One to Buy: RSR #1 ex-Martini Racing 1972 Porsche 911 2.8 Carrera RSR 'Werks' Prototype
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Worthy candidates for ultimate 911 are numerous, but can anything top an ex-works Martini Racing RSR from 1973 that bagged sixth overall and fourth in class at the Targa Florio World Championship race?
This car, currently on offer at the Mechatronik showroom in Pleidelsheim, Germany, is also remarkable having been build number one – the RSR that started it all.
Originally Indian Red, chassis 9113600002 debuted at the Zeltweg 1000km World Sportscar Championship race on June 25th 1972. Gunter Steckkonig and Bjorn Waldegaard qualified 18th and finished tenth overall (ten laps clear of the next closest GT car).
Upon its return to Germany, 0002 served as an R&D mule for all manner of experimental parts. During the winter of 1972-73 it was tested extensively at Paul Ricard.
The spring of 1973 saw ‘0002’ refinished in Martini livery. On March 5th it appeared at the annual Martini Racing press conference in Paris. The following June 0002 headed to Sicily for the Targa Florio where it would serve as spare in the event of any mishaps befalling one of the three race cars around the unforgiving Little Madonie road course.
Just such an incident occurred during Friday evening practice session when Giulio Pucci wrote off RSR chassis R8 in a massive crash.
Accordingly, 0002 was prepared which included the installation of R8’s engine. Pucci and Gunter Steckkonig went on to finish the event in sixth position while team-mates Herbert Muller and Gijs van Lennep took a famous outright victory in R6. The sister car of Leo Kinnunen and Claude Haldi was third (R2).
Some time after its appearance at the Targa Florio, 0002 was sold to Dunlop in England and used for tyre testing.
After a year in Dunlop's hands, 0002 was sold engine-less via Peter Gregg to Dave White who sourced a correct type ex-works motor. In 1975 the car passed to Edgar Ramirez in Costa Rica who used if for ten years, selling to Diego Febles in 1985. In 2012, Dave White re-acquired 0002 and had it restored to its original form.
