Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0 (1974)

In 1974 the roadworthy motorsport 911 series continued its run when Porsche took the opportunity to develop an evolution of the RS 2.7, having now met stricter requirements of building 1000 road cars per year in line with Group 3 rules. Group 3 allowed a previously homologated car, such as the RS 2.7, to be homologated with just 100 examples built.

Thanks to the 1973 911 Carrera RS 2.7 being homologated for the 2.8-litre RSR, for 1974, Porsche homologated a 3.0-litre RSR factory race car, which of course required only that much smaller production run to go alongside it. While 1,580 Carrera RS 2.7s were built for 1973, only 56 Carrera RS 3.0s were built for 1974.

The Carrera RS 3.0 was powered by what was essentially a detuned 3.0-liter RSR engine with an aluminum (rather than magnesium) crankcase and street exhaust fitted in place of the open racing unit. With displacement increased to 3.0-litres and internally designated as 911/77, the former type 911/72 engine was upgraded with new cylinder heads with larger inlet ports, larger inlet and exhaust surfaces for the valve heads, and the crankcase utilized a more durable die-case aluminum alloy. Cylinder heads were single-plug rather than the racing twin-plug type, and the compression ratio was given a significant bump over the outgoing 2.7’s 8.5:1 ratio, though it still runs on the equivalent of 93 octane U.S. pump gas.

The brakes were huge four-piston aluminum units with drilled discs, lifted straight off the all-conquering 917, and the suspension was revised with RSR rear pick-up points allowing for more camber adjustment, even stiffer Bilsteins, and thicker diameter rear torsion bars. Power was channeled through a five-speed gearbox and limited-slip differential, and the fenders were widened even further to accommodate 8.0-inch wheels up front and 9.0-inchers in the rear.

The RS 3.0’s G-shell chassis was updated with rear torsion bars and the anti-sway bars were reinforced, the Fuchs wheels were widened by an inch at front and rear, and the ventilated disc brakes were derived from Porsche’s legendary 917. Bodywork featured the taller, larger bumpers introduced in all 1974 911s, while the front air dam was reworked, along with the new rear “tray”-style spoiler. Each RS 3.0 sold came with two rear spoilers: the road version fitted to the car at the time of sale, and a second, larger racing wing that wasn’t road-legal in Germany, as it overhung the rear bumper.

With its systematic lightweight construction the RS 3.0 only weighed in at just 900 kg. This low weight was achieved by using thin-gauge sheet parts and an emaciated equipment level. Everything was taken out. Porsche used lightweight windows, removed all sound deadening material, delivered a very minimalist interior, and used fibreglass for the hood and engine cover. There were also no creature comforts. This was more racer than road car.