car not only a cinematic icon, but also a successful, world-class racing car.
McQueen’s Porsche 917K transitioned seamlessly from the film set to the world of endurance sports-car racing. This illustrious 917K, with a complete and known ownership history, has been owned by several legendary Porsche racers in the time since it was originally purchased and possessed from new, by McQueen himself.
An accomplished racer in his own right, McQueen was not allowed to drive in the classic twice-around-the-clock race after breaking his ankle in a motorcycle mishap and nervous insurers vetoed him driving. So he had to entwine his own driving footage into actual vision captured during the race, using both a camera car (a Porsche 908 owned by McQueen that competed) and cameras around the circuit.
The making of the movie had its own share of dramas with sports-car ace and film driver David Piper having a leg amputated in hospital, because of a deep cut caused during a crash scene. Brake fluid and other debris got into the cut, which caused an infection and the need to amputate the leg. He received a special thanks “for his sacrifice” in the movie credits.
While the movie itself cost A$11.2 million to produce, its box office takings in North America only reached A$8.08 million and it was initially panned by critics and seen as a flop. Today it is considered a cult classic and a must-watch for any racing fan.
The cast of then current F1 and sports-car drivers featuring in the movie included stars like Brian Redman, David Piper, Derek Bell, Gerard Larrousse, Jacky Ickx, Jean Pierre Jabouille, Jean Sage, Jo Siffert, John Miles, Jonathan Williams, Jürgen Barth, Masten Gregory, Michael Parkes, Paul Blancpain, Peter Huber, Pierre Greub, René Herzog, Richard Attwood, Rob Slotemaker, Rolf Stommelen, Silvio Moser, Teddy Pilette and Vic Elford.
The McQueen owned and raced Porsche 917K has just emerged from a meticulous and painstaking restoration and is presented in its 1970 specifications as seen in the movie.
No estimate has been provided, but given the Steve McQueen driven Bullitt Mustang sold for A$5.57 million, and in 2017 a Porsche 917K achieved A$21.8 million, expectations are the McQueen car will reward the vendor far more than the movie did its backers.
THREE VALLEYS TOURING RALLY
Have you ever wanted to participate in a touring rally with an emphasis on friendly competition, camaraderie and socialising at the end of each day with new-found friends? KO Motoring Events, established in 2019 runs two such events yearly, having taken over the hugely popular touring rallies, which were held for many years by motor-sport identity, Rowan Harman.
KO Motoring Events owners, Robin Knaggs and Tony Onley, were regulars in many of these rallies for well over a decade and when Harman announced his retirement, Robin and Tony stepped in, as they enjoyed them so much and as a way of keeping together the close-knit family that has developed among participants.
Their next event is The Three Valleys Touring Rally in early November 2024, held over three days and similar in style to the Grand Prix Rally, Indy Car and Clipsal 500 Rallies. It is Victorian-based and offers a mixture of competitive challenges including motorkhanas, lap-dashes and hill climbs at venues like Winton Raceway, Wilby Motorsport Park and Barnawatha Logic Circuit.
The navigation elements of the rally are conducted on open public roads, with competitors using maps supplied to locate and drive the correct roads to points marked on the maps
and record information on a route chart.
The Three Valleys Touring Rally is limited to 50 entries, ensuring minimal waiting time between events, and so accommodation and dinner functions can include everyone at the one venue.
Best of all you don’t need a purpose-built rally car, a highly-strung performance car or an exotic supercar to compete. Vehicles are put in classes of similar performance and range from classic and collector cars of all eras to later model Mustangs, Camaros, Corvettes, Mitsubishi Evos, Subaru WRX, a myriad of Porsches, Holdens and HSVs, Fords, Audi, Nissans, Toyotas, Clubmans, Mercedes, BMW, and many more marques and models. It is pretty much a case of run what you have in the shed.
Just as varied are the participants with ages ranging from 18 to 80. Many are married couples, mates, fathers and sons or daughters, mums and daughters as well as all-female teams.
Keeping the event ticking over as efficiently as a Swiss watch and ensuring everyone’s safety is a host of highly experienced volunteer officials with most having extensive motor-sport knowledge. The electronic timing of the competitive events is conducted by members of the Shepparton District Car Club.
Camaraderie is a big part of the rally and at the conclusion of each day’s activities, competitors and officials gather for a drink and dinner while reflecting on the highs and lows of the day, meeting new friends and enjoying the company of like-minded people who enjoy driving their cars, in safe and controlled conditions.
Each night the results are posted with participants taking a quick look to see how they are going, before retiring to the car park for a nightcap and more conversation.
Event owner Robin Knaggs said, “I’ve been doing these touring rallies for nearly 20 years and it’s like one big family. We base ourselves at the one hotel, so we’re all together. We also make new participants feel very welcome, with many becoming rally regulars and part of the family.
“It’s not a speed event like Targa Tasmania and there’s something for everyone with many different challenges both at closed venues like Winton raceway and Broadford to the navigational contests on open roads to find points on the map. The events are about enjoying the cars, having fun, a bit of competition and meeting great people in a unique environment.”
Head to the event website www.komotoringevents.com.au for more information.
MECUM MONTEREY AUCTION HITS A$79.8 MILLION IN SALES
While some sprout economic gloom and doom, bidders attending car week in Monterey brushed any fears aside, if the Mecum’s auction held at the Del Monte Golf Course are anything to go by, achieving a staggering A$79.8 million in sales.
Played out in front of record crowds, the most expensive car going under the Mecum hammer was a 1969 Ford GT40 Lightweight selling for A$11.62 million, becoming the fourth highest priced car sold during Monterey Car Week.
A total of 11 cars were sold by Mecum in excess of US$1 million with a heated bidder battle for a 1969 Dodge Hemi Daytona, which finally went for A$4.96 million, a new auction record for the model.
Motorcycles lived up to pre-auction hype, with a handful of bikes achieving strong six-figure sales, including a 1913 Henderson Four at A$195,978 and a 1947 Harley-Davidson EL Deluxe Knucklehead that brought A$162,650.
Ferraris were sought after by Mecum bidders with a 1967 275 GTB/4 selling for A$4.55 million, a 2003 Enzo at A$4.22 million and a 1967 330 GTS finding a new owner for $3.74 million.
American 1960’s muscle made a statement with a 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda convertible making the vendor happy with a winning bid of A$3.80 million, while a 1967 Chevy Corvette L88 Convertible got A$3.47 million.
European thoroughbreds also fared well with a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT changing hands for A$2.56 million, a 1930 Packard 734 Speedster Boattail Runabout going for A$2.03 million and a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster finding a winning bid of A$1.82 million.
Photography: Mecum Auctions/Gianni Cabiglio/Peter Rogers/KO Motoring Events/Mecum Auctions