Porsche 917

Porsche 917 was a car in the 1970 Hot Wheels series.
==History on the Porsche 917==
This is a model of the very first design of Porsche 917, produced in March, 1969, and raced through the 1969 season. The actual Porsche 917 was created with the goal of gaining an overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in mind. Design work started in July of 1968, planning to have the required 25 cars ready to be tested the following spring. The car had a 4.5 liter (274.6 cu. in) air cooled flat-12 engine, with dual overhead cams and twin spark plugs. It was initially rated at 620 hp.
Unfortunately the car had a maximum speed of around 240 mph. Little was understood of race car aerodynamics when traveling at those speeds in 1969, and the design you see in the Hot Wheels model was actually producing lift at over 200 mph, causing the car to be extremely unstable. A British driver was killed in a privately owned 917 at Le Mans that year, when he lost control on the high speed Mulsanne Strait. The 917s were not competitive at Le Mans, and only won one race in that year's sports car series.
After the 1969 season, at a testing session in Austria, an engineer noticed that the car had gone though a cloud of gnats, with many of the insects striking the front of the car. But there was no sign of the bugs on the tail of the car, suggesting that the tail was in a partial vacuum. The engineer and some mechanics improvised a higher tail with sheet aluminum, and sent the car back out on the track. The test driver reported the car slightly slower in a straight line, but much faster and more stable in the corners, and the laps times were several seconds faster. The car was sent back to the Porsche factory, where a new high speed wind tunnel tested the differences between the original design (this Hot Wheels model) and the improvised tail. Over the next few months several changes in the aerodynamics were made.
As a result, the Porsche 917 dominated the World Sports Car Championship over the next two years, including back to back wins at Le Mans. When the 1972 regulations outlawed the big engines, Porsche added turbochargers to the flat-12 engine (now developing over 1,000 hp) and entered the North American Can-Am series. The 917 dominated that series before the 1973-74 oil crisis caused that series to collapse. To this day the 917 is still regarded as one of Porsche's greatest cars.
==Description==
Mattel modeled the car after the Porsche 917, it had an opening rear engine compartment, Capped redline wheels and a sticker sheet with the number "18" racing decal and rocker panel stripes with the word "Porsche". The Porsche 917 was introduced into the line-up in 1970. This Porsche 917 casting has seen plenty of action through out the years. It was reissued in the line-up in 1973 with the new child safe paints and was part of the Flying Colors years to be laid to rest in 1979. Mattel in the 2000's started bringing back many of the old castings by reproducing the casting, this casting was one of them (see below for the retooled version).
The Cars were packaged with a metal or plastic 'Collector's Button'
1973 issued cars are a stand alone year. Gone were the spectraflame paints. 1973 models were issued in only Enamel paints.
The P-917  released in 1974 under the name Porsche 917. But the name changed quickly. The P-917 was based on the first car that gave Porsche their first 24 Hours of Le Mans win.
==USA Releases==
The Porsche 917 has come out in the following 1/64 scale USA versions:
Identification notes for USA castings:
1. White interior
2. Matte black paint on taillight area
3. "Mattel Inc, USA" on base
Year	Series 	Color 	Stickers 	Base Color / Type	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country	Notes	Photo
1970	Grand Prix	Gray Enamel 	Number & racing	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	USA 	 	
1970	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Light Green	 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	USA 	 	
1970	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Magenta 	 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	USA 	 	
1970	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Lime Green 	 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	USA 	 	
1970	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Hot Pink 	 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	USA 	 	
1970	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Rose 	 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	USA 	 	
1970	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Yellow 	 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	USA 	 	
1970	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Salmon 	 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	USA 	 	
1970	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Red 	 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	USA 	 	
1970	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Green 	 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	USA 	 	
1970	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Blue 	 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	USA 	 	
1970	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Aqua 	 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	USA 	 	
1970	Grand Prix	 	 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	USA 	 	
==Hong Kong Releases==
The Porsche 917 has come out in the following 1/64 scale Hong Kong versions:
Identification notes for Hong Kong releases:
1. Black or brown interior,
