1974 Porsche Carrera RSR 3.0 Coupe

Porsche used the iconic Carrera name in honor of the company's triumph at the Carrera Panamericana. In use as late as 1967 in the racing 906, the Carrera nomenclature was retired shortly thereafter and remained dormant until late 1972, when Porsche was granted homologation status for a race-prepared version of the sport-tuned 911S.

In 1973, the new Porsche Carrera RS received a weight reduction from the standard 911S by the removal of sound deadeners and insulation, as well as the use of lightweight interior paneling, and fiberglass construction for the bumpers, front and rear spoilers, and the new ducktail wing (or burzel). Homologation requirements stated that 500 examples were needed to be built to qualify for racing. The RS proved to be so popular, that far more than the required 500 were built.

The RS was split into four different subdivisions with the most powerful example being the RS mit Rennausstattung, or RSR. They were developed by Norbert Singer, the 33-year-old engineer who had been instrumental in the success of the 917 longtail coupes. With the new Type 911/72 2.8-liter motor, the 1973 RSR examples were entered by Porsche's official Martini & Rossi-sponsored team, winning first overall at the Targa Florio. The RSR was also made available to a handful of factory-supported teams like Penske Racing and Brumos, for whom Peter Gregg and Hurley Haywood took the checkered flag at the 1973 Daytona 24 Hours and the 12 Hours of Sebring. Gregg eventually won both the 1973 Trans-Am and IMSA championships in an RSR.

For the 1974 season, the Carrera RSR continued as a privateer race car only, fitted with a new 3.0-liter engine, the Type 911/75. The engine was bored from the recently enlarged 2.7-liter RS motor. Power was increased to 330 hp with the replacement of a throttle butterfly with slide valve throttle openings. 55 examples were built as dedicated lightweight racing cars intended strictly for competition. 54 examples were built as street-able cars, trimmed with basic road amenities.

The RSR Carrera was particularly effective in American IMSA GT racing. They claimed outright victories during the 1974 season as the Road Atlanta Six-Hours, the Mid-Ohio Five-Hours, the Daytona 250 Mile Paul Revere, and the Charlotte 300 Miles.

This particular example was delivered new to New York in October of 1974 and is likely one of the last produced. The new owner, Roberto Quintanilla, immediately campaigned the RSR at the 1974 1,000 km of Mexico City, where he shared driving duties with Daniel Muniz and Juan Carlos Bolanos. The car finished in a disappointing 22nd place. In June of 1975 at Mid-Ohio, Quintanilla and Roberto Gonzales took 3rd overall. A month later at Mid-America, Quintanilla drove the RSR to a 4th overall finish during the second race.

In March of 1976, the Porsche took 3rd place at Sebring, again with Quintanilla and Gonzales as co-drivers. At the end of the season, the car was sold to a team consisting of John O'Steen and John Paul, and the two campaigned the car during 1977 with modest success, highlighted by 6th place finishes at Mid-America in May and Mid-Ohio in June. At the end of the season, the car was acquired by Bonky Fernandez for the 1978 season. Under the banner of Mr. Fernandez' Boricua Racing, the RSR, finished 4th overall and 2nd in class at the 1978 Daytona 24 Hours. At the event, the Porsche bested several of Porsche's 935 Turbos. 4th overall and 1st-in-class finishes followed at both Sebring and Talladega, and the car netted another 2nd-in-class at Mid-Ohio in August.

During the 1979 season, the car finished 5th overall and 1st in class at Sebring, 3rd in class at Laguna Seca, and 4th overall and 1st in class at the Mid-Ohio 500 in July.

For the 1980 season, the RSR was finding it hard to be competitive, though Fernandez and Juan Ferrer still managed to finish 5th in the GTO class at the season-concluding Daytona finale. After the 1980 season, the car was shelved for most of the 1981 season before being sold from Fernandez's team and raced in the 1981 season finale at Daytona by M.L. Speers and Terry Wolters, who ran the car once more at the 1982 Daytona season opener. By April of 1982, the car had been acquired by W/S/ Enterprises, with Ken Madren and Denny Wilson piloting it through the majority of the season. Highlights of the season included a 4th-in-class finish at Charlotte in May and another 4th-in-class at Mid-Ohio in September.

For the 1983 season, Pegasus Racing acquired 9114609113, and drivers Paul Gilgan, Al Leon, and Wayne Pickering were instrumental in 5th-in-class finishes at Daytona and Sebring, as well as a 4th-in-class at Mosport in August.

For the 1984 season, the car was driven under the banner of Team Dallas. It was raced at Daytona and finished 6th in the GTO class. Over the next three years, it was raced less frequently, though it still enjoyed a few remarkable finishes including a 3rd-in-class finishes at the 12-Hours of Sebring in 1985 and 1986, the latter of which included a 14th overall finish.

Thomas Linton of Santa Monica, California purchased the car in 1986. In 1988, it was raced at Willow Springs and Riverside. In 1990, the car was delivered to Porsche specialist Jim Torres of Burbank, California for a complete restoration. After it was shown at Laguna Seca in October 1990, it was used sparingly, participating in just a handful of events over the next twelve years. In 2001, it was acquired by Stanton Beck of Seattle, Washington, who ran the car in the Pacific Northwest Vintage and Historic races in 2001 and 2002.

The car was recently acquired by the current caretaker.

It has a spectacular racing history which includes eight appearances at Daytona and nine at Sebring.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2014