An experimental Porsche 917... Updated.

"Manwich - now Keto-Friendly" (manwich)
11/03/2019 at 20:22 • Filed to: None

Here is a Porsche 917 PA from 1969 with a 908-based body that was used in the Can-Am racing series:

And being a 917, you would expect it to have an H12 engine. But have a look here:

See the unusual bit? Have a closer look:

That is an H16 engine.

It was an experimental one-off 6543cc H12 good for almost 800hp. But the turbocharged 917/10 performed better. So this went to the museum and development discontinued.

Update:

Apparently there was more than one version of this. And since it wasn’t a ‘boxer’ engine, it was considered to be a 180 degree “V12". And displacements for this ranged from 6L to 7.2L.

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Annnd... while I couldn’t find a clip that lets you hear how it sounded, I did find this:

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... with a clip of how other 16 cylinder engines sound.

DISCUSSION (6)

Stef Schrader > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
11/03/2019 at 20:51

I LOVE this car so much

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
11/03/2019 at 20:55

I WANT TO HEAR IT

wafflesnfalafel > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
11/03/2019 at 20:58

eleven, twelve, thirteen... wait a minute...

wonder what that thing sounded like....

dieseldub > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
11/03/2019 at 21:14

I saw it displayed at Rennsport at Laguna Seca a few years back. The placard there said it was used in testing and they eventually figured turbocharging the 12 made way more sense. Smaller, less weight, more power and allowed a shorter wheelbase chassis . Considering how utterly dominant they became with the 917/10 and 917/30, I’d say they made the right choice.

I still want to hear that flat 16 run, though.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/03/2019 at 21:34

Updated the post with a link to another Jalop article that has a link of what other 16 cyl engines sound like.

It’s the closest thing I could find.

dieseldub > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
11/03/2019 at 21:43

Also fun to note that Ferdinand Piech had his hands in developing both the 16 and turbo 12 engines...

Man was mercurial and certainly had many character flaws, but some of the engines, technology and vehicles left in his wake are spec-freakin-tacular.