The Porsche 911 RSR was the dominant force in privateer endurance racing in the early 1990s. Just two road-going versions were built and now one of those is for sale at Bonhams Abu Dhabi auction on November 25.
The RSR was based on the lightweighted Type 964 Carrera RS 3.8, but with a wider Turbo body and around 350 horsepower to take on the world’s racing circuits. Scoring outright wins at the 24 Hours of Spa, the 1000km of Suzuka and the 24 Hours of Interlagos, plus category victories at Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring the RSR was in a class of its own.
Porsche built approximately 50 examples for customer race teams, but two clients wanted an RSR for the road. Not that the car going to auction was ever driven – after 30 years it has only ten kilometres (6.2 miles) on the clock and remains wrapped in a Cosmoline protective coating from the factory.
Beneath the wrap you’ll find Polar Silver Metallic paintwork and a Guards Red leather interior, chosen to match the buyer’s existing pair of 3.3 Turbo Lightweights. The competition seats, headlining, dashboard, steering wheel, column, door caps and roll cage are all swathed in the luxuriant hide, while there are Can-Can Red carpets to match. Although this RSR has a passenger seat it still comes with a full complement of race equipment including center air jacks, locking differential, 120-litre fuel cell and a Le Mans-spec twin-plug engine. There are Schroth six-point harnesses and a battery isolator switch for safety.
Three-piece Silverline alloy wheels are finished in Amethyst Metallic and you can see gold-painted brake calipers through the spokes. Such was the complexity of the build that although the car is registered as a 1993 model year the owner didn’t actually take delivery until 1996. The original keeper stored the car until 2017 when it passed over to the current seller in the United Arab Emirates.
Bonhams estimate that the rare RSR will sell for £1.6-£2 million, comfortably making it the most expensive 964 ever sold.
