The Distinguished Design Masterpiece: A Look at the Porsche 911 Carrera RS

“One ride, and you’ll understand why most rocket scientists are German.” This famous slogan says quite a bit about the supreme and undeniable quality of the Porsche brand! Many cars we have reviewed over the past few years have been a very advanced step above the rest. The Car and Driver crew exclaimed regarding this model that “The legend starts here.” It’s a car that is fascinating and extremely special. Here we will take a look at the Porsche 911 Carrera RS. 

A Look at the Porsche 911 Carrera RS

The AutoEvolution staff claimed that the 911 Carrera is the model most groundbreaking within Porsche’s legacy. Meant to be lightweight and very driver-focused, it took experts at the time completely by surprise. It immediately became the fastest German production car in the world, turning many heads. The “RS” comes from the German term for “racing sport. 

The original 356 Carrera was responsible for many of the brand’s victories during the late 1950s. From the very first look, it’s obvious you’re witnessing sheer steel-based perfection. This car’s birth stemmed from the very dire need for success in racing. The Carrera RS’s construction was focused on the finished product being very lightweight and agile. The official plans in 1972 initially called for only 500 units to be made for Group 4 Special GT Racing.

Bringing Tenacity + Precision to the Table:

The Carrera’s expectations for the time were met and surpassed quickly. A very distinct type of driver was thrilled to see a car so capable of stellar handling off and on the track. By the end of 1973, more than 1,500 units were completed and ready for non-stop thrills. The combination of a well-tuned suspension and segment-leading bodywork left an exhilarating first impression.

Overall, every detail down to the wheel arches revealed a tightly-wrapped and track-ready masterpiece! The Porsche 911 Carrera RS also played a huge role in the creation and fine-tuning of performance packages. The M471 equipment package successfully provided the option for an even lighter-weight and athletic model built for speed. To boost the Carrera RS’s appeal even more, there were 55 models built for motorsport-grade challenges.

A “Fast and Furious” Early Form of Focus Study:

These sport and race-ready variants were unlike anything built during the early 1970’s. The Porsche brand paid very close attention to the drivers who were won over thoroughly by this combination of performance and very sleek presentation. This led to the creation of over 1,300 touring versions of the Carrera RS. The rear-mounted naturally-aspirated flat-six powertrain was a show-stealing and very prominent reason for “911 Carrera fever.” 

This engine paired well with the car’s lightweight build, and cranked out 213 horsepower along with 132 lb-ft of torque. When stacked up against the Touring version, the Sport model was an astonishing 253 pounds lighter. In those days, its top speed of 152 mph along with 5.8 second 0-60 time was sheer blast-off caliber.

A Well-Equipped Framework of Firsts: 

SInce the 911 Carrera RS was built as a racing model, the engineering team’s goal was to cut back on aerodynamic lift. It was the first time that Porsche installed a rear spoiler on any model, which required hours of testing at the famed Weissach track. The task at hand was to make up for a drastically sloped rear without losing out on the 911’s trademark visual charm. 

This was truly when the era of outright phenomenal Porsche handling began. Even though it feels tiny inside by today’s standards, it still has a very compelling posture and drive experience. This now-famous ducktail spoiler was paired excellently with the front air dam. This legendary arrangement and “fortitude of firsts” render this model a symbol of very radical change across the entire industry. 

The Good, the Bad, and the Track Treads:

For the first time in its history, the 911 Carrera showed up meaning business with different size tires on the front and rear axles. Immediately from behind the wheel, the grip and superb handling qualities were evident. The entire body had to be intensely modified to pull this off. The wheel arches were considerably widened to provide enough space. This combination was a huge boost for desirable performance. It also made the car look like one of the sportiest models to ever exist.

All of this attention from some of the best minds in engineering and design resulted in a smashing race career. At events such as the Targa Florio and 24 Hours of Daytona, with stunning wins such as a 22-lap lead! After its first season, the RSR enjoyed competition in the prototype class boasting an even more fine-tuned suspension. At the incredibly demanding Le Mans spectacle, the car proved its grit with a 4th-place finish.

The Legacy of a Pioneering and Clout-Heavy Creation: the Porsche Carrera 911 RS

Even now, the Porsche Carrera 911 RS is renowned for heralding and truly jumpstarting a legendary line of cars. In 1992, the 964 Carrera debuted with a top speed of 164 mph. In 1995, the Carrera 993 followed, which remained lightweight and taut in a sea of releases that favored muscle over class. Diehard track hounds were thrilled in 2017, when the 911 GT2 RS arrived on the scene with 700 horsepower. 

Once off the leash, the Porsche 911 is consistently known for being able to keep up with cars that are way more expensive. Porsche’s genius engineers have been very persistent with a layout that doesn’t make sense to some brands. Many true petrol heads believe that supercars have only just become driveable. They tend to ooze terrifying at any speed, and the Porsche 911 family was a sometimes easygoing beast built for competition. 

Thoughts on this Unique and Trend-Setting Model?

The Porsche 911 Carrera RS is so very awesome because it was recognizable and in a class of its own from the start. What do you think of the car’s early roots? Would it take a newer model to make you a born-again believer in all things Porsche, or does this early (and now rare!) car peak your excitement? Let us know in the comments below, or check out another article about the very sweet 2021 Porsche Macan GTS!