2008 Porsche 911 (997) GT3 RS (Gen l)

RHD example with just 8,000 miles and a recent Porsche service (Dec '18)

1 of 6 'Gen l' cars finished in White, and the only known example ordered without decals from the factory (£4,000 option)

High-spec including Carbon Pack, Sports Chrono, hardwired battery conditioner and Road Angel GEM

Dry-sumped 3.6-litre flat-six revs to 8,400rpm, producing 409bhp. 193mph and 0-62mph in 4.2 secs

A true 'homologation special' for the GT3 RSR race car

The GT3 is a product of Porsche Motorsport and is a high-performance version of the Porsche 911 primarily intended for racing, and named after the FIA Group GT3 class in which it was designed to compete, whilst the iconic 'RS' moniker is only ever attached to the very best and most extreme race-cars-for-the-road produced by Porsche, beginning with the 1973 911 Carrera RS.

In March 2006, at the Geneva Motor Show, Porsche launched the new 997 version of the GT3 and the lighter, more focused GT3 RS (often known as the 997.1 GT3 RS). The GT3 models were substantially new and significantly more powerful utilising the motorsport-derived 3.6-litre M97.76 engine, an evolution of the blue-blooded 'Mezger' GT1 racing unit. In the new 997.1 GT3, this engine had been subjected to a meticulous, obsessive drive to reduce internal masses. The short-stroke, dry-sumped boxer six now revved to a maximum of 8400rpm, 200rpm higher, and with the help of a mild ram-air effect from the engine-cover air scoops, a larger intake butterfly and a compression ratio up from 11.7 to 12.0 to one, it develops a heady 409bhp (415PS) at 7600rpm. That gives it an exceptional rating of 114bhp per litre and makes it almost as powerful as the twin-turbo 3.6 fitted to the 996 Turbo. Also new to this GT3 engine was VarioCam, which adjusts the intake cam timing and thus helps improve both efficiency and the spread of torque and the exhaust system is essentially the one developed for the GT3 Cup racers. The GT3 RS was also equipped with new adaptive damping and traction control (PASM and TC as standard, the latter based on the system from the Carrera GT), the G97/90 6-speed gearbox, a mechanical limited-slip differential (with varying lock-up values), a non-dual-mass flywheel and a bigger clutch. The GT3 RS is 44mm wider at the rear (a legacy from the Carrera 4 with which it shared its shell) to conceal a wider track, giving improved stability and grip and to top off this focused package, it's fitted with an adjustable carbon-fibre rear spoiler, plastic rear lid and lightweight plastic rear window.

The car presented here is a RHD 2008 Porsche 911 (997.1) GT3 RS and is believed to be just 1 of 6 'Gen-1' cars ordered from the factory finished in White, and the only known example specified without script decals (a £4,000 option). The car has covered just 8,090 miles and has been regularly serviced (the most recent being at Porsche Centre Glasgow on the 17th December 2018). Our vendor bought the car in 2015 having known it as part of a private collection of very special cars, all being meticulously cared for (this car is fitted with a protective film where you touch the inner door facia and on the inner sills). As well as the more subtle decal-free look, the car's specification is very discerning, including Sport Chrono Pack (639), Safety Cage in black (595), Schroth harness driver (807), Carbon Package (EZA), Extended carbon package (EZB), Bi-Xenon lighting system (P74), Carbon door entry guards (X69), Carbon rear centre console (XMJ), Sill covers painted (XAJ), Carbon dashboard trim (XGB), and Battery disconnect switch (199). It's also fitted with a hardwired Optimate battery conditioner, Road Angel GEM, and a Trackstar CAT 5 Tracker. An amazing package.

This is a reluctant sale of what is now considered to be a true modern-classic, with the 997 being the last evolution of the 911 to use the legendary Mezger normally-aspirated engine and with its manual gearbox and perfect size/weight relationship, offers possibly the ultimate 911 experience.