Porsche 917 Junior Is Ready for Next Generation of Racing Enthusiasts
What is a Porsche 917 Junior? Think of it as the coolest go kart ever.
This Porsche 917 doesn’t have a 12 cylinder engine. It doesn’t have a transmission. It has never been to Le Mans, or any other racing circuit for that matter. There’s absolutely no racing pedigree. Its transmission is automatic. Its top speed probably doesn’t breach 20 miles per hour. Yet to us, it might be one of the coolest 917’s ever made. And that’s because it is a scaled down 917 that is made specifically for kids. Better yet, this 917 Junior is up for auction through RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island Auction March 6 and 7.
Take a closer look at this 917 and you’ll notice there’s a few neat features. It has just a single center seat, two simple pedals and just a small number of switches inside. In fact, the driver is surrounded by hand-crafted aluminum panels. A rack and pinion steering system greets the driver, and under the engine cover lies a modest 350 cc Yamaha motor. It won’t be setting record speeds on the Mulsanne Straight, but it will ignite passion in any young enthusiast.
All controls appear to be taken from a golf kart, and if thats the case, this Porsche Junior would be great fun to buzz around in. In fact, closer looks reveal the “forward/reverse” control from a golf cart, the gas and brake pedals from a golf kart, and even the wheels and tires from a golf cart. But it does have switches for working lights, and a fan which is presumably to keep the interior air fresh. Incredibly, the accuracy of the Porsche 917 lines have not been affected at all by the scaling down.
Sadly, while this one is cool for all ages, it will only fit those of us with a much smaller stature. But it will hopefully cement a love for Porsche’s sports cars, and a love for motorsports that will last a lifetime. After all, a lot of us wish we had something like this when we were a kid. What’ll it go for? Well RM Sotheby’s sold another 917 Junior for $31,200.00 back in 2018. That one was in Porsche’s red and white Salzburg livery. Perhaps the famous colors of Gulf will command a premium.
Join the Team Speed forums now!
