Schuco 1:64 Mercedes Benz 0317 Race Car Transporter: Porsche-Gulf

In the early days of motor sport, racing cars were still transported under their own steam to races in Le Mans and Monza or to the Targa Florio or the Mille Miglia. However, the increasing professionalism of motor sport in the 1950s and the growing amount of equipment which was needed led the racing teams of the day to start using transport vehicles. In the mid-60s, Porsche came up with the idea for two transport vehicles that were specially designed to meet the requirements of motor sport and able to transport the additionally required engines, gearboxes and chassis parts. The technical basis for the new Porsche racing transporter was the Mercedes-Benz O317 underfloor-engine bus, produced between 1957 and 1972. Its self-supporting design meant it was ideal for the complex conversion by the Stuttgart-based company Robert Schenk.