We must own one of these Porsche 917K toy cars

By topgear, 16 May 2020

Back in 2017, the Gulf-liveried Porsche 917K that starred in Steve McQueen’s Le Mans sold at auction for just over US$14 million. So yeah, it’d be fair to say that original 917s are a little out of reach for most of us.

That’s where this comes in. This is a 917K Junior children’s car – essentially a mini-me replica of one of the most famous racing cars in history, but with a fully working engine, brakes and steering. It might just be the greatest toy ever created.

We say toy – it’s a pretty serious bit of kit this. The engine is a 4.8hp 163cc Honda go-kart unit, the steering is a rack and pinion setup and the fibreglass bodywork cloaks a lightweight tubular steel chassis. Nice.

Apparently the mini-me can reach speeds of 30+km/h, and there’s a hydraulic brake to avoid expensive accidents – helpful when the unnamed manufacturer suggests kids as young as five can drive the thing.

Bigger kids (and excitable parents) won’t be left out though – the roof is removable so if your legs fit onto the pedals you’re good to go. The whole thing is 2.6 metres long and 1.6 metres wide.

Sounds fantastic, right? Plus, there’s one for sale right now on the Collecting Cars auction site (right HERE), where the winning bidder will apparently have the option of choosing between Gulf, Team Salzburg or Martini liveries.

What a thing.

STORY Greg Potts
PHOTOS Collecting Cars

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