1973-Porsche-911 Carrera RS Touring

Description

1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Touring
s/n 9113600287, engine stamped 6630284
Grand Prix White with Red Scripts and Black Interior

The legendary Carrera RS is widely regarded to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest roadgoing Porsche ever. Its primary purpose was to homologate the car for competition use, which required the construction of a minimum of five hundred examples within twelve months. Eventually, the cars proved to be so popular that the production run was expanded several times, with an eventual total of 1580 cars being built. The cars themselves featured larger more powerful engines, flared rear wheel arches to accommodate wider wheels, numerous deletions and alterations to reduce weight, improved suspension, and a few cosmetic alterations, which would become the car’s trademark. With its distinctive contrasting striping and wheels and the simple and functional ‘burzel’ or ducktail, the styling of the RS is iconic and trend-setting. The real treat, however, is in the driving. It epitomizes the ultimate Porsche experience with its immense tactility, balance, and nimbleness. Very few cars are as communicative and engaging as a properly set up 911 of this vintage, especially a Carrera RS.

This particular car is a “homologation” car, one of the first 500 examples built. Completed in December of 1972, it was optioned with retractable seat belts, antenna and speaker, electric windows, and seats described as “like M471”, all features that the car retains today other than the antenna, which has been removed. The car remains in its original color combination of Grand Prix White with red scripts. The car spent many years in Japan, having been imported into Japan in May of 1977. For 32 years from 1977 to 2009, the car belonged to the same owner, under the same registration number with the old style license plates that changed in the 1980s. In Japan, the license plates belong to owners rather than the cars and are affixed using a tamper-proof bolt sealed by the Japanese government official alloy seal which is broken if the plate is ever removed. Only the Department of Transportation can reseal the bolts and ordinarily new plates are issued when this happens. Consequently, the car’s vintage style plates that it wore until 2009 speak to the long term undisturbed nature of the car.

In 2009, the car was acquired by its next Japanese keeper, who set about performing a comprehensive restoration. The car had been previously fitted with a 3.0 liter SC engine, and a correct 911/83 1973 RS engine was sourced in Germany, rebuilt in its entirety, stamped to match the original engine, and installed. The car was stripped to bare metal and completely disassembled to a shell before being repainted. The interior was renewed as well, as was the trunk, and engine compartment.

Cosmetically, the car is a very nice driver. The body is straight and displays good gaps and the paint was completed to very good standards. The paint appears very fresh and the car has seen few miles since being restored. There is one small bubble in the paint smaller than a pencil eraser in the left rear fender near the door jamb and quarter window trim. At some point in the car’s life, it was fitted with lightweight bumpers. The rubber trim has been replaced, and all glass and lights are excellent. The car has Sekurit glass all around other than the Sigla windscreen. The anodized bright trim in the side window frames is in very good condition with minor scratches. The front and rear windscreen decos appear as new. The remaining brightwork is very good and the wheels have been nicely restored.

The interior is excellent with like new dashboard and fresh Perlon carpets. The car is fitted with lightweight style seats, an exceptionally rare factory option that is original to this car as substantiated by the Konradsheim book. Additionally, the car is equipped with power windows, another unusual option that is original to this car. The car has been fitted with lightweight door panels, which are in excellent shape, and the headliner, parcel shelf, and rear side panels are all new in 2009 and remain in as new condition. The steering wheel is excellent and is the correct small-diameter 380mm wheel. The gauges are also excellent. The switches and controls on the dashboard appear to be in excellent original condition although the cigarette lighter is from a later Porsche.

The engine compartment is clean and fairly correct, though the car has been fitted with electronic ignition and non-original spark plug wires. There is much new cadmium plating throughout. It is presented to high standards and the inner frame components are free of pebbling, as is correct for an early series homologation RS. The trunk was thoroughly restored as well, being fully restored and with much new cadmium plating and new carpet. Like the engine compartment, it is free of pebbling, which is correct for a homologation car. The inner fenders and trunk floor are in excellent shape. The car has correct plastic fuel tank and collapsible spare tire, date coded December of 1972. The car also has its jack, tool roll, and compressor.

The car runs and drives superbly, reminding why the RS is such a legend. There is an urgency to the car that encourages the driver to drive purposefully and the car is hugely rewarding to drive. The light weight ensures a superb power to weight ratio and the car is genuinely quick by modern standards. The engine is properly tuned and the gearbox is one of the better operating 915s we have experienced recently. The chassis and suspension are tight and communicative, with a directness and precision that is virtually unparalleled. There is a sense of durability that inspires trust from the driver, and it is easy to see why these cars were so successful in endurance racing. Where other cars from the period feel fragile, cantankerous and easily overwhelmed by modern driving conditions, the RS is perfectly at home, trustworthy, and far more entertaining than a modern car whose limits are so high that it is impossible to explore them on the street.

This is an excellent opportunity to acquire an interestingly optioned and complete homologation RS that is ready to enjoy immediately. Restored to nice driver standards, this car is an ideal car to drive, which is reinforced by the thrilling and enjoyable driving experience it supplies. Additionally, with the finest Tourings breaking the $1 million mark and lightweights in the mid $1 millions, this car represents excellent value as well.