Custom Porsche 917K Slot Cars - Forgotten Treasures Part II
Take it easy
The plan was to customize some cars without to altering details on the body. Some Porsche 917K had been on the list for a while. Martin Racing and GULF livery were priorities. In 1971 GULF and Martini Porsche took part in the 24h Daytona. Information on the race itself seems rare.
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Porsche 917 24 hours Daytona 1971 John Wyer GULF, Martini & Rossi Racing Team |
Images of the wining Porsche #2 with Pedro Rodriguez and Jackie Oliver are easily found. Were it is more difficult with the rest of the pack. Images are a necessary source to replicate the livery of each car. Eventually graphics are modified to fit the AFX Porsche 917 proportions. In case of the GULF Porsche it is easy as the orange accents are painted on. The MARTINI blue, light blue and red stripping is trickier.
24h Daytona 1971 Martini Porsche 917K
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| #3 Daytona 1971 Martini & Rossi Racing Team, Helmut Marko/Rudi Lins |
Over the years, several AFX Porsche, whether 917, 911 or 908-03, unintentionally received a Martini Livery. From the early 1970s, when it became legal to advertise non motorsport related products on the race cars, Martini Racing and Porsche started a successful partnership. Once it became obvious how many Porsche already featured the Martini Racing design, the next step was to make as many 911 RSR, 908-03 or 917 as possible. Some of the 917 had been made some years ago. Now the results did not seem pleasing any longer. It was time to replace those with contemporary models
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| #4 Daytona 1971 Martini & Rossi Racing Team, Vic Elford / Gijs van Lennep |
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| Custom Slot Car Porsche 917 MartiniRossi Racing 1971 |
Porsche 917 K #3 Martini Racing Sebring 12 Hours1971
The third Martini & Rossi Racing Porsche 917K is the 12h Sebring 1971 winner with Vic Elford and Gérard Larrousse, a replacement for a model that had been sold some time ago.
Porsche 917K Daytona GULF John Wyer 1971
The other successful Sponsorship with Porsche, or lets say John Wyer Racing, was with GULF oil company. The striking colour concept of the light blue with orange accents is simple and compelling. As you know, John Wyer Racing, was also successful with the FORD GT40 winning Le Mans two years in a row – 1968 (Pedro Rodríguez and Lucien Bianchi) and 1969 (Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver) - Link. To replicate the blue and orange on a slot car seemed to be rather difficult. Now you can acutely acquire airbrush paints from various brands to match the original paint. |
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24 Hours Daytona 1971, GULF Porsche 917K J. W. Automotive Engineering, Jo Siffert / Derek Bell |
Also these slot car customs were meant to be simple builds The GULF Porsche will receive this additional wing on the rear. It is to difficult to ignore. With the next round of GULF blue cars, the wings should be painted. But this can take some time, because there are always other projects poping up to consume the time and energy.
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Gulf Porsche 917K John Wyer Team Pedro Rodriguez und Jackie Oliver – 24 hours Daytona 1917 Winner |
The next MARTINI Porsche are waiting to be materialize. A replacement for the 24 hours Le Mans 1971 winner will follow, two participating Porsches 911 Carrera RS at the Targa Florio 1973, all with interesting modifications.
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Custom Slot Cars Porsche 917 24 Hours Daytona 1971– GULF Martini & Rossi Racing |
he Porsche 917 is a race car that gave Porsche its first overall wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970 and 1971. Powered by the Type 912 flat-12 engine of 4.5, 4.9, or 5 litres, the 917/30 Can Am variant was capable of a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 2.3 seconds, 0–124 mph (200 km/h) in 5.3 seconds, and a top speed of up to 240 mph (390 km/h).This is not, however, representative of the majority of 917s. The highest official speed ever clocked for a 917 at Le Mans is 362 km/h or 224.4 mph.
Find out more interesting details
What Has Kept The Gulf Racing Livery So Special For So Long?
Martini Racing
What Has Kept The Gulf Racing Livery So Special For So Long?
Martini Racing
Hope you enjoy!
#Porsche 917 | #Daytona | #Sebring | #GULF | #John Wyer | #Martini Rossi
