Homologated Porsche 911 Carrera RS Is Blue-Chip Collectible
Performance
Motorsports
Classics
European
When Porsche unleashed the Carrera RS in late 1972, it was an instant hit. The initial production run of 500 examples almost immediately sold out. The company tried to satisfy some of the remaining demand by producing three times as many Carrera RS models as originally planned. But the model’s combination of performance and rarity continued to make it extremely collectible. These cars come up for sale once in a blue moon, making this impeccably clean survivor with motorsport history - opens in new window or tab. a rare find.
Porsche created the lightweight RennSport 2.7 in response to Ferrari’s racing debut of the 365 GTB Daytona Competizione in 1970. It was meant to go toe-to-toe with the Italian at road courses across the globe. In order to homologate the new race car, a batch of 500 road-going versions had to be produced, resulting in the 1972-73 Carrera RS.
Starting with the 911 S as a template, engineers punched out the 911’s air cooled 2.4-liter flat-six engine to 2.7-liters which output 210 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque. At the same time, they also cut the 911’s weight by about 200 pounds, tossing the sound deadening material, rear seat, carpeting, and even the glove box door in the name of weight savings. It gave the RS a curb weight of just over 2,100 pounds, which was enough to get the sports car from 0-60 in a scant 5.8 seconds on its way to a 150 mph top speed—incredible performance numbers for the day.
RS buyers could also option a Touring package on the car, as this buyer did - opens in new window or tab., which added back a few select comfort options like carpeting and adjustable seats for the sake of on-road drivability. Aside from the side graphics, the RS model could be immediately distinguished from standard 911s by the “bürzel” or large ducktail spoiler affixed to the rear deck, which was designed in a wind tunnel and significantly improving the RS’s high speed stability.
This particular example began its motoring days in Switzerland in 1972, where it competed in local competition and exchanged hands between two other Swiss owners before ending up in England in 1987. Jim Ablett, an accountant at Cognos Limited in the UK, competed in nearly 70 motorsport events with the car over the next two years, including the Pirelli Porsche Club GB Championship, the Pirelli Autofarm Modified Porsche Championship, the 750 MC Racing Championship, and the Gordon Russell Intermarque Championship.
In the subsequent years, the RS was returned to street car trim and receied extensive reconditioning to return it to the state we see it in today—including a full engine, transmission, and differential rebuild.
Located in Miami, Fla., this stunning RS should continue to acquire value. As evidenced by the model’s auction history - opens in new window or tab. in the past decade, the Porsche Carrera RS is headed for the hallowed ground of seven-figure pricing before long.
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