What you’re looking at here is arguably one of the coolest automotive-themed collectibles ever made, and it was recently sold on the popular online platform Bring a Trailer for a whopping $205,000 after a tough bidding battle. It’s a one-of-its-kind 1:32-scale slot car raceway housed inside a replica Porsche 917 body that’s finished in the iconic blue and orange Gulf livery – it truly doesn’t get better than this! The Porsche 917 Le Mans Slot Car Raceway was created by Detroit-based Slot Mods who are known for making museum-worthy custom wooden slot car tracks. This stunning Slot Mods 917 raceway was previously sold for $125,000 eleven years ago and remained with the owner for over a decade in his private collection.
This jaw-dropping piece of craftsmanship features a miniaturized recreation of the iconic Le Mans circuit as it appears in the 1971 movie Le Mans starring the one and only Steve McQueen. Measuring 13 feet long and 6 feet wide, the raceway has hand-painted track surfaces, structures, signs, landscaping, and spectators. Additionally, it also has period-correct sponsor displays including the Dunlop bridge, the Esso oil man, and the Martini barn. The track is constructed of wood and is equipped with trackside lighting, Armco-style railings, and grandstands.
You’ll also find an assortment of 19 slot cars, each finished in period livery, including a Ford GT40 modified as a camera car, a Ferrari 512 Coda Lunga, a Lola T70, a Porsche 917 in Martini livery, and a Porsche 917 in Gulf livery depicting the #20 car driven by Steve McQueen in Le Mans. Also depicted is the Porsche 917K wearing Salzburg livery that was driven to victory by Hans Herrmann and Richard Atwood at the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans. The slot car raceway is completely analog and is equipped with power switches and trigger-style analog race controllers that enable two cars to race simultaneously.
