One to Buy: ex-Dave Helmick / Albert Naon 1973 Porsche 911 2.8 Carrera RSR
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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.
