1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS Lightweight on offer at Amelia Island

 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS Lightweight on offer at Amelia Island

PROVENANCEPeter Zbinden, Basel, Switzerland (acquired new via Porsche AMAG, Schinznach-Bad, Switzerland)Erhard Maritz, Binningen, Switzerland (acquired from the above in 1974)Porsche AMAG, Schinznach-Bad, Switzerland (acquired from the above in 1982)Paul Alexander, England (acquired from the above in 1988)Hew Dundas, Scotland (acquired from the above in 1989)Douglas Brown, Tuxedo Park, New York (acquired from the above in 1993)Current Owner (acquired from the above)

RACE HISTORYAMC Interkantonale Slalom-Meisterschaft, August 21, 1977, Erhard Maritz (3rd in Class)Porsche Club Kirchen-Hausen, International Porsche Festival, April 14–16, 1978 (1st in Class)AMC Auto-Slalom Pratteln BL, May 6, 1979, Erhard Maritz (3rd in Class)

EXHIBITEDPorsche Parade Concours d’Elegance, Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada, August 1999 (Restoration Winner)Lime Rock Vintage Fall Festival Concours, September 1999 (Best Exterior)Greenwich Concours, June 2000 (Best German Sports Car)

LITERATUREDr. Georg Konradsheim and Dr. Thomas Gruber, Carrera RS, p. 218

THIS CARThe Carrera 2.7 RS of 1973 was conceived as a pure homologation special, as Porsche needed to build 500 road-going examples to qualify the new car for Group 4 GT racing. The RS was a substantially modified variant of the already potent 2.4-liter 911 S. By increasing displacement, introducing various weight-saving measures, stiffening the suspension, and fitting aerodynamic aids, Porsche created an unrivaled sports car. The overall performance was sensational with 0 to 60 mph times under six seconds, 0 to 100 mph times under 13 seconds, and a top speed of 150 mph. Beyond its impressive power, the RS was nimble, responsive, and forgiving at the limit, something that could not always be said of early 911s.In total, just 1,580 RS models were built, of which some 200 were the more desirable, race-oriented M471 Sport or Lightweight models. Despite its limited production run, the Carrera 2.7 RS remains one of the most important and popular Porsches of all time. Like its Carrera RSR brethren, many of the Carrera 2.7 RSs were enjoyed for competition use, where their perfect road manners brought their drivers great success.

This particular first-series RS Lightweight was completed in Light Yellow with a standard black, lightweight interior and was originally imported to Switzerland by Porsche Dealer AMAG in Schinznach-Bad, Switzerland. Delivered to the first owner, noted Porsche privateer Peter Zbinden, the 2.7 RS joined a stable of competition 911s that would lead Zbinden to many victories. During Zbinden’s ownership of 9113600354, the Porsche was used sparingly and is thought to have covered just 7,000 km prior to its sale in 1974.

The RS Lightweight was then acquired by another Swiss Porsche enthusiast, Erhard Maritz of Binningen, Switzerland. Given the car’s racing abilities, Maritz used the RS with the Zurich Porsche Club in sprint races and hill climbs throughout Switzerland, usually finishing within the top of its class. In a prior owner’s conversations with Maritz, it is also reported that Maritz campaigned the car internationally, running it at Hockenheim, Monza, and Dyon.

During this competition period, the engine was replaced by another proper Type 911/83 unit (numbered 6668112) that was produced as part of a limited batch by the Porsche factory in 1976. Both documentation from Porsche and conversations with Maritz confirm that this replacement was required after an engine failure, and the replacement was acquired from Porsche and installed by a Swiss shop in 1976. Maritz’s racing endeavors with 9113600354 continued until the car was returned to AMAG in 1982.

At that time, it is believed that Maritz sold the car back to the owner of AMAG, and 9113600354 was stored “like a museum piece” until 1988. The RS Lightweight was then sold through Nick Faure, an English Porsche dealer and racer, to Paul Alexander in 1988. Subsequently, in June 1989, the car was purchased by Hew Dundas in Scotland. During this time the car was maintained by marque specialist Autofarm, and the RS was used on occasion for historical racing.

Through Steve Carr at Autofarm, Douglas Brown of Tuxedo Park, New York, purchased the car from Dundas in late 1993. Brown recently recalled that when he purchased the car, “it was clear that it had been well treated throughout the ownership history. There was no corrosion, the car had all the proper lightweight panels, Glaverbel glass, correct window trim, front alloy suspension cross-member, and correct reinforced rear trailing arms. At the time, it was the most original lightweight with proper documentation that I could find twenty years ago. Today I am aware of only three or four M-471 Lightweights that I would regard as being similar in caliber to the standard and condition of #354.”In 1996, Brown chose to undertake a concours restoration in concert with RS expert Nate Cantwell. Cantwell’s work over the past decades on RSs has garnered much notability and acclaim, and his restorations are synonymous with an exhaustive level of detail. The RS Lightweight received over 2,500 man-hours of attention in the thoroughly documented restoration.During the restoration the engine was rebuilt by Jack Refening at the 901 Shop in Florida. Given the fragility of the 2.7 magnesium engine cases, Brown elected to use a NOS unstamped case for the rebuild and stamped the original engine number 6630350 on the case. Accompanied with the sale of the car is engine case numbered 6668112 and it remains a serviceable unit.

Once complete, 9113600354 was shown at various concours events, and notably achieved the 1999 National PCA Restoration Award at Mont-Tremblant. Since restoration, the RS has seen minimal use and regular care, and has not been raced. It has been stored in a heated garage post-restoration and is still a prize-winning candidate at many concours events.Accompanied by a substantial file of documentation, including ownership history, period race records, Porsche documentation regarding 9113600354, and countless photographs of the restoration, this particular RS Lightweight boasts exceptional provenance. Furthermore, its restoration sets it apart from many of its peers, and, now approximately 15 years since its first significant win, it continues to present superbly, marking the quality of work completed.

With its limited and notable ownership, period race record, and expert restoration, this desirable first-series 911 Carrera 2.7 RS Lightweight is among the very finest and highly regarded examples to come to market in recent memory.

more details about the sale can be found at  www.goodingco.com


Related Market and Auction Articles

4,930 articles