Promotional video from Mecum, but some great footage. I was quite young when Le Mans was released, so the 917 only came into my consciousness later, but beyond a doubt it was a legendary car for me and fueled my passion for Porsche. The making of Le Mans is more interesting than the vaguely scripted film, and because it was done in period the use of the actual new 917 was possible. Better than CGI because it was the real car.
910 is one of my favorites. Really usable and can be registered for the road! https://www.mecum.com/lots/1136781/1966-porsche-910-001/
We were at Road America for the 24' SCCA Runoff's when they were making the on-track video with the 917. They definitely were driving it with great caution but it's cool to see the finished product.
Any 917 is a legendary car, and this one has Hollywood A-list credentials added. To me, this ranks up there with the $143M 300 SL Uhlenhaut coupe in terms of fame and significance. I doubt it will fetch anywhere near that, but could be the most expensive Porsche sold at auction...
$25,000,000 RNM = "The Bid Goes On" ....... a LOT of the high end cars are not meeting reserve ...... the market is speaking
I don’t see how this car was offered in January by Mecum considering the other auction venues and schedules available. Remarkable disservice to the car and its true value.
I suspect that this being a vintage race car, unusable by mere mortals, had something to do with it. That and Jerry Seinfeld being the top of the market. I’m not sure what car enthusiasts are shopping at this level, but presumably few. Still a monster car…
I read on a different site that Jay Leno wanted it badly. No idea if that’s true or not, but it would make sense. MDS
Sorry, disagree. Well it was a Mecum auction so . . . Not his kind of car IMO. I doubt that he could fit in it?
I watched a bit of it and didn't see ANY of the high-end european cars sell....Porsche, Ferrari, M-B etc Don't know if it is market cooling, too high owner expectations or wrong venue Personally, if I had a Porsche to sell it would be Gooding & co @ Amelia, a Ferrari = RM/Gooding @ Pebble Beach
Sammy Hagar showed up at BJ to tout his 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari last fall, the crowd was wild. Granted, the Ferrari is "more accessible". But I was surprised Seinfeld wasn't on the podium trying to drum up some bids. I mean, it was McQueen's car. Sammy offered to fly the winning bidder to his show that evening, Seinfeld could have at least offered a signed DVD pack of his series.
Might have helped, but a serious collector with knowledge and that kind of cash probably would have decided beforehand. And yes, a modern street Ferrari is more accessible and usable. The promotional video was actually quite good, IMHO, plenty of automotive star power with Seinfeld, Redman, Hobbs, and Chase McQueen.. Definitely better auctions, but you may be right on all three explanations. There may not be enough Seinfeld/Leno/Ralph Lauren-level car enthusiasts to support $25 million+ collector cars that can't really be used. I.e., endless money to indulge a passion for cars as art and history.
If I'm a BILLIONAIRE Porsche collector, I WANT this car! It's a showstopper. .... 25, 30 mil? Peanuts. I'll pay! ...... this work of art with the history, noise and smells, ........ or a painting you hang on the wall? PLEEZE .
That's what I thought. Porsche has been a hot collector marque, and this car is arguably the most important Porsche on the market. Maybe not enough billionaires are into cars these days. The reserve is obviously higher than the market value, but it might sell privately.
No chance this was all just a Mecum 'stunt', right? ("I don't really want to sell it" $50m reserve, maybe?) Look at all the publicity and eyeballs it brought to Mecum. Priceless.
lil Jerry Seinfeld said on lil Spike Ferensteins show that Dana Mecum made him a very sweet deal to show the car there.
Conspiracy theory - Seinfeld had already sold the car to Dana Mecum well prior to the auction. Dana was just fishing to see what someone would pay. He's done this in the past with cars he owns. Seinfeld’s Ex-McQueen 917 Was Bid to $25 Million But Did Not Sell But does Jerry still own it? https://www.autoweek.com/news/a63475942/seinfeld-mcqueen-porsche-917-did-not-sell/ .
I don't get the uhlenhaut coupe. I don't know how the car is worth more than 10 million. Honestly I don't believe the sales price at all. I dont think it would sell for that price again.
