One to Buy: 1972 Porsche 911 2.7 Carrera RS Development Car
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Despite running a comparatively modest six cylinder engine, the 2.7-litre Carrera RS catapulted the Porsche 911 into performance territory predominantly occupied by much more expensive twelve cylinder machinery from the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini.
Porsche created the Carrera RS in order to homologate an RSR version for the 1973 racing season when it would go head-to-head with other highly tuned Group 4 machinery from the likes of Ferrari, De Tomaso and Chevrolet.
Famously, the company did not expect to find the 500 road cars required for homologation easy to sell. However, as it transpired over three times that number were ultimately completed and the Carrera RS became a 1970s performance icon.
On August 18th RM Sotheby’s will be auctioning a particularly interesting part of the Carrera RS story when chassis 9112301609 goes under the hammer.
Originally completed as a 1972 model year 911 2.4 S in June 1972, ‘1609’ was retained by Porsche as a pre-production test car for the soon-to-be-released Carrera RS.
Configured with experimental fluorescent yellow paint applied by Porsche’s Sonderwunsch division, ‘1609’ was also fitted with a prototype 2.7-litre engine and one of the earliest Ducktail spoilers produced. An array of special instruments were also fitted in addition to a CB radio.
In September 1973 Porsche sold the now surplus-to-requirements car to its first owner and friend of the company, Franz Sussner, who retained it for the next 43 years.
Today the car is offered in superb condition fresh from a recent restoration.
