1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS

OVERVIEW

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One of the “first series” 500 Porsche 911 Carrera RSs with lightweight sheet metal
Extremely early example, 91st example produced
Original interior, factory color specification Light Yellow, optioned with Sports Seats
Matching numbers engine and transmission per Dr. Georg Konradsheim Carrera RS book
Originally delivered to Switzerland
Owner’s manual, tool kit, spare wheel and tire, service and registration documents

The Carrera RS is one of the most revered cars in the Porsche lineage, and is regarded as one of the finest sports cars of the 1970’s. Revealed at the 1972 Paris Auto Show, it was a factory special built to meet the homologation rules of FIA Group 4 racing. The RS ("Rennsport") was almost invincible at Le Mans, Daytona and the Targa Florio, often winning outright against pure racing prototypes. It’s not often you would see the same car on the podium one day, and passing you on the open road the next. The RS is conclusive proof that one of Porsche’s greatest skills was building a car that was immensely competitive at the track, and equally useable as a street car.

Porsche had only intended to produce 500 Carrera RS examples, set on making just enough to homologate the cars in order to go racing. These 1st series cars are highly coveted, sporting thinner sheet metal from the factory and were focused on being lightweight, offering a “purer” experience. However, the general public fell so in love with the Carrera RS platform that Porsche ultimately made 2 more rounds of cars, producing another 1,080 examples. These later versions (often referred to as series 2 or series 3 cars) had thicker sheet metal and were generally heavier than their 1st series siblings.

This Carrera RS was delivered to a Switzerland dealership in Etolie on December 8th, 1972 where it didn’t take long to sell with its first owner purchasing the car on January 11th, 1973. Optioned in Light Yellow with the only specification being dual Recaro Sports Seats (option code 409), the Carrera RS was one of the earliest examples made being the 91st VIN. The 1st owner took the car to some minor club sport driving events, shown in the photos in the car’s gallery. Around 1976, the car purportedly moved onto Curt Ciapparelli who kept the car until his passing in 1979 where the car remained a part of his estate until 2005. In late January of 2009 the Carrera RS was purchased by its next owner, Stefano Ginesi of Würenlingen, Switzerland. At the end of 2010, the 911 was treated to a complete engine, transmission, and suspension rebuild by a Switzerland automobile facility in Dietikon, Switzerland to the tune of $25,357.40 (CHF 23,698.50).

Around 2012 the car was purchased and imported by Robert Steinway, based in Colorado. The car immediately was shipped to a small specialty Porsche shop in southern California where the Carrera RS was treated to maintenance and some cosmetic adjustments. The shop removed the engine, transaxle, suspension, and all of the components underneath the car. They removed the existing undercoating using dry ice blasting, a sympathetic surface cleaning process that doesn’t damage the underlying metal work. The shop painted the underside the same way the Porsche factory did for authenticity and quality. Timing chain housings were replaced, and the timing chain idler arms replaced as well. The valves were adjusted, a new clutch and flywheel installed, heat exchangers cleaned and painted, new sound pad, new fuel lines, cleaned and painted the oil tank, fan housing and alternator replaced, incorrect hardware was replaced as needed, and all the hardware and latches for the engine and trunk hoods were replated. Taking their time to ensure the utmost quality, the Carrera RS was in southern California for over 6 months, emerging as an even more fantastic example. The car was shipped back to Robert in Colorado, who garaged the car and rarely drove it due to having another Carrera RS that he drove daily.

In 2016 Robert placed an ad for the Carrera RS in a few publications where it caught the eye of Tom Gloy, Formula Atlantic and Trans-Am series racing champion. He purchased the car from Robert in May of 2016 to be a part of his collection and drove it on occasion, noting its exceptional fit and finish and overall quality.

The Carrera RS recently arrived at Canepa where it met all of Bruce Canepa’s expectations. Taking the car out and test driving it, Bruce said “I couldn’t think of a single thing that it needed. It’s that good.” This was after the car had been given a complete mechanical inspection and concours-level detailing, part of the “Canepa Difference” process. Now ready for its next owner to drive and enjoy or to make a crown jewel amongst any Porsche collection, this early 1st series Porsche 911 Carrera RS is the purity of the air-cooled cars that drivers and collectors salivate about.

12,415 miles = 19,980 kilometers