1996 Porsche 911 Coupe

The Porsche Type 993 Carrera RS was based on the Carrera Cup competition car and conceived as a homologation special to qualify the RSR 3.8 for BPR GT3 and GT4 racing. The Carrera RS was only offered to the European market and never made its way stateside when new. Mounted mid-ship was a 3.8-liter flat-six engine fitted with numerous improvements over the earlier 3.6-liter engine. The 3.8 (Typ-e M64/20) offered 300 brake horsepower at 6,500 RPM and 262 foot-pounds of torque at 5,400 RPM. The engine was given the company's Variocam variable-length intake system and newly designed forged pistons of a reduce height and a relocated wrist-pin, allowing the overall weight of the piston below the standard 3.8-liter engine. The new engine also had dual oil coolers and lightened rocker arms, along with many other improvements and enhancements.

The lightweight measures were not just reserved for the engine; the Stuttgart engineers worked at length to make the Carrera RS as light as possible. All unnecessary items were deleted, including the central locking, radio speakers, power-adjustable seats, electric windows and mirrors, sound insulation, air bags, the rear defroster, and even the headliner. Thinner window glass was installed, an aluminum front boot lid and doors were added, and the interior featured Recaro seats. Lightweight interior door panels with traditional fabric pulls were also employed to help reduce the vehicle's overall weight.
Upon completion, the Carrera RS weighed just 1,280 kilograms.

The suspension system received significant upgrades, including a front strut brace, ball-joint front damper mounts, and adjustable anti-roll bars, with five positions for the 24-millimeter front bar and three positions for the 21-millimeter rear piece. The Carrera RS had a limited-slip differential, an anti-locking braking system, and ABS traction control.

This particular Carrera RS is finished in Guards Red over a black leather interior. It was delivered new to Germany. The original owner had it equipped from new with optional electric windows, air conditioning, and front airbags.

The early history of the car is not known; it was imported to the United States and federalized by G&K Automotive Services in Santa Ana, California, in 2003, and it has remained in the United States ever since.

The car has been recently repainted in its original shade of Guards Red. It has been driven 42,000 miles.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2016