The Porsche 917/20 was a one-off prototype created by Porsche in collaboration with French aerodynamics specialist SERA (Société d’Études et de Réalisations Automobiles). Designed by Robert Choulet and debuting at the 24 Hours of Le Mans test race in April 1971, the car was an anomaly from the start – although, at that point, it wasn’t even wearing the livery that would later make its name. As well as its wider track, the 917/20 was designed to combine the strengths of the 917K (short tail) and 917LH (long tail) models in order to reduce drag and improve aerodynamics. The result was a vehicle with an unusually wide and rounded body. The front lip was short and stubby and, simply put, reminded some of the snout of a pig.

Legend has it that when the car ran its first test lap, one of the team sponsors – Count Rossi of the Martini & Rossi drinks company – was less than enamoured. The wider 917/20 was not what he had imagined and so he refused to let it race in the signature blue, red and white Martini colours. It meant that Porsche had to think fast and design a new racing livery quickly. In the end it was Porsche designer Anatole Lapine who stepped in to save the day with a now celebrated livery.

On its competitive debut at the 1971 24 Hours of Le Mans, the tweaks by SERA to the overall car design initially paid off. The 917/20 #23 car, driven by Reinhold Joest and Willi Kauhsen, performed well in qualifying, finishing seventh fastest. When the race itself began, it proved to be highly competitive, and was running in third place by the halfway mark of the event. Sadly, it didn’t make it to the chequered flag, having been forced to retire before the end due to brake failure. It would prove to be the Pink Pig’s first and last competitive race.

However, despite not winning at Le Mans, it had captured everyone’s attention. Such was the affection in which it was held that the 917/20 gained other nicknames apart from the Pink Pig – including ‘Big Berta’ and ‘The truffle sniffer from Zuffenhausen’. German-speakers know it as ‘Die Sau’, which means ‘The Sow’. Today, the pink pig 917 resides at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, with many other famous of Porsche racecars.