Description
For sale in our forthcoming auction during our sale Automobiles sur les Champs, on 22 October 2023:
French title
Chassis n° 496089
- Fully documented, high-quality restoration by IMSA Rouen
- Original engine, known history
- Rare and iconic model, extremely quick
- Standard registration document allowing use on the road
- Sixth overall in the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1996
This car is one of the 51 3. 8-litre Carrera RSRs built and is duly listed in the book devoted to the model, which describes its history and exceptional results in competition. Delivered new in the United States, its first owner was Lou Milone, from San Diego. It was finished in Grand Prix white (L908) with the following equipment: a 40/ 40 limited-slip differential, two racing seats with six-point harnesses, 18in RS 3. 8 wheels, an Atiwe leather steering wheel, a G50/ 10 five-speed manual gearbox, a 120-litre fuel tank, manual steering, no airbags and a Le Mans exhaust. The engine is a type M64/ 04-RSR.
In 1994, it was entered in the IMSA Championship by the A. R. E Team and took part in the last three races that year (at Laguna Seca, Portland and Phoenix), driven by Richard Raimist. Its racing career continued from 1995 to 1997, still with A. R. E and Raimist, and then with other drivers including K. Singer, C. Wagner, S. Dente, M. Doolin and B. Martini. Its best result was sixth overall in the 1996 24 Hours of Daytona, the first round of the IMSA season, with an outstanding second place in its class, in especially colourful circumstances. A result such as this in one of the most demanding races on the calendar testifies to the car's particularly professional preparation and its high degree of reliability.
For the 1997 and 1998 seasons, it competed more sporadically, taking part again in the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1997 (where it finished 29th, an honourable result for a four-year old car) and, in 1998, in the IMSA race at Road Atlanta, where it came ninth and concluded its motorsport career.
After these years in competition, the 3. 8 RSR was bought by a leading British connoisseur who kept it in its original condition. He ended up selling the car at the start of the 2010s to a major French collector and Porsche enthusiast, who also owns a Carrera RS and a 964 Turbo S. In 2015, he decided to have the RSR restored in its "Exxon" livery and make it completely immaculate.
He entrusted the car to Porsche IMSA Rouen, under the direction of Raymond Narac, a Porsche racing driver himself who won the GTE Am class at Le Mans in 2013, driving a 911 GT3 RSR. The car was therefore completely rebuilt: the bodyshell was stripped bare and checked for structural damage, the front floor pan was straightened following a previous accident, all the imperfections on the body were repaired, it was repainted in its original colour and Makrolon windows fitted. The interior was restored to its original appearance, while the electrical system was checked and the connectors cleaned. The engine was given a full rebuild including the refurbishment of the cylinder head and the replacement of parts of the timing gear. The gearbox, running gear and ancillaries received the same attention before all the mechanical parts were reinstalled in the body. We invite potential buyers to consult the invoices available in the car's history file, which give an idea of the extent of the work undertaken and the substantial amount spent.
The car is now immaculate and unquestionably authentic, its specification very close to when it was supplied new. It will be sold with four additional BBS wheels with appropriate tyres and a new torque wrench to remove the centre-locking wheel nuts.
This car is today one of the finest examples available of this model, which symbolised Porsche's return to competition. Fully documented, it is ready to take to the track for historic motorsport events and could even be driven there, as it is registered for road use. An opportunity that will not be lost on enthusiasts!
Photos © Alexis Ruben
Photos d'archives : 24 Heures de Daytona 1996, 2ème de sa classe et 6ème au classement général. © The Revs Institute
Estimation 900 000 - 1 200 000 ?
