The most distressing point is that the whereabouts of any original parts from chassis 1316 do not appear to be known
Porsche revived the Carrera name for its top-of-the-range 911 in 1972-73. Designated Carrera RS (Rennsport), the newcomer was intended as a limited-edition “homologation special” to enable the factory to enter Group 4 competition in the Special GT class, with a minimum build requirement of 500. However, the demand for this fabulous car proved so great that the production run was later extended by another 1,300-or-so units, qualifying the RS to also compete in Group 3, which it would dominate. The Carrera RSR GT-category racer collected overall wins in the World Sportscar Championship at Daytona and the Targa Florio in 1973, defeating 3-liter prototypes from Ferrari, Matra, and Mirage-Ford in the process-an outstanding achievement for a production-based car.
Delivered new to Frankfurt, Germany, in May 1973, the 1973 Porsche offered here, chassis number 1316, is a genuine Carrera RS Touring model, which has been re-shelled using the body from a period-correct Porsche 911T. Until relatively recently, it had been assumed that 1316 retained its original bodyshell; indeed, previous owners dating back to 1985 were unaware it had been re-shelled. The obvious conclusion is that this was done relatively early in the car’s life, almost certainly necessitated by an accident. Porsche ran out of genuine replacement RS bodyshells quite quickly, which is hardly surprising when one considers how many cars were actively campaigned in various forms of motorsport, making an alternative shell the only way of keeping it on the road. The original Porsche factory chassis plate bearing the number 9113601316 has been welded into the replacement bodyshell.
Otherwise, 1316 is to RS Touring specification, the 911/83 engine, aluminium front cross beam, front brake calipers, fuel tank, and various other components being correct for this model. (The current engine started life in chassis number 0243, built in January 1973.) Numbered 02127335131AT, the gearbox is a factory exchange unit fitted relatively recently by Porsche’s Classic Workshop at the behest of a previous owner, a Mr. Johansen, at a cost of $13,861.
1316 comes with a substantial file of history. Among other works, the file documents an engine rebuild carried out by Autohaus M Rauh in 2005 at a cost of $19,260 (Mr. Rauh owned the car for ten years), as well as a full cosmetic restoration and repaint in original livery undertaken recently in the U.K. at a cost of about $13,000. In addition, the car was serviced and dynamometer-tested by marque specialist Bob Watson in April 2008, producing a healthy 225 hp.
During Mr. Rauh’s and Mr. Johansen’s ownership, the car apparently competed in several international motorsport events, and new FIA papers are on file. Finished in India Red with black leather interior, this immaculate Carrera RS Touring is offered with current road fund license and a Porsche heritage certificate listing its original specification.