It’s not often a car transcends its role as a racing machine to become a global icon of motorsport, cinema, and pop culture. Yet, Porsche 917-022, with its signature Gulf Oil blue-and-orange livery, has done just that. Its journey—from dominating racetracks and captivating movie audiences in Steve McQueen’s Le Mans to gracing elite collections like Jerry Seinfeld’s—is a testament to its unmatched allure.
Now, as this legendary machine heads to Mecum’s 2025 Kissimmee Auction, enthusiasts and collectors alike eagerly await what promises to be a record-breaking moment for this rare piece of automotive history.
A Star is Born: McQueen’s Vision and Le Mans
After rolling out of Porsche’s West German factory in 1970, 917-022 was acquired by Steve McQueen’s Solar Productions. McQueen, fresh off a second-place finish at the 12 Hours of Sebring, envisioned competing at Le Mans and simultaneously filming a cinematic homage to endurance racing. Though insurance concerns dashed his dream of racing, McQueen redirected his passion into producing the iconic Le Mans film.
The production broke new ground in motorsport filmmaking. Equipped with mounted cameras, 917-022 captured visceral on-track footage, establishing a new standard for cinematic authenticity. Its role as McQueen’s on-screen car cemented its place in film and racing history, with its Gulf Oil livery becoming an enduring symbol of speed and style.
From Silver Screen to Circuit Legend
After Le Mans wrapped, 917-022 returned to the racing world, piloted by renowned drivers like Reinhold Joest and Brian Redman. The car’s pedigree extended beyond the silver screen, competing in the 1971 World Manufacturers Championship season and numerous historic racing events.
Over the decades, it exchanged hands among motorsport luminaries and collectors, each adding to its storied legacy. In the late 1990s, Richard Attwood, a Le Mans champion, restored it to its iconic Gulf Oil livery before passing it to Jerry Seinfeld, whose care ensured its preservation as a motorsport treasure.
A Meticulous Restoration for the Ages
In 2024, Cavaglieri Restorations embarked on a comprehensive overhaul to return 917-022 to its original, screen-used specifications. This painstaking effort involved restoring its Type 912 V-12 engine to deliver its original 580 BHP at 8,400 RPM, alongside precision work on its transmission, suspension, and braking systems. The car’s Gulf livery was reapplied with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring it mirrored its Le Mans appearance.
An Auction to Rewrite History
As 917-022 heads to auction at Mecum’s 2025 Kissimmee event, it stands poised to redefine collector car values. Its extraordinary combination of:
- Cinematic pedigree (Le Mans hero car starring Steve McQueen)
- Racing heritage (World Manufacturers Championship contender)
- Celebrity ownership (Jerry Seinfeld and motorsport legends)
- Immaculate restoration
…makes it one of the most coveted vehicles in the world.
The Verdict
For Porsche and motorsport enthusiasts, 917-022 represents the pinnacle of what a car can achieve—both on the track and in cultural history. As it crosses the block in Florida, the world will bear witness to an unprecedented moment, where engineering mastery and storytelling merge into one breathtaking package. The legacy of 917-022 will not only endure but likely enter an entirely new stratosphere of reverence.
