Porsche 917 Kurzheck Celebrates 50 Years on Public Roads

Discover the story behind the Porsche 917 Kurzheck, the iconic road-legal racer that continues to inspire even after fifty years. Learn more inside!

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Fifty years ago, on April 28, 1975, a truly unique vehicle left the Weissach development center. It was a Porsche 917, originally a race car, later modified for public roads — a groundbreaking event in the brand’s history.

The project was initiated by Count Gregorio Rossi di Montelera, heir to Martini & Rossi and a passionate Porsche enthusiast. His dream of a street-legal 917 brought together a small team of engineers led by Anatole Lapine. The result — 917 chassis number 30 — became a one-of-a-kind machine.

Inspired by victories at Le Mans in 1970 and 1971, the Porsche 917 had already earned legendary status in endurance racing. For road use, the car was equipped with mufflers, turn signals, mirrors, a mandatory spare tire, and even a horn, yet retained its incredible technical prowess: a 4.9-liter 12-cylinder engine producing around 600 horsepower, capable of reaching a top speed of 354 km/h.

The interior received subtle upgrades too: seats were reupholstered in Hermès leather, with suede finishes lining the roof, doors, and dashboard. Key racing elements, like the wooden gear shifter and lightweight drilled key, were lovingly preserved.

Fittingly, the first exploratory drive did not end with a simple cruise around local roads. Instead, the car made an impressive journey all the way to Paris — a feat that symbolized the daring spirit behind the project.

Originally registered in Alabama, the car later moved to the UK and today roams the roads of southern France under the care of Manfredo Rossi, Count Rossi’s son, having undergone recent restoration work while preserving its original paint and interior.

This unique project marked a milestone not only for Porsche but also inspired the development of future hypercars, including the 917 Living Legend concept. The spirit of "what if?" still thrives at Weissach, driving the creation of extraordinary vehicles even fifty years later.