Equipment
RHD. Started life as 917026, a Gulf Wyer LeMans coupe 22, distinguished by its full orange painted roof driven by David Hobbs and Mike Hailwood until it was crashed during Hailwoods first stint on lap 50 in a downpour. Stripped and rebuilt around chassis 917031 but renumbered by Wyer (with Porsches knowledge) 917026. Eventually the origil 917026 chassis (now known as 917031 (confused yet) was resurrected and raced as an Interserie Spyder by Ernst Kraus with a creditable race history against the turbo 917 10s and 7+ litre McLarens. Eventually acquired by Georg Loos for Gelo Racing and driven by Jurgen Barth in the Interserie. Acquired by Mike Amalfitano from the Chandon family in 1987, restored by Gunr Racing with 5.4 litre turally aspirated 917 engine with 630 dyno hp and maintained in Amalfitanos Amalfi Racing shop by Klaus Fischer. Spotless, meticulously maintained and presented and track ready. Not surprisingly, there is another school of thought on this 917s history that reverses the sequence of the chassis number changes, but doesnt affect the essential quality of the car.
Market commentary
Opened at $1 million after an introduction by Alain de Cadenet (the weekends color man of choice both here and at RM.) Zoomed upwards and closed at this quite astonishing result, a price largely attributable to its breathtaking performance capability, varied sic history and outstanding presentation. Bonhams sold a complete 917 coupe body from the Amalfitano Collection earlier for $182,000 against an estimate for $40 60,000 and it wont be a surprise to see the two joined up in the near future. How big is this money Well the previous record for a 917 was 917022 sold by RM in Monterey in 2000 for $1,320,000. Christies reached $1,660,281 for 020 at Retromobile in 2004 but it didnt sell. The price is four times the best ever seen for an Interserie Spyder configured 917. This is more than double the best ever LeMans coupe price, and this is a 917 that never finished LeMans. On the other hand, the new owner does get two histories (i.e., chassis numbers) for the price of one. Sold on Thursday, this transaction set everyones expectations for Monterey 2010 a lot higher.