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There have been a few great covers of Jolene.

During that period the FIA allowed a rather liberal evolution of the body style. As an example only (6) Daytona Coupes were ever built but Shelby was allowed to homologate them as an evolution of the Cobra roadster. Ferrari was allowed to do the same with several of their sports cars.

Indeed. Porsche originally invited the FIA to the factory on March 20th, 1969 to verify that (25) examples were being produced. When the FIA arrived (3) cars were fully assembled, another (18) were in the process of assembly and parts to build another (7) car were shown. Because of past shenanigans, particularly by Ferrari never actually producing the required quantity of cars the FIA rejected the submission because (25) cars were not actually "built". As you can imagine that didn't sit well with Porsche, rather than argue they went to work to get all (25) cars assembled to running condition before inviting the FIA back on April 21st.

Positive. They are the original batch of (25) 917s lined up for FIA inspection on April 21st, 1969. One of the FIA's requirements, to qualify as a production sports car, was to build (25) examples within a twelve month period. Porsche chose to build them all at once.

1970 Disappointed by the poor results of the 917 in 1969, and facing new competition, Porsche concluded an agreement with John Wyer and his JWA Gulf Team, which became the official Porsche team, and also the official development partner. During tests at the Österreichring at Zeltweg, works drivers Redman and Ahrens tested the car, and the car still performed like it did before. The Österreichring was the circuit where the car had won its only race at that time, Wyer's chief engineer John Horsman noticed that the bodywork had a pattern of dead gnats dashed against it, revealing the airflow. The tail was clean—the lack of dead gnats indicated that the air was not flowing over the tail. A modification to the tail was cobbled-up on the spot in the pits with aluminium sheets taped together. This new short tail gave the 917 much needed downforce. The plastic engine intake cover had already been removed. Redman and Ahrens were doing only one lap at a time before, they each did 10 laps and were satisfied with the improved performance. The new version was called 917K (Kurzheck, or "short tail").

1969 917 Kurz

The original run of cars lined up at the factory.

https://www.simeonemuseum.org/collection/1970-porsche-917-lh/ 1970 - 917LH 1971 - 917LH

Comparing the windshield size relationship in this photo with the kits below, the Fujimi doesn't look that far off. https://www.classicdriver.com/en/article/cars/youll-never-see-another-porsche-917-reunion-one

Great stuff Gary! I don't have much 917 reference. Wikipedia Indicates Porsche didn't use the suffix "LH" for the long tail version, the factory identified them as "917L", does your book confirm this? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_917 1970 917L (Langheck, German for "long tail"): This longtail, low drag version of the 1969 917L was purpose-built for the 1970 Le Mans 24 Hours. Le Mans in 1970 was almost entirely made up of long straights and this version was designed to maximise the speed capability resulting from the increased power developed by the flat-12 engine over the previous Porsche types. The 1970 917L was significantly developed from the initial 1969 car. Nevertheless, factory driver Vic Elford had found the car's ultimate speed an advantage enough over its still questionable handling in the braking and cornering sections of Le Mans. It was 25 mph faster down the straights than the 917K and the Ferrari 512Ss.[16] Two were raced in the 1970 Le Mans race, one was entered by Porsche Salzburg (SER#917L 042) (White/Red Shell livery) and another was entered by Martini International, (SER#917L 043) painted in psychedelic colors. The Porsche Salzburg 917L was qualified in pole position by Vic Elford, but this car retired with engine failure after 18 hours and the Martini 917L finished 2nd, 5 laps behind the winning Salzburg 917K of Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood. Le Mans was the only race in which the 917Ls competed in that year. Of the two, only the Martini car (917L-043)is known to exist outside the factory collection: it is on display at the Simeone museum in Philadelphia. There was a major longtail crash during testing in 1970 at the VW test track near Wolfsburg, involving Kurt Ahrens in chassis 917L-006/040. A total of six 917L models were built and used between the 1970 and 1971 season(040-041-042-043-044*-045). *Unused spare chassis reportedly swapped for 043's. (No documentation) 1971 917LH* (Langheck, German for "long tail"): The 1971 model was a further development of the 1970 917L and was also made specifically to compete in only one race: the 1971 Le Mans 24 Hours. The car was also more stable than its 1970 predecessor because of new bodywork and revised suspension set ups and partially enclosed rear wheels covers. The front section was also redesigned. The three LHs were run at Le Mans in 1971: two were run by John Wyer's team (SER#917L-043 and 917L-045) (Both Gulf livery) and one was run by the Martini International team, (SER#917L-042) (Silver Martini Racing livery). Although Jackie Oliver qualified one of the Wyer 917LHs on pole position, none of the three cars finished the race. This was the last race in which the 917LHs were run in. Only three 917Ls survive and each is on display in a museum: 917L-042 is on display at the Porsche museum in Stuttgart, 917L-043 is on display at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia, PA and 917L-045 displayed at the Le Mans museum. 045 was repainted like 042 and they are now both painted in identical 1971 Martini colours. Chassis 043 ( 044 ), which is now in the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, was restored to its 1970 Martini 'hippie' colours prior to its sale in the 1998 Christie's Pebble Beach auction.[17] * LH is non-factory term used here but is generally accepted by most to describe the 'rework' for the 1971 season of the previous 1970 L models.

