The car in question is the 1970 Porsche 917 that was used in the movie “Le Mans,” which starred none other than the legendary Steve McQueen. McQueen played the part of a Porsche factory racing driver who fought off the challenge from Ferrari to claim victory in the world-famous endurance race. This will actually be the second time this particularly special car has been offered for sale through Gooding & Company, although it appeared not to sell the last time in 2014.
Despite the car appearing in the film, it wasn’t actually driven by McQueen personally. But as well as appearing in the film, the 917 was also used as a camera car to capture some shots — as to keep up with the racing required something equally as fast. According to the auctioneers, the Porsche was also used as a test car for the 1970 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
After the Le Mans testing in 1970 the car was sold to Jo Stiffert, who was a real Porsche factory driver who then went on to lease it to McQueen’s film company a year later. After Stiffert passed away, the auction company says the car disappeared for a long time until it was eventually discovered in a French warehouse in 2001. Gooding & Company have said the car has been thoroughly restored this year for the auction.
The auction will take place at Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach event during this year’s concours, which is being held on Sunday, August 20. As for the price; don’t expect it to be sold for any less than somewhere in the region of the $13 million to $16 million range.
