One to Buy: ex-Dave Helmick / Albert Naon 1973 Porsche 911 2.8 Carrera RSR
Although Porsche had created suitably enhanced 911s for competition use more or less since the model’s launch, Sports Prototype racing by-and-large remained the company’s main focus.
However, that all changed for the 1973 season, ahead of which the fabled 911 2.7 Carrera RS had been developed to serve as the basis for the most extreme Group 4 GT challenger imaginable. In addition to a works programme primarily handled by Martini Racing in Europe and Brumos in the USA, the RSR was supplied to anyone with sufficient funds to purchase one and thus marked a new era for off-the-peg production-based Porsche racers derived from the cars available in every main dealer showroom.
Famously, the machine spawned from the original 2.7 Carrera RS was the 2.8 Carrera RSR; a heavily uprated mount that ultimately cleaned up against opposition from the likes of Ferrari, De Tomaso and Chevrolet. 55 were built for the 1973 season and one of these rarely seen machines is currently on offer at the Fiskens showroom in London.
Originally supplied Stateside via Franz Blam to privateer Dave Helmick, chassis 9113600915 was configured in the fetching shade of Gulf Blue with red decals and went on to have an extremely successful ‘73 and ‘74 campaign, perhaps the highlight of which was a fourth place finish overall and third in class at the 1973 Mid-Ohio 6 Hour IMSA event in 1973.
During the subsequent ownership of Albert Naon, chassis ‘0915’ then won its class at the 1975 Sebring 12 Hours.
Raced right up until 1981 (illustrating just how right Porsche had got the RSR formula), chassis ‘0915’ is today presented in fabulous condition having been restored by marque experts back to its original 1973 trim.
Reprinted below is Fiskens’ description:
One of only 55 2.8L engined 911 RSRs produced
Nine seasons of period race history in the United States and South America
7-time Daytona 24 Hours entrant, 6-time Sebring 12 Hours entrant.
Superb restoration to 1973 season specification and Gulf Blue livery
Highly eligible for the finest historic events
The Carrera RS was introduced in 1973 and homologated for Group 4 GT racing, with only 55 examples of the legendary and ultra-lightweight racing variant Carrera RSR 2.8 produced (RennSport Rennwagen), with many special features including the highly tuned 2.8L flat-six, 5cm-wider front and rear wheel arches, and of course the iconic ducktail wing. On its racing debut in ’73, a Brumos Porsche 2.8 RSR famously took victory at the Daytona 24 Hours, and a class win and fourth overall at the Le Mans 24 Hours.
This Gulf Blue Carrera RSR 2.8 with an extraordinary nine seasons of period racing history is one of the very best examples and has been exquisitely restored to 1973 specifications.
RSR Chassis 911 360 0915 was originally one of a pair ordered for United States delivery by Austrian expatriate Franz Blam. However, this RSR was instead delivered to Dr Dave Helmick – an amateur racer trained as a military doctor and radiologist, Helmick also served as race doctor for the Ford sportscar team in Europe, including at Le Mans ‘66. 0915 replaced another RSR Helmick loaned then sold to Porsche legend Peter Gregg, in which Gregg, Hurley Haywood and Helmick won the March 1973 Sebring 12 Hours.
0915 was entered in the IMSA GTO class by Helmick and partner John Graves in IMSA championship races in 1973 and 1974, beginning an extraordinary nine seasons of privateer racing by her early owner-racers. Her full race history from 1973-1981 with (tongue-in-cheek) Ecurie Escargot, Delta Racing, De Narvaez Racing and Fernwood Enterprises is too prolific to list, but is documented in an accompanying full-length monograph history authored by expert Christoph Mäder.
Highlights included victories at the 12 Hours of Sebring of 1975 in the GTU category, first place in the GTO class at the 250 Miles of Daytona of 1979 and the 50 Miles of Road Atlanta of 1980, and wins at two international races in Ecuador.
From December 1974, 0915 was acquired by Albert Naon of Florida, who continued her racing career at select events under the Delta Racing banner.
In 1975 she was acquired by Columbian Maurizio de Narvaez, who raced her extensively for the next five years mostly in IMSA GT championship events, and three times internationally at the Yahuarcocha circuit in Ecuador. By that time, 0915 was upgraded to full 3.0 RSR specification and remained competitive right up to 1981. She then passed to Paul Resnick, and ultimately retired from active racing, finding her way to London and garaged for decades.
Turning to the modern era, in 2010 she was acquired and taken to Germany for a meticulous restoration to original factory specification, with instructions to make her ready to race and enjoy on the road. Performed by noted specialist Ingo Stimming, the works spanned nearly four years, and rectified legacies from her racing years in the bare body shell restoration. Manfred Rugen of North Germany rebuilt the engine with magnesium die cast crank case, and period correct cylinder heads that had been cast in February 1973.
Completed in April 2014, the results of the restoration are extraordinary and well documented in the accompanying book. Charismatic in her reinstated Gulf Blue livery and red Carrera scripts, 0915 became a model car for the highly acclaimed Carrera RS book by Dr Thomas Gruber and Dr Georg Konradsheim. On completion, the restored RSR 2.8 was tested and photographed at Porsche’s testing track at Leipzig, and the car presents in outstanding restored condition today.
Surely one of the very best examples of the legendary lightweight RSR 2.8, 0915 represents the perfect combination of exquisite restoration standing on the shoulders of a long race history. Sure to satisfy a new owner seeking the very best, she will be welcome and highly eligible for outstanding motoring events.
