Highlights
- Painstaking bare-shell rebuild carried out by an aircraft engineer to the vendor's exacting standards
- Prize-winner at Porsche events; built as a long-term keeper with no corners cut, according to the vendor
- Accompanied by a file of build receipts and an extensive photographic record of the build
- Private registration plate included in the sale
The Appeal
The Porsche 911 2.8 RSR is one of the most hallowed competition cars ever to leave Stuttgart. Just 51 were built in 1973, and the last original example to change hands reportedly commanded $1.6 million. It is little wonder, then, that the RSR inspires such devotion among Porsche enthusiasts, and this 1982-registered 911, rebuilt from the ground up as a faithful RSR tribute, is a particularly compelling expression of that devotion.
The man behind this build is an aircraft engineer by trade, and that professional rigour is evident throughout. The shell was stripped bare, with all underseal and paint removed by hand to avoid the issues associated with chemical stripping. Corrosion was addressed with new metalwork before steel RSR flares were welded in.
Hundreds of hours were spent on preparation, and the vendor describes the resulting panel gaps as very good. Finished in Gulf Blue, a period-correct colour for the 1973 RSR, the car is rich in authentic detail, from the single door mirror and glovebox lid delete to the removal of all redundant wiring.
Under the engine lid sits a late-specification 3.2 Carrera flat-six breathing through Jenvey individual throttle bodies and managed by a mappable Emerald K6 ECU, producing a reported 260bhp. The Type 915 gearbox, uprated Brembo brakes, and equal-length headers complete a thoroughly considered mechanical package.
The vendor describes this as a full-on, hardcore driving experience, with no power steering, no modern driver aids, and complete concentration required. For the right buyer, that is precisely the point.
History and Paperwork
- Registered in 1982
- Purchased by the current owner as a project; the previous seller had also acquired it as a project but never commenced work
- Originally sourced from a workshop where it had begun being prepared as a competition car
- The odometer has been replaced and reads 5,656 miles; this does not reflect actual mileage, which is estimated at approximately 113,915 miles
- MOT-exempt; last tested in July 2022 at 1,480 miles, which was a first-time pass with no advisories
- Only a few miles covered since the last service and inspection
- The owner has offered to keep in touch with a potential buyer and continue to assist with maintenance if required
- Private registration plate included in the sale
The Condition
- Stripped back to a bare shell during the rebuild; all underseal and paint removed by hand rather than by chemical stripping or dipping
- All corrosion addressed with new inner and outer sills, new kidney bowls, new front section inner front wings, and new front wings
- Steel RSR flares carefully welded in, followed by lead filling to help prevent future corrosion
- Ducktail rear spoiler also fitted
- The vendor states that hundreds of painstaking hours were spent preparing the shell and describes the panel gaps as very good
- Finished in Gulf blue, a period-correct colour for the 1973 RSR
- Built as a homage to the original factory RSR with authentic details including single door mirror, glovebox lid delete, clock delete, opening rear quarter windows, electric windows removed, and all unused wiring removed (6kg in total)
- Period-correct replica 15-inch Fuchs wheels; 11-inch wide rears and 8-inch wide fronts, fitted with Michelin semi-slick road-legal tyres
- Fire extinguisher fitted
- Rubber seals correctly placed throughout; a few minor stone chips from approximately three years of regular use since completion
- The vendor states that the interior presents very well, featuring houndstooth bucket seats on sliding and tilting runners for rear access, as well as a three-spoke Momo steering wheel
- New carpet trim, RS lightweight door cards, and a period-correct alloy roll cage fitted; back seat deleted
- Heating system deleted as per the original RSR; a K9 electric blower fitted to screen vents for demisting
- Discreet USB charging point fitted
- Dashboard flocked to mimic the black felt on the steel dash of the original race car
- The vendor states the car is in working order and has been 100% reliable since the build was completed
The Mechanics
- 3.2-litre flat-six engine (late-specification 3.2 Carrera unit)
- Five-speed manual 915 gearbox with external oil cooler
- Engine and gearbox reported to be relatively low mileage, though this is unverified; bores checked with a borescope and compression checks carried out, all reported as showing no issues
- Valve clearances set; the vendor reports strong oil pressure, a dry engine, and no oil consumption between changes
- Engine dressed to mimic original mechanical fuel injection, with custom-built air filters on Jenvey individual throttle bodies and fibreglass lightweight tin ware
- All fuel lines are PTFE stainless steel braided with motorsport AN fittings throughout, resistant to modern ethanol-blended fuel
- Fuel and ignition controlled by a mappable Emerald K6 ECU, mapped by Northampton Motorsport to produce a reported 260bhp
- Equal-length headers imported from the USA; the third set fitted to achieve what the vendor considers the ideal balance of torque, top-end power, and engine note
- Brakes upgraded to overhauled monoblock Brembo calipers all round with 3.2 Carrera discs
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