• Offered from The Carrera Collection
• One of 1,308 examples specified in the roadgoing M472 Touring configuration
• Retains its matching-numbers chassis, engine and, gearbox
• Presented in its factory-correct colour combination of Light Yellow over black
• A handsome example of one of Stuttgart’s most celebrated 911 iterations

It would take a very special model for Porsche to resuscitate the Carrera moniker, which was first given in 1955. The nameplate recognised the manufacturer’s consecutive class wins at the Carrera Panamericana in 1953 and 1954. It remained in use over the following decade for performance variants of the 356 models, reaching its flat-four pinnacle in the celebrated 904 Carrera GTS before being repurposed for the flat-six 906 Carrera 6.

The heart and soul of the first-generation Carrera was of course its purpose-built competition engine, the four-cam racing motor designed by Ernst Fuhrmann for use in the 550 Spyder. It is surely no coincidence that the Carrera name returned to Porsche models soon after Fuhrmann rejoined the company in 1971 following a 15-year hiatus.

Seeking to reinvigorate Stuttgart’s racing portfolio, Fuhrmann proposed a cost-saving strategy that aimed to develop the 911 S model into a factory competition car. The 911 S chassis was upgraded with forged alloy front-axle supports, reinforced rear-axle trailing arms, and a stiffer suspension with gas-pressurized Bilstein shock absorbers at all four corners. The revamped chassis was then fitted with the new type 911/83 engine, a more highly developed version of the 911’s classic flat-six that was given an increased bore for a greater displacement of 2.7 litres and fitted with Nikasil cylinder liners—developed to great effect in the successful 917 racecar.

The promising competition-tuned chassis was mounted with an aerodynamically refined interpretation of the traditional 911 coachwork built with thinner-gauge steel, a distinctive ducktail spoiler, and flared arches that stretched to cover wider forged-alloy Fuchs wheels. Weight was further minimised by substituting the regular production glass with thinner-gauge Glaverbel glass and discarding all sound insulation and comfort amenities. Truly worthy of Porsche’s iconic Carrera nameplate, the new model was christened as the Carrera RS, and the name was proudly applied on the lower sides of many examples with large period-characteristic cursive script.

On the racetrack, the Carrera RS 2.7 handily won its class during the latter part of the 1972 Group 5 GT Championship season, and in September 1972 it was officially unveiled at the Paris Salon. The model went on to dominate Group 3 and 4 competition during 1973, attaining even greater heights in the form of Norbert Singer’s Le Mans class-winning RSR evolution.

Of course, to become eligible for competition under FIA regulations, the Carrera RS needed to be produced in a homologated batch of at least 500 examples, prompting Stuttgart to build a roadgoing version that more than embodied the notion of a “homologation special”. This street-ready iteration, officially specified with the codename “M472” as a Touring package, retained most of the lighweight racecar’s mechanical equipment, but it was trimmed for comfort with the original heavier interior.

Porsche customers were so enchanted with the Carrera RS that the initial homologation run quickly sold out, necessitating a second batch of 500 examples. A third series eventually capped the total number of cars at 1,580 examples, of which 1,308 units were completed as M472 Touring cars. The Carrera RS 2.7 is today widely regarded as one of Porsche’s most significant 911-based models, perhaps the near-zenith of the platform in naturally aspirated form before the onset of the celebrated turbocharged models. Capable of reaching around 240 km/h, and beautiful to behold with its distinctive rear fenders and ducktail spoiler, the Carrera RS 2.7 evokes a special era in Porsche history, making it a true icon among marque enthusiasts today.

Retaining its matching-numbers chassis, engine, and gearbox and presented in its factory-correct colour scheme, this arresting Carrera RS is a particularly intoxicating example of the celebrated Stuttgart homologation special. According to factory data kept on file, chassis number 9113601062 was ordered in the M472 Touring guise, equipped with a limited-slip differential, and finished in Light Yellow paint over a black leatherette interior. The early third-series Carrera RS was then sold in April 1973 to a German customer through the Glöckler dealership in Frankfurt am Main. Marque enthusiasts will no doubt recognise this as the dealership owned by Walter Glöckler, the racecar builder and privateer driver whose Porsche-based racing cars gave birth to the 550 Spyder legend.

Although this 2.7’s intermediary history is unknown, by 2011 it was owned by an enthusiast based in Switzerland, and within a few years the car passed joined The Carrera Collection. In April 2016, the Carrera RS was appraised by the respected marque expert Christian Kramer, and in his positive assessment he notes that the car retains the matching-numbers engine and gearbox while benefitting from a restoration conducted just a few years earlier.

The Carrera continues to evidence the beautiful results of the restoration, including the renewal of the original factory colour combination of Light Yellow paintwork over a black leatherette interior (one of the era’s most iconic Porsche liveries), with houndstooth seat inserts. Sure to strike the fancy of any Stuttgart enthusiast, this handsome Carrera RS 2.7 would make a superb addition to any sports car collection, ideal for display at finer concours d’elegance or enjoyment of its thrilling performance on the open road.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/cc23.