Rare '76 Carrera 2.7 RS

[Pierre Martins]

My business partner owns this rare 2.7RS 911, one of 123 homologated during '76 for group 3 touring car racing in Europe.

http://www.pts106.com/Porsche%20Charles.htm

I'm looking for more info and photos about these cars, especially ones that were part of this limited production run that actually raced during 1976.

Haven't had much luck with google on this one. Any pointers? Thanks in advance.

Cheers,
Pierre M.

[Frank de Jong]

Hi Pierre,

though I'm pretty well-informed about the 911 Porsche and its homologation versions, this one is new to me.
After the 73 RS and the 74 3.0 RS, most interest in 1976 was for the turbo-934.
Apart from club level, there was hardly any use in europe for a group 3 Carrera, perhaps for rallying. The GT championship was for group 4 cars.
And another weak point: for group 3 Porsche had to build 1000 cars in 12 months, so the car may be a works-prepared group 3 version of a normal Carrera - though I find it hard to believe that Porsche would sell 123 of them.
The fact that Porsche did not include a special manual wonders me too. Porsche even made manuals for the 956!

[Pierre Martins]

Hi Frank, thanks for your feedback.

I understand your scepticism, but this car checked out with Porsche AG, including the *secret* production number. I have further feedback from other sources also confirming the authenticity of this car.

Not that I'm trying to impress or brag, but this is really a rare find. It's about to be featured in a magazine, so I'm just doing some more research on this model.

Cheers,
Pierre.

[Frank de Jong]

Pierre,
it's such a strange story!
I possess all German Auto Motor und Sport, Sport Auto and Rally Racing magazines of that period - this car was never mentioned, though the Carrera RS 3.0 of which only 100 were built got a complete roadtest.
The only thing I can think of is that Porsche managed to homologate a different injection system and built that into 123 cars. This would be the same trick of what Ford did in group 1 (which is the same as group 3, but for touring cars instead of GT's): they managed to homologate carburettors, camshafts etc. for their Capri and Escorts - and I don't think they had to produce more than 100 parts.

[Jeremy Jackson]

Jurgen Barth/Lothar Boschen's "The Porsche Book" lists the chassis 9116609001 - 9123, with engine nos 6668001-8123 (Engine Type 911/83)

The note alongside is "Special model: 210bhp engine"

30 Targas are listed separately as 6609001 - 9030, but I guess are included in the 123

[Pierre Martins]

Frank,

Before I reply to your last post I have to point out that I really don't mean to sound sarcastic in what I'm gonna say now - You (we) have to do more homework. Forget magazines and the internet. We need to talk to Porsche historians.

From the information I gathered so far, the '76 Carrera RS homoligation is not well known, (and i'm not a porsche historian) but there are a handfull of people that hold these cars in high regard as true collectors cars. There are 5 of these cars known to be in SA. I've seen 2. Thirty out of the 123 built are supposed to be Targas and I'm told a few of these targas also exist in SA, but I've never seen one.

There is a fax somewhere from Porsche authenticating Charles' car, but we seem to have misplaced it. We're in the process of obtaining another one from Porsche. I'll scan it and post it here as soon as it comes to like.

Cheers,
Pierre M.

[Jeremy Jackson]

Pierre,

You may have missed my post above. There's no doubt about the authenticity! The first 30 were Targas.

[Pierre Martins]

Thanks Jeremy,

You just confirmed a few things I knew. Man I wish I could find info whether any of these 123 cars actually raced or not. And if so, where? What class etc...

Cheers,
Pierre M.

[Frank de Jong]

As far as racing is concerned, group 4 would make no sense since the 1976 934 turbo (with its K-Jetronic injection - why did they not homologate that for group 4 too? Would have made the car competitive in group 5 since this was the biggest difference to the 935!); and I don't think there was any interest (apart from club level) for a group 4 3000 cc class. Group 3 was obscure anyway.
Perhaps rallying?

[Dutch chap]

Fascinating stuff!

[Fogelhund]

I have a good friend who race Prep's many 60 and 70's Porsche's, and will be fortunate enough to be driving a 74' RSR in the upcoming classic. He is also a bit of a Porsche history expert. He is on vacation until weekend, but I've talked to him about the car, and will look into this when he gets back.

[Pierre Martins]

Thanks Fogelhund.