The Classic
‘Count Rossi’ Porsche 917
Jul 31, 2025
Unveiled at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Porsche 963 RSP is a one-off road legal version of the Porsche 963 hypercar. But in drawing inspiration for this bespoke road going racer, Porsche’s engineers looked back to a similar one-off project car that first saw light of day 50 years ago.
Commissioned by legendary American race team owner, Roger Penske, the impressive Porsche 963 RSP even features his initials in its nameplate. More than simply a fan of the brand, Porsche Penske Motorsport have utilised the race hardware in battle with great success, achieving double glory last year with the 963 winning both the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and World Endurance Championship. They took three of the track weapons to this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.
And now Mr. Penske also has a 963 for the road. The inspiration for the 963 RSP build team? A similar one-o_ , road-legal version of another Le Mans-winning Porsche; the ‘Count Rossi’ 917. In 1975 ‘Count’ Gregorio Rossi di Montelera – heir to the Martini empire – asked Porsche to build him a car for exotic high-speed journeys, using the outrageously proportioned 917 race car as a base.
To make the legendary 917 road-legal, Porsche simply added a few essentials: exhaust silencers, extra mirrors, side indicators, and a horn. They even managed to squeeze in a spare tyre.
Upon delivery in April 1975, the Count immediately embarked on a 375-mile road trip from Weissach, Germany, to Paris, France. For many decades, the car then resided in Paris, faithfully fulfilling its commissioned purpose of being used for such cross-continental voyages.
Famously, due to the strict refusal of various European countries to register such an extreme race car for road use, the Count managed to acquire his 917’s initial licence plate in Alabama, USA. While the "Alabama loophole" allowed the Count to then legalise the car for use in Europe, it doesn’t appear to have actually turned a wheel in the southern state.
Following Count Rossi's passing in 2003, the 917 remained in Europe, under the custody of his son for several years. Today, it still resides in Europe, specifically in the south of France, under the care of an enthusiastic new owner.
While it has undergone recent restoration work to ensure its continued vitality, great care has been taken to preserve its original ‘Martini Silver’ paint and luxurious interior, including the Hermès-commissioned tan leather seats and suede-lined cockpit – a rare touch of luxury for a purebred racer, and one that Porsche’s latest one-off, the 963 RSP, also takes inspiration from.
