Year: 1993

Make: Porsche

Model: 964 Carrera RSR

Chassis No.: WPOZZZ96ZPS496105

Engine No.: 63R80545 type M64/04

Gearbox type: 2000507 G50/52

Country code   COO delivered at Phorzheim

In 1993 Porsche build the limited “Sonder” series in the race department at Weissach and offered the 964 Carrera RS 3.8 to well-known clients of the factory.[1]

This 3.8 RS was in fact an evolution on the small bodied 3.6 RS (1991).  According to FIA ruling only 100 cars had to be produced in order to be considered as an evolutionary model.  Therefore Porsche’s racing department developed the 3.8 RS that served as a bases for its RSR racing brother. 

According to factory records only 104 cars (combined RS and RSR’s) have been produced. 

This particular car being chassis number 105 and therefore fell out of the range.  Together with Mr.P. Kelly (former president of the PCA) and J. Barth the production run of the cars was further researched and it became obvious that 109 cars were build.  The last 5 ones do not seem to appear in the records of the factory, but do appear in the records of the factory.

The engine number of this car did not fall within the engine number series of the 964 3.8 RSR.  Further investigation and intense communication with Jürgen Barth revealed that the last cars received an engine case based on the 993 3.8 RSR engine.  Therefore the engine number is one of this series.

So one could argue that this particular RSR is even more special as the “series” ones, being one of the very last ones, not recorded in the factory files (only at Motorsport) and having received the engine case of the 993 RSR.

The 3.8 RSR’s were very successful in international racing as they won the GT-Class in the 24 hours of Le Mans (J. Barth/D. Dupuy/J. Gouthier) as well as an outright win in the 24 hours of the Nürburgring (Alzen/Jarrier/Fittipaldi) and the 24 hours of Spa Francorchamps (also Alzen/Jarrier/Fittipaldi).

Apart from these international racing successes the 3.8 RSR was pretty successful in the German ADAC Cup with J. Von Gartzen.  In 1994 the 3.8 was also successfully entered in the now renamed championship of the BPR series.

The limited production run of the 3.8 RS and RSR, was as said build in the racing department in Weissach and not in the factory (Zuffenhausen) as were the 3.6 RS’s.

[1] Das neue grosse Buch der Porsche Typen J. Barth/G. Büsing, Band 1, pg 571

The body of the RS and RSR were based on the wider Turbo body.  Very typical was the special double plane rear spoiler that was developed out of aerodynamic grounds.  The wide turbo bodied wheel arches were filled with Speedline wheels of 9JX18 and 11JX18.  The body was strengthened and on different points double welded.  A welded in roll cage was standard for the RSR.  The race cars were equipped with two Recaro racing seats and with six point racing harnesses.  Compared with the street RS, the RSR did have a racing suspension with uniballs, the stabilisation bars were adjustable with 21 mm in front and 24 mm in the back, race shock absorbers and a race clutch, as well as a race brake system that came from the Turbo S.  This brake system did have ABS.  For long distance racing a fuel tank (FIA approved) of 120 litres was installed. 

The engine of the 3.8 RSR had a displacement of 3.8 litres and did have an bhp output of 350 bhp, compared to the 300 bhp of the road car (RS).  In some championships restrictors were imposed and thus the bhp output was closer to 325 bhp.  In the long distance racing (Nürburgring, Le Mans, Spa) the restrictors were not applicable and thus the cars disposed of 350 bhp at 6.900 rpm.

The gearbox was the same as the standard car and therefore the top speed was limited to 265 km/h.  A 40 % locking of the differential was standard.

The standard price of the car at the time was 270.000 DM and an hydraulic lift system, as well as central locking and additional brake cooling could be ordered.

Other options for the RSR were:

-air jack system invoiced at                               9.315,00 DM (VAT incl)

- central locking wheels invoiced at                   7.716,50 DM (VAT incl)

The RSR’s were proposed in Indish red, Grand Prix white, Maritime blue, Speed yellow and black, although other colours could be ordered at cost.

The specifications of the RSR according to the Porsche press release were:

Bodywork:        Same as turbo

                        Adjustable rear plastic spoiler

                        Aluminium front bonnet

                        Aluminium doors

                        Fuel tank according to Regulations (120 l FIA approved)

                        Air intakes in front bumpers

                        Front spoiler

                        Recaro racing seats

                        Six-point racing safety belt

                        Full welded roll cage

                        Fire extinguishing system

                        Reduced interior equipment

                        Bonnet latches

Electric System: 36 A-H battery

                        Battery main switch

Weight:                       According to regulations

Optional equipment:

                        Air jack system

                        Central locking system for wheels

                        Additional brake cooling system [1]

[1] Porsche Press Release 1993 Vehicle Description

This particular RSR was featured in Car and driver magazine in August 1994, as well as the Japanese magazine “The 911 Porsche Magazine”.

The car was sourced by Mr. Prescott Kelly in Japan.  He had an inspection performed on the car and hereafter is a synopsis of what the inspector found.

Apart from the fact that these RSR’s are rare cars, this one has been conserved in an excellent condition throughout its entire life.  Great care was taken by its previous owners as the car just seems as being delivered from the factory yesterday.  It is like a car that came out of a time machine.

There are absolutely no issues regarding all the period details of the car.

The interior is perfect  and the embroideries on the Recaro seats don’t show any wear.  The roll cage still wears its FIA seal that was put on in the factory at the time.

The underside of the car is so perfect that it is hard to believe it was ever jacked up.

The engine compartment still looks original, nor leaking and all the rubbers seem to be fine.

All the liners and lots inside the tire wells are original and there are no stone chips inside the fender housings.

The previous Japanese owner had an electrical window lift knob installed right of the fire extinguisher pull switch.  This was most probably done as this is a LHD car and Japan is a RHD country.  So for the owner to be able to pay at the toll boots he had the switch installed so he could open the passenger side window, without getting out of the car.  It seems to be obvious that the previous owner although he did not drive the car much, used it sparingly on public roads.

It is clear that this car is a rare car, a non-battered example of a significant race car in the history of Porsche 911’s.  Of the 109 cars, combined RS and RSR’s produced this is one of the very last ones in great unused condition.  This limited edition 964 is indeed an historical significant car and of the few cars ever produced none will be as good, original as this one.

In the new book on the 3.8 RS & RSR edited by Sportfahrer Verlag written by Norbert Franz and Jürgen Barth, the history of this car has been confirmed. 

This particular RSR is an RSR that was constructed after the “series” on special demand, and it can be recognised by a little difference in the roll cage. 

These cars also received a 993 RSR crankcase and not a 964 RSR crankcase.