Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Sport Lightweight 1973 - World Of Classic Cars -

Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Sport Lightweight 1973

In the early 1970s, Porsche wanted to build on the success of its world-beating Type 917 endurance prototypes, but it faced a dilemma: the muscular five-litre 917 had been regulated out of existence by the FIA, which set a new displacement maximum of three litres for the World Championship of Makes. In response, Porsche’s competition department decided to create a small series of purpose-built race cars based on the production 911 for the FIA’s Group 5 Special Grand Touring class. They would be called the Carrera 3.0 RSR. To meet the FIA’s Group 5 regulations, a minimum of 500 street-legal Group 4 cars would have to be constructed and sold within one year. To emphasise the car’s racing heritage, they were dubbed the Carrera RS and two versions would be offered, the M472 Touring, which had a great deal of standard 911 S equipment, and the stripped-down M471 Sport, which was more commonly known as the Lightweight.

Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Sport Lightweight 1973

To Porsche’s amazement, the first run of 500 cars quickly sold out on word-of-mouth, even before the Carrera RS made its public debut at the 1972 Paris Auto Show. A second run of 500 units was approved, comprised mostly of Touring versions. The company, realising that the first cars had been under-priced, boosted the retail price by another 1,000 Deutschmarks, but these, too, quickly sold, and a third run was completed at an even higher price. Eventually, a total of 1,590 Carrera RSs (including prototypes and homologation units) left the factory.

Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Sport Lightweight 1973

The Carrera RS Touring and its competition-oriented sister made extensive use of lightweight materials. Fiberglass was used for the engine cover and front and rear bumpers (Series 2 Touring models had steel rear bumpers). The rear quarter panels were artfully widened to accept wider seven-inch wheels and tyres (the front wheels remained six inches wide). What was to become the RS’s trademark feature, the “ducktail” rear spoiler, was added to the engine cover after wind-tunnel testing had demonstrated that it was very effective at increasing high-speed stability by reducing rear-end lift.

Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Sport Lightweight 1973

Whilst the Touring version was intended for road use, the M471 Lightweights were aimed at club-level racers. This very exclusive series, of which only 200 were produced, scaled only 975 kilograms, about 100 kilograms less than the Touring model, which was accomplished through the utilisation of thinner-gauge steel for their wings, roof panel, and doors and thinner and lighter (and very expensive) clear glass from the Belgian firm Glaverbel. This special glass was fitted to most Series 1 Lightweights but only a few from the second series where available with this option. There was no sound insulation, and only very thin carpeting and simple rubber mats covered the floor, whilst the rear folding seatbacks, sun visors, dashboard clock, radio, and glovebox door were deleted.

Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Sport Lightweight 1973

The standard armrests and latch handles were replaced by simple plastic pull handles and pull-cord door releases. As the story goes, Tony Lapine’s styling department conceived the now-famous “negative” Carrera side striping after Lapine happened to glance at the negative of a photograph taken of the car wearing its originally planned “positive” lettering.
The heart of the Carrera RS was a new six-cylinder engine of 2.7 litres. The 2.4-litre 911 S’s 70.4-millimetre pistons and cylinders were replaced with 90-millimetre aluminium barrels which were coated with Nikasil (Nickel-silicon carbide) for improved lubrication and wear characteristics. With this increased displacement, 8.5:1 compression, and Bosch mechanical fuel injection, the new Type 911/83 engine developed a reliable 210 brake horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 202 foot-pounds of torque at 5,100 rpm. Also new was the stronger Type 915 five-speed manual transmission, which replaced the old Type 901 with its “dog-leg” first gear.

Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Sport Lightweight 1973

This beautiful Series 2 Carrera RS Sport was the 649th RS built and amongst 160 finished in Light Ivory (code 131). It was trimmed with red Carrera graphics and the spokes of the anodised Fuchs forged alloy wheels were painted to match. The interior was a black leatherette, and as a Lightweight, this RS was fitted with a pair of Nylon-upholstered Recaro competition seats with adjustable headrests. There is a mix of Glaverbel and Sekurit glass, and the backlight is heated. The car was delivered with several items that are included on the Touring version, such as a glovebox door and a standard Porsche badge on its bonnet instead of a decal. The lightweight rear lid has a pair of rubber hold-downs as well. Only a few options were specified, including a 40-percent limited-slip differential. Per usual, both the clock and radio were deleted.

Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Sport Lightweight 1973

Chassis 600649 left the factory on 1 February 1973 and was shipped through Porsche’s Italian distributor to a dealer in Torino. It enjoyed long-term ownership by two local enthusiasts before coming into possession of ITALCLASSIC, a company owned by the former president of the ASI (Automotoclub Storico Italia), Vittorio Zanon (ASI President 1987–1997), and managed by Maurizio Tresoldi on his behalf. In 1995, it was acquired by the present Italian owner. He more recently embarked on a complete restoration of the Carrera RS, entrusting it to Porsche specialists at Tirelli Motorsport in Turin. This time-consuming work was recently completed at a cost of some €225,000 and included a complete disassembly and stripping of the tub to bare metal, a fresh re-spray in the car’s original and correct colour, the installation of a new interior, and a complete mechanical overhaul.