65 Porsche 917s were built between 1968 and 1975. Walter Näher has collected them all and researched their life stories. And he himself was up close and personal in those years when nothing was too much for Porsche to rise to the Olympus of motorsport.
From idea to Le Mans winner
Walter Näher meticulously traces the path from the first ideas to the production-ready racing sports car. In his book, the author shows wind tunnel studies, lattice tube frames and many other technical details in pictures and describes the difficulties and challenges during the development phase.
The 917 was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1969, more precisely on the press day on March 12, 1969. The first vehicle had been completed just two days earlier.
The events surrounding the homologation in April 1969 are also impressively described and illustrated in the book.
Test drives and racing
Something very special in the 917 book are the almost 50 pages documenting the findings from test drives and race participations. Näher uses internal protocols, press releases and other sources to illustrate the continuous maturation of the racing car into an unbeatable sports car.
With all 917 variants
Of course, the book also covers the variants of the 917, from the PA Spyder and the long-tail 917 to the open-top 917-10 and 917-30.
Successes and failures
Just as important in the book as the successes, for example the Le Mans victories, are the failures, the technical experiments and approaches that did not succeed. This makes for fascinating reading and shows how hard the Porsche men had to work for their successes.
Complete chassis directory
On 63 pages, the history of every model built is unrolled. Here you can also learn interesting details, such as the fact that chassis 917-001 suffered engine damage after just 38 kilometers during the test drives or that 917-011 was given the registration number S-U 3912 (red) for the Targa Florio qualifying.
Extensive technical data
Of course, the technical data and illustrations of the twelve-cylinder engine are also given plenty of space. Fans will also be interested in the sixteen-cylinder engine, of which three units were built, but which was never used in racing.
Picture perfect
If the detailed records and documentation of the development and evolution of the 917 super sports car alone are enough to justify the price of € 79 for the almost 3 kg book, the many pictures from the history of almost all the cars produced are a welcome addition, especially because Näher has also succeeded in documenting the privately used 917s with pictures.
Although the illustrations could be even more brilliant, this does not detract from their historical value.
For real racing and Porsche fans
Walter Näer's book (even in its slightly revised second edition) is not intended for the coffee table, despite its careful design with many pictures and photos. The reader should want to take a close look at the technology and the nature of a racing car. If this is the case, then this book has what it takes to quickly become one of the most important works in his collection, as other critics have previously written.
From the contentsIndex of works
- Vehicle layout and development
- Production preparation and 25-series vehicle
- Premiere in Geneva
- Homologation as a Group 4 sports car
- The factory test drives, races and further developments in 1969
- The evolution of the 25 homologation series (917 001-025)
- The 25 Plus series (917 026-036)
- Project Pa-Spyder (917 027, 917 028)
- The factory test drives, racing events and further developments in 1970
- New long tail product for 1970/71 (917 040-045)
- Magnesium tubular frame project (917 051-053)
- Project 917/20 (917/20-001)
- The factory test drives, races and further developments in 1971
- Project 917/10 (917/10-001 - 917/10-018)
- Project 917/30 (917/30-001 - 917/30-006)
- The 917 coupés used on a private basis in the picture (1969-1971)
- The 917 Spyders used on a private basis and their protagonists in the picture (1971-1975)
Bibliographical information
- Title: Porsche 917 - Archive and catalog of works 1968 - 1975
- Author: Walter Näher
- Publisher: Delius Klasing, 2nd edition 2014
- Scope: 576 pages, 244 color photos, 348 b/w photos, as well as sketches and plan drawings
- Format: 30.8 x 24.6 cm, hardcover with dust jacket, 2.9 kg
- ISBN: 978-3-7688-3835-1
- Price: € 79.00 (D) / € 81.40 (A) / sFr 107.00 (CH)
- Order/buy: At amazon.de
, at the publisher Delius-Klasing or in the relevant bookstores
