1973 Porsche 911 RS Carrera Carrera RS Lightweight

By the end of 1972, Porsche was left without many options. Regulations changes had made continuing in the World Sports Championship all but impossible. However, the closed door in the prototype ranks would lead to the company walking through the GT door and becoming a veritable tenet within the ranks. The car that would truly compose the edict would be the 911 Carrera RS 2.7.

The move to GT racing would be fraught with challenges. Not only would there be the challenges of preparing a car for the class, but, there would also be the challenges posed by the competition. Porsche had many titanic battles with Ferrari in the prototype ranks. However, when the company really began to investigate the GT ranks it would quickly find the main competition would come from a familiar foe. Ferrari was already rather well established in the GT ranks with its 365 GTB Daytona. The fact Ferrari was already well-established in GT racing wouldn't be as much a concern as the fact that its Daytona boasted an engine with nearly twice the displacement as the largest 911 engine at the time. Unfortunately for Porsche, the cost and time it would take to develop a new car for the class would not entirely be plausible. So, the company would have to turn to its 911 and get a little drastic.

Porsche engineers started to look for every possible way in which it could gain an advantage. They would take and use the 911 S as its basis. They would then take the 2.4-liter engine used in the model and would increase its size to 2.7-liters. Just this effort alone would provide an extra 20 bhp bringing the total up to 210 bhp. Still, this would not be enough to really challenge the Daytona.

Other measures would be implemented in order to enable the 911 to take the fight to the Ferrari. This would include installing larger rear wheels, larger brakes, a rear spoiler on the car and drastically reducing weight. Shedding all possible extra pounds meant the interior of the car would be stripped of anything deemed unnecessary. This shedding of pounds also meant fiberglass and thin gauge steel would be used for the car's various body panels. Weighing in at a little more than 2400 pounds, the 911 Carrera RS 2.7 would be able to reach a top speed of 150 mph and would be able to accelerate from zero to 60 in under 6 seconds!

Production of the new RS 2.7 would begin in early 1972 and enough examples would be produced to enable the car to take part in the 1973 GT Championship. Therefore, with the RS 2.7 the legend of the Porsche 911 would be firmly established within the GT ranks.

In total, just 1,580 examples of the Carrera RS 2.7 would ever be produced. One of them, 9113601317 would roll out of the factory in May of 1973. When it left the factory for German delivery the car would be finished in Light Yellow with green Carrera script.

In the late 1980s, or early 1990s, the car would be shipped to the United States and purchased in 1991 by Phil Bagley of Klub Sport Racing. Throughout its lifetime in the United States the Carrera RS 2.7 has passed between many notable Porsche enthusiasts, including Dan Rosenthal, Frank Enea and Kim Watkins. The current owner is also quite the Porsche enthusiast and a vintage racer.

To be presented for auction at the RM Auctions event in Amelia Island in March of 2013, the Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 comes with its original livery. Many components have undergone rebuilding and refurbishment. And, in November of 2011 Porsche of Monterey performed a PPI inspection and found the engine to be in proper tolerances. Still sporting correct 7 and 8 inch Fuchs wheels, Touring trim and NOS Bosch H-4 lamps the Carrera comes with matching engine and transmission numbers and is eligible for concours and driving events.

Being offered with a Certificate of Authenticity, a tool kit, and other original elements, this iconic 1970s Porsche sports car is certain to be a proud addition to any collection and a must have for even more Porsche aficionados. Estimates prior to auction have the Carrera RS 2.7 selling for between $450,000 and $550,000.

Sources:
'Lot No. 36: 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7', (http://www.goodingco.com/car/1973-porsche-911-27-carrera-rs). Gooding and Company. http://www.goodingco.com/car/1973-porsche-911-27-carrera-rs. Retrieved 6 March 2013.

'Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7', (http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/648/Porsche-911-Carrera-RS-2.7.html). Ultimatecarpage.com: Powered by Knowledge, Driven by Passion. http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/648/Porsche-911-Carrera-RS-2.7.html. Retrieved 6 March 2013.

'1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring', (http://www.supercars.net/cars/1539.html). Supercars.net. http://www.supercars.net/cars/1539.html. Retrieved 6 March 2013.

By Jeremy McMullen