Porsche 964 Carrera RS Was a Lightweight Masterpiece of the ’90s
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When Porsche announced the new 911T as a stripped-down, modern 911, we were hoping for something in the same vein as a 964-generation Carrera RS. Instead, we got a 40-pounds-lighter base model packed with techno-wizardry. More in line with a 964 RS America, then. Not quite the bare bones track machine we’d hoped it might be.
In the 1990s, Porsche never delivered the proper RS to the American market. It would seem they preferred to keep the seriously good stuff for Europe. The ‘good’ RS was a whopping 345 pounds lighter than a regular 964 Carrera 2, for example.
The Carrera RS was based on the Carrera 2 chassis but was kitted with all kinds of race-derived goodies. The suspension was lowered by an inch and a half and stiffened for track duty. Its interior was stripped of anything not absolutely necessary, including the rear seats. In order to connect your backside directly to the chassis, a pair of motorsport buckets were installed for the driver and one lucky passenger. This particular car has a wonderful set of four-tone blue/grey seats that we just can’t get enough of. The RS has no cruise control, no air conditioning, no radio, and no power windows. Even a good portion of the car’s sound deadening was removed.
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This car’s real highlight, though, is its engine. While the RS only made 10 horsepower more than a bog-standard Carrera (260 horsepower versus 250), the engine’s high-rev tendencies were its calling card. With a few lighter bits inside and an extra-light flywheel, this engine would zing where the Carrera’s roared. Not quite as hardcore as 1993’s Carrera RS 3.8, this car is a tremendous Porsche that would be at home in any collection.
One of just 2,282 Carrera RS’ built, this example is presented with just 14,000 miles on the odometer, and appears in as-new condition. No price is listed, but you can find out more about it by visiting Canepa Design in Scotts Valley, California.
