Porsche 917/20 Le Mans

Premiere: 1971 April 17 at Le Mans test day

Engine: 4.9F12 441 kW 404 lb-ft 550 Nm

The 917/20 was a one-off aerodynamic research study conducted by an external aerodynamics specialist SERA-CD (Société d’Etudes et de Réalisations Automobiles - Charles Deutsch). The wheelbase and track were kept the same, but the body was made wider. Its rear end was something between the short- and longtail. They wanted to achieve the downforce and stability of the shorttail 917 and the smaller drag and the top speed of the longtail 917. The idea to paint it like a pig came from the Porsche design manager Anatole "Tony" Lapine. Was it because how he saw the SERA-designed 917? Anyway, the livery was so unexpected that it became famous just because of that. And the car even didn't finish the race.

1971 Le Mans 24H, before start © Porsche

Headlamps are kept covered with plastic until twilight - for them to be at their best when they are needed© Porsche

Driver position is on the right like in every 917 - for better balance on the round-the clock race tracks (majority of tracks)© Porsche

Continue to 917/10-71

Anniversaries: May, 20 – 59th birthday of the 804 (1962); May, 26 – 64th birthday of the 718 (1957); May, 31 – 68th birthday of the 550 (1953); Jun, 08 – 73rd birthday of the 356 (1948); Jun, 11 – 49th birthday of the first Turbo-Porsche (1972)