Porsche has a real love affair with three digits and letters. Take the obvious ones, 911, 918, 356, throw in some letters for good measure – GT3, GTS, PDK, and you’re well on your way to becoming to true encyclopaedia of Porsche knowledge. There is one three-letter name, though, that stands for more than just outright speed, one that stems right the way back to 1973, when an uncompromising racing variant of the 911 was developed specifically for motor racing, and not for public roads. Those letters, of course, are ‘RSR’, or Rennsport Rennwagen, which translates to "racing sport racing car". As clumsy as the name might be in its English form, the RSR has a reputation for being Porsche’s ballistic missle, ready to be unleashed onto racetracks around the world and utterly dominate its rivals, which is exactly what the 993-generation 911 RSR did upon launch in 1997. Just 30 examples exist, and KGC Automobiles are proud to present an example with an incredible competition history, all wrapped up in a stunning livery.
The example offered by KGC Automobiles was formerly campaigned by Team Perspective Automobiles. As mentioned, it’s a one-of-30 factory-built 993 RSR, with production exclusive to 1997 and 1998 only and a design focused purely on track dominance. At its heart lies the M64/75 engine, a 3.8-litre air-cooled flat-six developing around 350 horsepower, a figure that may not seem crazy by today’s standards, but it made it the most potent naturally aspirated 911 of its era. That power was sent through a six-speed manual gearbox to the rear wheels, housed within a fully rose-jointed chassis and race-hardened suspension setup. In place of carpets and sound deadening, you’ll find a welded roll cage, lightweight alloy panels and the purposeful scent of metal and race fuel. The RSR obviously wasn’t intended for comfort or compromise, instead, every component was chosen for speed, strength and feedback. The result is a car that feels alive at any speed. As one period reviewer put it, “The steering talks, the chassis shouts, and the engine sings a metallic aria that only Stuttgart could compose.”
Almost immediately, the RSRs were put to use, with this example tackling the gruelling 24 Hours of Daytona with drivers Thierry Perrier, Bob Wollek, Jean-Louis Ricci and Gérard Larrousse. After Daytona, the team headed to France for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1999. Not content on surviving 48 hours of non-stop racing, this example would go on to win the FFSA GT Championship the following year with Thierry Perrier and Gérard Larrousse. Yet, what truly elevates the 993 RSR above the myriad special 911s is its place in history. As the final air-cooled 911 generation, the 993 closed a 30-year chapter in Porsche engineering. Within that lineage, the RSR proudly sits at the absolute summit, marked as the last pure, factory-built race car before the 911 entered the water-cooled era. It represents the culmination of Porsche’s traditional craftsmanship before its transition into modern motorsport technology, making it an absolute must-have for any avid Porsche collector or historic racer looking to dominate once more!
