Unveiled at the March 1969 Geneva Motor Show, the Porsche 917 Sports Racer was priced at 140,000DM (a sum then equivalent to ten 911 road cars). It would go onto win Le Mans in both 1970 and 1971 (as well as having a starring role in Steve McQueen's cinematic homage to the great 24-hour race). Arguably, the most important Porsche competition car yet built, the 917 was responsible for some of the most dramatic racing ever witnessed. This unique road-going 917K Evocation is rumoured to have cost well in excess of six figures and was specially commissioned from K.D. Motor Engineers of Warrington by a previous owner. Based on a mid-engined 1970 914-6 donor car, 'ARP 496J' is both registered and taxed as a Porsche. Fed by twin variable-boost GT2 turbochargers, its dry-sump 3.3 litre type 930 flat-six engine also boasts a fully plumbed-in 'wet' nitrous-oxide injection system. Topped by dual intercoolers and a horizontal multi-blade fan, this formidable powerplant is coupled to an inverted manual 911 Turbo gearbox complete with its own oil cooler and oil pump. Intended for both (hyper) fast road and track use, 'ARP 496J' features highly modified suspension and 911 Turbo sourced disc brakes. Reportedly handmade from blueprints, its lightweight fibreglass bodywork is finished in Gulf Oil's evocative light blue and orange colours. Sparse but functional, the two-seater cabin sports high-backed seats, a centre-mounted instrument binnacle, intercom system, Camus LCD display screen (for the rear view camera feed), fire-extinguisher pull, ignition cut-out switch and starter button. A truly unique proposition, this incredible left-hand drive Porsche also reputedly boasts the signatures of Richard Chamberlain, Mark Finsburg, David Piper and Richard Attwood to its tail section not to mention the race harness from Damon Hill's F1 Championship winning Williams. The subject of fettling by Steve Webb, `ARP 496J' is described by the vendor as "a seriously quick car". Fully road legal and thus capable of being driven to track days, open class hillclimb / sprint events or through a city centre.

PLEASE NOTE: All estimates are subject to a buyer's premium of 15% incl. VAT (@ 20%)