Porsche Unveils Exciting 963 Street Car in Tribute to Count Rossi’s Iconic 917 Daily Driver – Celebrating 50 Years of Automotive Legend!

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Porsche’s 963 hypercar is a powerful machine. With a mid-engine design and a hybrid turbocharged V8, it boasts 700 horsepower. Since its debut in 2023, it has been making waves in the FIA WEC and IMSA endurance races. The 963 has seen success, achieving wins at the Daytona 24 Hours for two consecutive years. However, it is still chasing victory at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Porsche has a rich history with 19 past wins.

This June, Porsche plans to unveil a street-legal version of the 963, likely inspired by one of its classic cars—the one-off 917 built for Count Rossi in 1975. While Porsche has not officially confirmed this, the connection between the two vehicles is clear.

Count Rossi was an eccentric sports enthusiast known for his love of speed. He commissioned the unique 917 to be street-legal for his personal use, showcasing his strong ties with the Porsche brand. This kind of blend between racing and road-going models is not new for Porsche. Historical parallels can be drawn to its attempts to create street versions of successful race cars, showing the brand’s long tradition of innovation.

Similarities to the Iconic 917

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After its racing career, the original 917 was modified for street legality. This included adding necessary features like mufflers and mirrors while keeping its powerful 5-liter flat-twelve engine intact. The interior was luxuriously updated with top-quality materials, pushing the boundaries of what a race car could be on the streets.

Turning race cars into road-ready versions isn’t unique to the 917. Porsche has a history of doing this with several vehicles, such as the 956 and 962. Additionally, a concept for a street version of the 919 was once proposed but ultimately scrapped for being too extreme.

The upcoming 963 street version could maintain a strong resemblance to its racing counterpart, emphasizing aerodynamics with features like a large rear wing. With its powerful pedigree, it’s expected that the 963 will be fast and record-breaking, as is typical for Porsche’s racing heritage. Fans are eagerly awaiting further announcements as Porsche prepares for the big reveal.