1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring

The Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 is regarded by many collectors and journalists as the greatest 911 ever produced. The car was manufactured as a direct result of Porsche's racing (RennSport) programme and it aimed to improve upon the 2.4 Litre 911S that was being convincingly beaten on the track in 1972 by BMW's CSL. However, FIA Group 4 regulations required that at least 500 examples had to be homologated to exacting lightweight, competition specification for road use. Consequently, Porsche stripped most of the weight out of the existing 911 by using thinner metal for body panels, thinner glass and removing all the sound proofing. Performance was also enhanced with larger rear wheel arches housing 7" magnesium Fuchs alloy wheels, a 'ducktail' rear spoiler, larger brakes and a larger fuel injected 2,687cc engine producing 210bhp. Porsche eventually produced 1,580 RS examples made up of cars built to both 'Touring' specification, offering basic comfort trim and upholstery, and 'Lightweight' specification. Only 55 in total were transformed to full RSR racing guise and they went on to dominate the 1973 European GT Championship with outright wins at the Daytona 24-hours and Targa Florio. And so the 911 RS legend was born. Octane magazine recently summarised the RS as: "the ultimate iteration of the 'early shape' 911, with its slimline rear bumper and longer bonnet that curls over the nose, you get the purest, undiluted 911 style." Racing authority Tony Dron felt that: "You have to remind yourself that when it was new it ventured out onto roads thronging with Vauxhall Vivas, Morris Marinas and MGBs... but it remains magnificently engaging, and that engine noise is just fabulous!" This fully matching numbers left hand drive Carrera RS Touring has just completed a painstaking restoration to the very highest standards by a leading Swiss Porsche specialist. It has been prepared for fast-road/light competition use and is supplied with current FIA HTP papers, EU registration documents and a number of its original factory options, such as bucket seats. In its current guise the car could be used for all the major European historic races, rallies and Tours including Tour Auto. Chassis number 9113600428 was originally delivered new to Germany with the factory fitted options of sports seats, retractable seatbelts, heated rear screen and a limited slip differential - but was purchased by the vendor in the UK approximately 10 years ago.

This Porsche has undoubtedly led a pampered life and has formed part of several important collections. During the current owner's custody, the car has undergone a nut and bolt restoration and repaint by leading RS specialist Marc De Siebenthal of Switzerland in 2011. All bills and invoices, totalling over £110,000 (155,179 Swiss Francs) for this restoration alone, can be found in the history file along with a full photographic record of the whole process. The work included a full engine and gearbox rebuild as well as the car being stripped and repainted and all suspension and brakes rebuilt or replaced as necessary. Silverstone Auctions can report that this RS drives as it should and represents a rare opportunity to purchase an iconic 911 in fully restored and highly original condition.