Presented by Bonham Auctions, the ’96 Porsche Carrera RS is one of the rarest 911 Type 993 variants ever made. The 993 was the last of the air-cooled Porsche 911 models. First introduced in 1993, it was initially available in a variety of body styles, including coupe, cabriolet and targa, with two- and four-wheel-drive options.
In 1995, the lineup was expanded with the introduction of the Carrera RS model. It was based on the two-wheel drive Carrera. The ‘RS’ designation, short for RennSport, earmarked this Porsche as a high-performance, track-focused variant. Following in the footsteps of its iconic 1970s RennSport forebears, the ’96 Porsche 993 Carrera RS boasted a significant weight advantage and power increase over the stock model.
Everything considered not crucial for competition purposes was discarded. That included parts like power windows, central locking, stereo speakers and even headlight washers. Aluminium was used for the front luggage compartment, and thinner glass panes for the windows to further reduce the car’s overall weight by about 220 lbs (100 Kg).
At its heart, the Carrera RS had its engine bore size increased by 2mm for a capacity of 3,746 cc (up from around 3,600 cc in the other Carrera models with the 3.6-litre Flat-Six). That, and some other tweaks, boosted the Carrera RS’ power output to 300 bhp. To maximize the added power, the car featured a lowered suspension for improved handling, RS Cup-type 18-inch wheels and dynamic limited-slip differential as standard.
Only 1,106 examples of the 993 RS models were built, and the one showcased here is rarer still, being one of 779 with left-hand drive. It was delivered new in Freiburg, Germany and was equipped with many desirable options such as front airbags, top-tinted windscreen, air conditioning and Carrera RS Sport seats.
The odometer shows 45,864 miles (73,811 Km) at the time of cataloging, with most of that covered in the car’s first ten years of ownership. It was purchased by the current owner ten years ago, but owing to a lack of time, he never drove the car as intended. He never even got around to registering the vehicle. Instead, it has been in excellent storage, and now, the owner, recognizing the Carrera RS’ investment value, has decided to part with it.
The car was serviced and inspected as recently as September 2024 by well-known Porsche dealers RS Motors in Ingelmunster, Belgium. Included in the sale are the original Porsche leather pouch containing all books, including the original stamped service book, old registration document (Monaco), and Belgian Demande d’Immatriculation (EU taxes are paid).
The auction is slated for October 6, and Bonham estimates a final sales value of between $302,060 to $390,500 (€270,000 – €350,000).
Source: Bonhams
