1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7; veteran of many tours and rallies

1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7; veteran of many tours and rallies

Registration: XJB 614L
Chassis Number: 9113601274
Engine Number: 6640726
Number of cylinders: 6
CC: 2687
Year of Manufacture: 1973
RHD/LHD: Left Hand Drive
Estimate (£): 340,000 - 380,000

Delivered new in 1973 through Porsche Hamburg
Finished in its original colours of Grand Prix White with Viper Green lettering and wheels
Full body restoration by award-winning approved Porsche bodyshop - Premier Panel Skills
From 22-year ownership and the veteran of many tours and rallies. Winner of Tour Auto & Tour de Espana Regularity Class in 2009 and 2008
Supplied with a wonderful history file and numerous photo albums, magazine articles, a V5c, and folders of invoices

They say:
 
The 1973 RS was the Homologation-Series 911 Porsche had to build in order to qualify its pure racing 2.8-litre 911 RSR for Group 5 competition. The FIA mandated that at least 500 examples of the RS were required, so Porsche set to work. Two versions were offered; both based on the 1973 911S 2.4 coupe: the Lightweight/Sport option M471 was the racing-oriented basis for the RSR, while the Touring option, package M472, retained much of the interior trim and features of the standard car. Both differed visually from the 911S with rear quarter panels widened to accept seven-inch Fuchs alloy wheels, and a distinctive fibreglass front bumper with space to install an auxiliary oil radiator if desired. The rear bumper was steel on the Touring coupes and fibreglass on the Lightweights. The engine covers were also fibreglass, reinforced with balsa wood strips, and nearly all RSs sported the iconic "ducktail" spoiler that had been demonstrated in both wind-tunnel and track testing to greatly reduce rear-end lift and thus improve stability at higher speeds. A small number of Touring versions were delivered without the rear spoiler, but most of those were subsequently retro-fitted by their owners. The Lightweight RS was fitted with thinner steel body panels, specially-made thinner window glass, and a stripped interior with racing bucket seats.

The heart of the new RS was a new and much more powerful engine. The standard 190hp 2.4 of the 911S was given larger cylinders with 90mm pistons, taking the displacement to a tad under 2.7-litres. The cylinder bores were coated with a new anti-friction material called Nikasil, which had been developed in Porsche's racing department to allow aluminium pistons and cylinders to co-exist. With a compression ratio of 8.5:1 and Bosch mechanical fuel injection, the new engine developed a lusty 210 bhp at 6300 rpm along with 202 foot-pounds of torque at 5100 rpm. The RS retained Porsche's proven Type 915 five-speed manual transaxle and powerful four-wheel disc brakes. The fully independent suspension featured McPherson struts, longitudinal torsion bars, and an anti-roll bar, while the independent rear suspension used trailing arms with transverse torsion bars, tubular shock absorbers, and an anti-roll bar. This impressive package provided the lucky owner with a car that offered brilliant acceleration (0-60 in 5.5 seconds) and a maximum velocity of 149 mph with excellent stability and road manners.

The 2.7 RS could be ordered in a variety of colours, but only those delivered in Grand Prix White left the factory with a choice of black, blue, red, or green "negative" graphics with wheel centres painted to match. Porsche wanted this very special new 911 to be noticed, and the Carrera stripes ensured that they were.

We are pleased to offer this particular 911 Carrera RS 2.7, chassis no. #9113601274, built in May 1973 to Touring (M472) specification and supplied to its first owner through Raffay Porsche of Hamburg. The car was first registered in July 1973 and was finished in Grand Prix White with Viper Green lettering and wheels. Numerous options were fitted at the time including; headrests, sports seats, rear collision bar, rear fog light, a Blaupunkt 'Frankfurt' AM/FM radio and an electric sunroof - a feature it doesn't retain today.

Having spent some time in the United States, it returned to Germany in July 1986 when it was purchased by the President of the German Classic Porsche 911 Club, Wolfram Thonemann, who obtained the apt registration 'K-RS 911 as shown on photocopies of the original Fahrzeugbrief document. During his ownership, the car was successfully campaigned on racing circuits in Germany and around Europe, even becoming the Europa Cup Class 6 Champion of 1987. As a result of his motorsport activities, the car subsequently received a full body and engine rebuild using a newer 1974 block, engine no #6640726. The majority of this work is documented in a series of photo albums that accompany the car's large history file.

Our vendor purchased the car from Mr Thonemann in December 1996 and continued with its motorsport legacy by preparing it for international classic rallies. It was, in fact, our vendor's father who was to campaign the car at such prestigious events as the Hockenheim Regularity Rally, Mont Ventoux, Modena Cento Ore, Tour De Espana, and Tour Auto where it won the Regularity class in 2009. Along the way, it was also entered into numerous Concours events collecting much silverware.

In view of its rarity and value, the car was retired from rally use and, in July 2017, it was decided that it be treated to a full body restoration. Premier Panels Skills are a multiple-award winning Porsche Approved body shop and were the overall winners of the Porsche National Restoration Competition in 2016, so it made sense to appoint them to carry out the necessary work to ensure this RS was returned to top form. Great care was taken during this process and the result is now simply stunning, with superb shut lines and paint finish throughout. There are dozens of photographs recording the work carried out, along with a substantial number of invoices. This iconic 911 RS 2.7 is supplied with countless magazines articles, photograph albums, two folders of invoices, its old FIVA rally card, and a UK V5c.

After 22 years of ownership and enjoyment, this car is now in great condition and ready to begin the next chapter of its life. A potential candidate for another classic rally where it has been so successful in the past, or simply to grace the lawns of a country house at a Classic Concours d'Elegance.

On offer by Silverstone Auctions at Autosport International 2019 - Birmingham, UK 12 January, 2019


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