The Porsche 911 SCRS looks great.

http://www.wsrp.cz/chassis/chassis_porsche_917.html Chassis Model Year Group First owner Next owners (year) Comment 917-001 1969 Gr.5 Porsche Test car, now in Porsche Museum (painted as 1970 Le Mans winner). 917-002 1969 Gr.5 Porsche {scrapped} Test chassis, scrapped. 917-003 1969 Gr.5 Porsche {scrapped} Test chassis, then T-car at Spa 1969. Scrapped after accident. 917-004 1969 Gr.5 Porsche => John Wyer (1970) Nürburgring '69 (Piper/Gardner). John Wyer then rebuilt after crash at Brands Hatch 1970 as 017. 917-005 1969 Gr.5 Porsche => John Woolfe (1969) Spa '69 (Mitter) John Woolfe at Le Mans 1969 - destroyed 917-006 1969 Gr.5 Porsche {scrapped} Le Mans 1969 T-car. Roller endurance test, scrapped. 917-007 1969 Gr.5 Porsche => Gesipa (1970) Stommelen/Ahrens LM 69. To Gesipa in 1970. Rebuilt as spyder in 1971 917-008 1969 Gr.5 Porsche {scrapped} Elford/Attwood LM 69. Roller endurance test in 1970, scrapped. 917-009 1969 Gr.5 Porsche/Von Wendt? => John Wyer (1970) Siffert/Ahrens Zeltweg 1969. John Wyer car 1970. Scrapped after Sebring 1971 917-010 1969 Gr.5 David Piper Sold to David Piper 1969. Still owned & raced by him to-day (1997) 917-011 1969 Gr.5 Porsche Salzburg {written off => scrapped} Porsche Salzburg no. 3 car at Daytona 1970. Written off while testing at Targa Florio 1970. 917-012 1969 Gr.5 Porsche {scrapped, used to rebuild 917-021} Scrapped after tests, 1969. 917-013 1969 Gr.5 John Wyer John Wyer 1970. Used for Le Mans film and crashed by David Piper. Allegedly rebuilt with 034 parts, but kept number 013 (probably not true). 917-014 1969 Gr.5 John Wyer John Wyer car 1970. Rebuilt for 1971 as 029. 917-015 1969 Gr.5 John Wyer John Wyer car 1970. Daytona 24 Hours 1970 winner. Rebuilt as Spyder for Interserie 1971 with chassis 917-01-021. A new chassis 035 became 015 in 1971. In 2000 car was restored in its original Daytona 1970 configuration and Gulf colors by Gunnar Racing. But 917-01-021 was re-created using the original roll bar and rear section of the chassis while about 80% of the Spyder chassis was new. 917-016 1969 Gr.5 John Wyer John Wyer car 1970-71 917-017* 1969 Gr.5 John Wyer => Ernst Kraus (1972) John Wyer car, rebuild of 004, carrying number 004. Used in 1970-71 917-018 1969 Gr.5 Alex Soler-Roig => Chuck Stoddard (1975~2001) Alex Soler-Roig, Spanish races 1970 , and Buenos Aires 1971 917-019 1969 Gr.5 Porsche Salzburg => Martini International (1971) Porsche Salzburg 1970, Martini International 1971 917-020 1969 Gr.5 Porsche Salzburg => Martini International (1971) => Vasek Polak (end 1971÷1997) => Gustav Nitsche (~2001) Porsche Salzburg 1970, Martini International 1971. Sebring 1971 winner. In 2000 restored in its Martini 1971 colors. 917-021 1969 Gr.5 Team AAW => David Piper (1971) Team AAW 1970. Crashed at Le Mans. parts used to build 1971 spyder 917 01 021. It was also rebuilt using 917-012, possibly to David Piper (1971, Chris Craft in 1972 Interserie, for Piper-White Racing). Interestingly, at one point in this car's history it wore an Alabama license plate and was driven on Germany's public roads. 917-01-021 Spyder 1971 Gr.7 Team AAW ...=> Wayne Jackson (~2001) Spyder built on 917-015 using parts from 021.Gunnar Racing restored 917-015 from 917-01-021 in 1999-2000, but re-created 917-01-021 using the original roll bar and rear section of the chassis. All of the original suspension, engine, gearbox and bodywork from the spyder have been used though. 917-022 1969 Gr.5 Solar Production => Brian Redman => Richard Attwood Le Mans film car, Auto Usdau 1971. Originally purchased by Steve McQueen's Solar Productions for the movie "Le Mans." After the filming the car ran a couple of races and was briefly owned by Brian Redman, who then sold it to Attwood. Sold at auction in summer 2000. Limited use in competition. 917-023 1969 Gr.5 Porsche Salzburg => Martini International (1971) ...=> Matsuda Collection, J (early 1980s) => Dr. Julio Palmaz (early 2001) Porsche Salzburg 1970, Martini International 1971. Winner of Le Mans 1970 - first ever Porsche victory at Le Mans. Wearing incorrect paint and secluded in Japan's famous Matsuda Collection since the early-1980s, this car has been returned to its proper Salzburg red and white livery (2000). 917-024 1969 Gr.5 Jo Siffert Originally sold to Jo Siffert. Used for Le Mans film. No race history 917-025 1969 Gr.5 Zitro Racing Team Zitro (Dominique Martin) 917-026 1969 Gr.5 John Wyer => Jürgen Neuhaus (1971) => Georg Loos (1972) John Wyer car 1970. Crashed by Hailwood at Le Mans. Rebuilt using chassis 031. Original crashed chassis repaired and rebuild as Spyder for Uschi Heckersbruch driven by Neuhaus in 1971. 917-027 917PA 1969 Gr.7 Porsche Prototype 917PA. Test chassis. 917-028 917PA 1969 Gr.7 Porsche/Audi => Vasek Polak (1971) Siffert 1969, to Vasek Polak 1971 (Milt Minter). Given 917/10 body for CanAm 1973. 917-029 Gr.5 John Wyer {renumbered as 014} John Wyer car 1971, carried plate 014. 917-030 Gr.5 Porsche Salzburg => Martini International (1971) Martini car Osterreichring 1971. To Count Rossi as road car 917-031 Gr.5 John Wyer => Ernst Kraus (1972) => Monsier Chandon, F => Mike Amalfino (1988~2001) Used to rebuilt 026, used by John Wyer 1970-71. Possibly converted to spyder for Ernst Kraus. 917-032 Gr.5 {scrapped} Scrapped after tests 917-033 Gr.5 Sold in Germany. Never used 917-034 Gr.5 John Wyer {renumbered as 013} Used as a 'new' 013. 917-035 Gr.5 John Wyer {renumbered as 015} Numbered as 015 for John Wyer 1971. A new chassis. 917-036 Gr.5 Car sold without engine. Never raced 917-040* LH Coupe Gr.5 {scrapped} 1970 Long-tail test car using parts of 917-006. Scrapped after accident. 917-041 Gr.5 {scrapped} Le Mans tests 1970. Scrapped 917-042 Gr.5 Porsche Salzburg => Martini International (1971) Elford/Ahrems Le Mans 1970., Elford/Attwood Le Mans 1971 917-043 LH Coupe Gr.5 Martini International => John Wyer (19710 Martini long-tail Le Mans 1970, Rodriguez/Oliver le Mans 1971 917-044 Gr.5 Spare chassis.Never used 917-045 Gr.5 John Wyer Siffert/Bell Le Mans 1971. Now in Le Mans museum, painted as Martini 1971 (042) 917-051 Gr.5 {scrapped} Magnesium chassis; scrapped after tests 917-052 1971 Gr.5 {scrapped} Magnesium chassis; scrapped after tests 917-053 1971 Gr.5 Int. Martini Martini Le Mans 1971 (1st) Note: Totally built 59 P-917s: In 1969-71 were 43 cars built (36 shorter version, 5 917L and 2 spiders) and 16 Porsche-Turbo (13x 917/10 and 3x 917/30). Chassis 037, 038, 039, 046 - 050 weren't built.