2. Gloss black paint on taillight area,
3. "Hong Kong" on base
Year	Series 	Color 	Stickers 	Base Color / Type	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country 	Notes 	Photo
1970	Grand Prix 	Spectraflame Blue 	Number & racing 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	Hong Kong	 	
1970	Grand Prix 	Spectraflame Light Green 	Number & racing 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	Hong Kong	 	
1970	Grand Prix 	Gray Enamel 	Number & racing 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	Hong Kong	 	
1970	Grand Prix 	Spectraflame Lime Green 	Number & racing 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	Hong Kong	 	
1970	Grand Prix 	Spectraflame Green 	Number & racing 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	Hong Kong	 	
1970	Grand Prix 	Spectraflame Yellow 	Number & racing 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	Hong Kong	 	
1970	Grand Prix 	Spectraflame Red 	Number & racing 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	Hong Kong	 	
1970	Grand Prix 	Spectraflame Hot Pink 	Number & racing 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	Hong Kong	 	
1970	Grand Prix 	Spectraflame Aqua 	Number & racing 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	Hong Kong	 	
1970	Grand Prix 	Spectraflame Purple 	Number & racing 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6416 	Hong Kong	 	
1973	1973 Hot Wheels 	Enamel Dark Blue 	 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6972 	 	 	
1973	1973 Hot Wheels 	Enamel Fluorescent Lime Green	 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6972 	 	 	
1973	1973 Hot Wheels 	Enamel Fluorescent Pink 	 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6972 	 	 	
1973	1973 Hot Wheels 	Enamel Lemon Yellow 	 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6972 	 	 	
1973	1973 Hot Wheels 	Enamel Light Blue 	 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6972 	 	 	
1973	1973 Hot Wheels 	Enamel Red 	 	Unpainted / Metal	 	 	RL 	6972 	 	 	
1974	Flying Colors 	Orange 	Magenta,Orange & Dull Yellow Striped on top "9"	Metal 	Blue Tint 	Black 	RL2 	6972 	Hong Kong	Named P-917Porsche tampo 	75px
1974	Flying Colors 	Orange 	Magenta,Orange & Dull Yellow Striped on top "9"	Metal 	Blue Tint 	Black 	RL2 	6972 	Hong Kong	Named P-917Porsche tampo / open axle 	
1974	Flying Colors 	Red 	Magenta,Orange & Dull Yellow Striped on top "9"	Metal 	Blue Tint 	Black 	RL2 	6972 	Hong Kong	Named P-917Porsche  tampo/ Alt. Color	
1975	Flying Colors 	Orange 	Magenta,Orange & Dull Yellow Striped on top "9"	Black/Plastic 	Blue Tint 	Black 	RL2 	6972 	Hong Kong	Named P-917Porsche tampo / P-917 base	
1975	Flying Colors 	Red 	Magenta,Orange & Dull Yellow Striped on top "9"	Black/Plasticl 	Blue tint 	Black 	RL2 	6972 	Hong Kong	Named P-917P-917 tampo/ Alt. Color 	
1975	Flying Colors 	Orange 	Magenta,Orange & Dull Yellow Striped on top "9"	Black/Plastic 	Blue Tint 	Black 	RL2 	6972 	Hong Kong	Named P-917 	
1976	Super Chromes 	Chrome 	Magenta,Red & Orange Striped on top "9" 	Black/Plastic 	Blue Tint 	Black 	RL2 	9204 	Hong Kong	Named P-917 	
1977	Flying Colors 	Orange 	Magenta,Orange & Dull Yellow Striped on top "9"	Black/Plastic 	Blue Tint 	Black 	BW 	6972 	Hong Kong	Named P-917 	
1977	Super Chromes 	Chrome 	 	Black/Plastic 	 	 	BW 	9204 	Hong Kong	Named P-917 	
1978	Speedway Specials	Orange 	Magenta,Orange & Dull Yellow Striped on top "9"	Black/Plastic 	Blue Tint 	Black 	BW 	6972 	Hong Kong	Named P-917 	
==Re-Cast Versions==
In 2011 the Porsche 917 was retooled for these 1/64 scale versions:
Year	Series 	Color 	Tampo 	Base Color / Type	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country 	Notes 	Photo
2011	The Hot Ones	Metallic Red	Red PORSCHE over black stripes on top sides. Yellow #9 on front end w/ stripes	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	Grey 	BW 	W1561	Thailand	Base code(s): D36 	
2011	The Hot Ones	Metallic Red	Red PORSCHE over black stripes on top sides. Yellow #9 on front end w/ stripes	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue Tint 	Grey 	RLBW 	W1561	Thailand	ChaseBase Code(s):	
2012	The Hot Ones	Yellow 	Black/Red racing stripes "Porsche" "7" 	Unpainted/Metal 	Yellow tint 	Grey 	Red HO 	W3801	Thailand	Base code(s): E01 	
==Gallery==
Hw P 917 open.jpg|Engine view
1974 Porsche 917 - 7033df.jpg|Remnants of a 1974 Porsche 917
File:1970 Porsche 917 (Spectraflame Salmon?).jpg|Porsche 917 in Spectraflame Salmon without the rear window.
File:(Salmon?) P917 Second Angle.jpg|Porsche 917 in Spectraflame Salmon without the rear window.
File:Porsche 917 Collector Button.jpg|original Porsche 917 collector button
1970 CollectorButton Porsche 917 Plastic o-1.jpg
1970 Collector Button Porsche 917 Plastic o-033.jpg
Porsche 917 P-917 RL 2017-03.jpg|2 TOnED P-917
1970 Porsche 917 Gray Enamel Interior White 1.jpg|USA Grey Enamel
1970-Cup Jack in the Box P SC VW 133.jpg|1970 Promotional CUP JACK In the BOX
1970 Jack in the Box CUP Porsche 917 a.jpg 
P917 Tampo shot.JPG|Dark Magenta tampo in front and Light Magenta in back
Porsche 917 OrgPlstR.JPG
Porsche 917 RedR.JPG|Red Alternative with Porsche in Tampo
Porsche 917 OrgmetR.JPG|All capped wheels
Porsche top 1975 with plastic base p-917 base3.JPG|Porsche Tampo / Black Plastic Base / P-917 cast-name. This is very odd transition piece, first I have ever seen.
File:Patch Card Speedway Specials P-917 Orange Hong Kong 6972.jpg|Speedway Specials P-917 6972
==Gallery==
==See Also==
*Porsche 917K
*Porsche 917 LH
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