Maybe ‘owner’ is too strong a word. Perhaps ‘custodian’ is more appropriate for a car like this. This car is eternal, and won’t ever truly be owned, rather were you to take delivery of this rare and beautiful Porsche 993 RSR, you would be preserving it for a future generation. This sentiment is kind of like those Patek Phillipe watch advertisements “You never actually own a Patek Phillipe. You merely look after it for the next generation.” This 993 needs preservation for the next generation, and that job could be yours.
Our friends at Road Scholars in North Carolina have been experts in the custodianship of significant Porsche models for years, specializing in restoration and sales of some of the most excellent Porsche models in the company’s history. Having seen their work in person, and the level of detail that they put into a restoration, I can only imagine how selective they are when finding cars to sell on to their most fastidiously detail-oriented customers.
The 993 3.8 RSR shown here is a true masterpiece. Probably the most inch-perfect 993 RSR in the world, and as near as I can tell, the only one on the market right now. One of only 30 cars built originally (and one of only 13 delivered to the United States), this beautifully prepared Porsche is already a rarity, but when you consider how used and abused some of these racers have become, finding one in this immaculate state is something altogether more difficult.
After being campaigned for a short period in the late 1990s, this car (chassis #WP0ZZZ99VS398072) later served as a club racer’s play toy among four different owners. I’ve always said that Porsche cars like to be driven, running better and lasting longer when used than when held in stasis, and I can only imagine that the same is true in tenfold for Porsche racing cars. This car has been driven, but hasn’t been molested as a lot of old racers have been. Looking fantastic showcased in a new coat of Firnweiss glossy paint, this car still wears its original tub, original bodywork (including the original aluminum front trunk lid), original transmission, and is still motivated by its original engine!
Speaking of that original engine, it has been subjected to a recent rebuild, with only about 10 hours on it since then. The rebuild was done by Precision Motorwerks in Anaheim, California. During that rebuild, it was decided that the engine would be upgraded to the more potent “Sprint Race” specifications, putting it somewhere between 380 and 400 horsepower, more than enough to motivate the ultra-wide-body coupe. The factory supplied intake was swapped out for a slight performance boost, and a Motec management system was added for its tuning capabilities and ease of use for the layman.
At the same time the engine was rebuilt, the transmission was redone as well, now said to shift smoothly in and out of all gears. The clutch disc was also changed, at that time, and performs well. Additionally, a set of Moton gas adjustable remote reservoir shocks have been added, and have been said to be a great improvement over the old units.
In deference to its use as a track day car, the Porsche has received a number of upgrades that don’t affect performance at all, but instead are in the interest of safety. A new fuel cell was installed in the front, and an onboard fire suppression system has been plumbed. The driver’s seat has been upgraded to a newer Recaro unit with concessions for a HANS device. In an effort to keep the driver cool and collected, the car is already prepared with hookups for a cool shirt. Additionally, a driver radio system has been installed, as well as a video/data recording.
If you are looking for a great car to use in club events, or perhaps in vintage racing in the near future, there aren’t many better options than this one. At $265,000, it sure seems like a lot, until you realize that its less than the price of a new GT3 Cup car. For what most racers pay for a dime-a-dozen 991 Cup, you could have something a bit more unique to drive, and likely have a lot more fun in, though perhaps not drive quite as quickly. When you pull this white beauty out of your trailer at the next PCA driver education event, and slam it up onto its integral air jacks, you’ll be much more likely to be the talk of the paddock than any street car (and most race cars), and with the values of 993s ever increasing, owning one of the last Porsche factory aircooled racing cars will never be a losing venture.
For more information, visit Road-Scholars.com.
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