The white body is also Heller, the 1971 version with the tail fins.

Picture below: Fisher 917LH - left, Heller - center, Fujimi - right. The windshield width of the Fisher matches that of the Heller. Some additional measurements Width @ Front (measured across the axle line) Fisher: 77.4 mm – 1858 mm Heller: 76.5 mm – 1836 mm Fujimi: 82.1 mm – 1970 mm Width @ Rear(measured at the widest point) Fisher: 87.2 mm – 2093 mm Heller: 87.3 mm – 2095 mm Fujimi: 87.8 mm – 2107 mm The overhead silhouette of the Heller kit appears to match this drawing well.

Fisher also did the 917/20 but unfortunately I don't have one.

Nice work Rob, would be interested in seeing more of your project and thank you for adding to the conversation

There is also the Fisher 917LH to consider. I have one in the stash and will check some dimensions when I get a chance. I snatched these photos from the interweb.

Maybe a set here would work? https://scenesunltd.com/collections/tires

Very nice work John.

I Brian, I couldn't find the photos that compare the Fujimi and Heller bodies, can you post the photos or direct me where they are in the thread?

Race cars evolve throughout the life of the design. I would suggest stating definitive dimensions for the 917 would be very difficult.

This website list these dimensions: https://www.topspeed.com/cars/porsche/1969-1971-porsche-917k-ar171301.html Length 4,120 MM (162.2 Inches) Width 1,980 MM (78 Inches) Height 940 MM (37 Inches) Wheelbase 2,300 MM (90.6 Inches) Track (fr/r) 1,564 MM (61.6 Inches) / 1,584 MM (62.4 Inches)

Don't know the origins or the validity of these drawings.

Some specs and information on the 917K https://www.supercars.net/blog/1970→1971-porsche-917-kurzheck/ length 4140 mm / 163.0 in width 1975 mm / 77.8 in height 920 mm / 36.22 in