---
title: "Would You Buy the Porsche 917K from Steve McQueen’s Le Mans for $16 Million?"
description: "Well, somebody probably will."
date: "2017-06-23"
modified: "2017-06-26"
authors:
  - name: "Will Sabel Courtney"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/will-sabel-courtney"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/11819/would-you-buy-the-porsche-917k-from-steve-mcqueens-le-mans-for-16-million"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "For Sale"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "People"
  - "Porsche News"
tags:
  - "24 Hours of Le Mans"
  - "917"
  - "917K"
  - "Le Mans"
  - "Pebble Beach"
  - "porsche"
  - "Steve McQueen"
---

# Would You Buy the Porsche 917K from Steve McQueen’s Le Mans for $16 Million?

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/06/porsche-917k-auction.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com\</em\>*

***Update, 6/26/17:** Gooding & Company has reached out to The Drive to inform us that while this Porsche 917K was indeed outfitted with a strengthened chassis, the car has been "re-restored" to its original frame for auction for greater authenticity. So you know.*

How much do you think someone would pay for a top-tier piece of automotive history? For a race car that not only won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but would go on to star in one of motordom's most-beloved films about the famous endurance competition? For a Porsche that's been graced by the presence of Brian Redman and Steve McQueen? Or, in other words—how much do you think someone might fork over for the [1970 Porsche 917K bearing chassis number 917-024](<https://www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1970-porsche-917k/>)?

Well, if you're Gooding & Company, you're guessing somewhere in the realm of $13 to $16 million.

At least, that's what the auction house is [reportedly estimating this Porsche 917K will sell for](<https://www.forbes.com/sites/markewing/2017/06/21/star-of-steve-mcqueens-le-mans-porsche-917k-heads-to-gooding-pebble-beach-est-13-16-million/#65ec2c0221e2>)

[when it hits the block at Pebble Beach](<https://www.ultimatecarpage.com/chassis/3221/Porsche-917-K-917-024.html>) come August.

It is, by most measures, a ridiculous sum for a car—but few cars can claim a history like this 12-cylinder Porsche's. After 917-024 revealed itself to be capable of record-setting pace in the hands of famed [Porsche driver Brian Redman](<https://www.thedrive.com/gear-up/2908/behind-the-scenes-with-steve-mcqueen-at-le-mans>) in the 1970 Le Mans Tests, setting the stage for the model's victory at the 24-hour race in 1970 and 1971. From there, it was sold to Porsche factory driver Jo Siffert, who turned around and leased it to [Steve McQueen for his 1971 racing epic, *Le Mans*](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/864/watch-this-exclusive-clip-from-steve-mcqueen-the-man-le-mans>).

![message-editor%2F1498250274623-porsche-917-k-127351.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1498250274623-porsche-917-k-127351.jpg>)
*Mathieu Heurtault / Gooding & Company*

![message-editor%2F1498250281693-porsche-917-k-127350.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1498250281693-porsche-917-k-127350.jpg>)
*Mathieu Heurtault / Gooding & Company*

![message-editor%2F1498250289843-porsche-917-k-127349.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1498250289843-porsche-917-k-127349.jpg>)
*Mathieu Heurtault / Gooding & Company*

![message-editor%2F1498250296434-porsche-917-k-127348.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1498250296434-porsche-917-k-127348.jpg>)
*Mathieu Heurtault / Gooding & Company*

After Siffert died, the car was sold off to a collector, only to gather dust in a French warehouse for decades before being brought back into the light in 2001. Since then, this 917K has benefitted from a full restoration by Swiss specialist Graber Sportgarage—a restoration that just concluded this year, [reportedly replacing the original frame with a strengthened one](<https://www.forbes.com/sites/markewing/2017/06/21/star-of-steve-mcqueens-le-mans-porsche-917k-heads-to-gooding-pebble-beach-est-13-16-million/#65ec2c0221e2>) and giving this [917's Gulf Oil livery](<https://www.thedrive.com/muscle-cars/6254/car-porn-porsche-917-gulf>) a new lease on life.

Check it out in the video below, and see if you think it's worth dropping [enough money to buy a 140-foot power yacht](<https://www.jamesedition.com/yachts/benetti/other/cheers-46-140-benetti-2014-1197176>) on this sultry Seventies race car.

https://youtube.com/embed/Oj1bLHBmf3g

## Author
Will is the former managing editor of *RIDES Magazine* and the former online editor for *0-60 Magazine*. He has worked for *Time Out New York* and *Rolling Stone*, and was the creator of *College Cars Online*, the first automotive blog specifically targeted at college students and young professionals.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/willsabelcourtney>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/willscourtney>)