Porsche – 911 Carerra RS 2.7 (1973)

The international Porsche clientele were enthusiastically fulsome in their applause when Porsche unveiled a fiendishly powerful derivative of its successful 911 for race campaigning in Paris in October of 1972. The Zuffenhausen-based automaker at that time still specialised exclusively in the manufacture of sports cars. 500 identical vehicles had to be manufactured for homologation as series sports cars. Since a stripped-down vehicle like this was not saleable, Porsche had to carry out an extremely complex manufacturing process. Each of the vehicles was initially manufactured, then driven on the calibrated Stuttgart scales and subsequently modified in accordance with the conversion order. The cars were identical and differed in retrospect only in their equipment: Touring (comfort), RS (lightweight) and racing car (RSR). At the time, this beast was the fastest German series automobile and it was also the first to roll onto the roads styled with striking front and rear spoilers. This guise established one of the trailblazing trends during the 1970s. Although the appearance of a Carrera RS 2.7 was based closely on the well-known 911, Porsche engineers had carried out some major changes in the engine, chassis and bodywork. This beguiling unrestored original, featuring the iconic “Skittles” Lime Green livery so typical of the 1970s, was sired from the rather more comfortable Touring Series endowed with the code M472. The first purchaser ordered the car with a sliding roof as a rare extra. Since last year, this Carrera first delivered to Switzerland has been under the stewardship of its third owner.