1973 Porsche 911 RS Carrera Carrera RS Lightweight

Porsche built 1,580 Carrera 2.7s to homologate the RS for FIA's Group 4 (Special GT) category, far exceeding the minimum requirement of 500. Of those, 130 examples were of 471 'Sport' specifications, commonly known as Lightweights and intended for privateer racers.

This particular first series M471 Lightweight, 911 Carrera RS 2.7 was completed in December of 1972 and finished in Grand Prix White with Red Carrera side stripes. It was designated as a factory-owned 'Handler Nr. 100' and was one of 25 RS 2.7 and RSR 2.8 kept by the factory. This example, along with its sister car (chassis number 288) was modified by the racing department into a factory rally car for the 1973 East African Safari. The ride height was raised, giving a total ground clearance of 250 mm, steel bumpers were installed with additional ram bars, and a competition-spec 110-liter fuel tank was fitted. The chassis was reinforced and received heavier-duty shock absorbers and aluminum skid plates. 'Spectator handles' were installed to above the rear quarter windows, allowing bystanders to help if roadside assistance was needed. Additional forward hood lighting and hood-mounted horns were installed, and matte black graphics similar to the three 911 STs that competed in Africa in 1971. Bosch sponsored both cars, along with a third works-prepared RS entered for a British team.

The cars were sent to Nairobi with a small crew of mechanics and service vehicles were secured locally. Like many teams, Porsche was underprepared for the muddy African roads. Björn Waldegård and Hans Thorszelius suffered through a start-stop rally. Chassis number 285 (wearing start number 10 and Stuttgart plate 'S-AR 7909') was three hours from the finish when it was sidelined due to engine issues, resulting in a DNF.

After the race, chassis number 285 was sent north to contest the 1,000 Lakes Rally. In preparation, chassis 285 received a new suspension setup to handle the large jumps and gravelly forest stages of Finland. The car, wearing start number 3, was driven by Leo Kinnunen to victory in 20 of the 43 special stages over three days, earning third overall.

The Porsche cars that contested the 1973 East African Safari were prepared to return for 1974. The problematic shocks and transmission of 1973 were rectified, and both factory cars were delivered, this time in white and blue colors of German logistics company Kühne & Nagel. While Björn Waldegård / Hans Thorszelius returned in 1974, they piloted the sister car No. 288. Chassis number 285, now wearing start number 41, was driven by two-time Safari winner Edgar Herrmann and co-driver Hans Schuller. Due to rain and mud, rally organizers were forced to cancel a stage after 72 of the 99 teams became stuck. Chassis 285 suffered spindle failure which took them out of the running, but the sister car finished second. Chassis 288 returned to Stuttgart but the standard 285 was sold to a local enthusiast.

Registered with the Kenyan authorities in 1975, chassis 285 was reportedly rallied across Kenya and Tanzania for a number of years. It later received a red exterior and a Kenyan-issued license plate 'KPU 539'. Surinder Thatthi purchased the Porsche in 1992 and treated the car to a partial restoration with a repaint in white.

In the early 2000s, Gabrielle Mahler-Kurzenberger and Uwe Kurzenberger acquired the RS 2.7 and brought it from Nairobi back to Germany. By this point in history, the body had deteriorated and it had suffered from a seized engine. A restoration soon commenced with the project handled by Eckhard Spreng and lasting for three years. It was mechanically sorted by Manfred Rugen as well, with a completely new 2.7-liter engine and its transmission receiving a complete rebuild. When the work was completed, the car wore its Kühne & Nagel livery and start number 41 as run by Herrmann and Schuller in the 1974 East African Safari.

The Kurzenbergers immediately returned their RS to the rally stages for which it was built, contesting many vintage rallies across Germany.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2023