April 28 1975, Porsche embarked on a bold venture by transforming its formidable 917 race car into a street-legal vehicle. This unique adaptation, based on the the Porsche 917 KH (Kurzheck), was commissioned by Count Gregorio Rossi di Montelera, an Italian businessman and heir to the Martini & Rossi fortune. His vision was to take the 917 beyond the racetrack and onto public roads.
The conversion process involved several modifications to comply with road regulations. These included the addition of exhaust mufflers, side mirrors, indicators, a horn, and a spare tire housed beneath the rear clamshell. The car’s interior was also refined for road use, featuring tan leather seats crafted by Hermès and suede finishes on the roof lining, doors, and dashboard.
Despite these changes, the vehicle retained its racing essence, including the original wooden gear shifter and lightweight drilled key. Initially registered in Alabama, the car now resides in the south of France, registered in the UK, and continues to be driven by its current owner.
Is Porsche revealing the announcement of another street-legal race-car ? In this video to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this remarkable Porsche 917 , the mystery is created when it ends with the words ‘June 2025’ while showing the silhouette of a Porsche 963. In 1970, Porsche took its first outright victory at the Le Mans 24Hours in a Porsche 917. The question is : will they reveal a road-legal Porsche 963 at Le Mans on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of this victory?
