The year 1970 marked a milestone in the history of Porsche, with the debut of their iconic racing car, the 917 KH. This model was a significant leap forward in terms of design and engineering, and it quickly became a fan favourite in the world of motorsports. The 917 KH was built to comply with the new regulations, which required manufacturers to produce at least 25 units of the same model for homologation. Porsche first failed to comply but in the end managed to build 25 working units - even offering the officers to test drive each of them.
The manufacturing process of the 917 KH was a laborious and expensive affair, with each car taking months to build by hand. The chassis was made of lightweight magnesium alloy, which was welded together by skilled craftsmen. The bodywork was crafted from fibreglass and reinforced with Kevlar, a material that is mainly used in bulletproof vests. The car's suspension, steering, and braking systems were all designed to handle the extreme stresses of endurance racing.
Despite its high production cost, the 917 KH was a tremendous success on the racetrack, winning numerous races and championships. The car's powerful 4.5-litre, 12-cylinder V 180˚ engine, which produced over 580 horsepower, allowed it to reach speeds of over 220 mph on the Mulsanne Straight at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 917 KH's success in racing cemented Porsche's reputation as a manufacturer of high-performance sports cars and paved the way for future models like the 956 and 962. Today, the 917 KH remains an icon of motorsports history and a testament to Porsche's engineering prowess.