One of just forty-five 993 RSRs in existence, this 3.8-liter monster is a rare sight. Despite the small numbers, those curvaceous haunches, massive tires, and snorkels in the rear make you wonder why this model is not as well known.
Perhaps this example deserves some special attention, since it’s Olaf Manthey’s very first racing car. A little over two decades ago, Manthey converted this from a 993 Cup car into an RSR. He elaborates on the version in this article: “The whole rear with fenders, bumpers and the tailgate was built from scratch. At the front, we relocated the oil coolers. We redesigned the air ducts so that the spent air was not routed underneath the car but dissipated on the side. We also designed the underfloor and the rear diffuser.” That last tweak made it particularly effective at the crowned and cambered Nordschleife, which wasn’t as smooth twenty years ago as it is today. This particular car enjoyed a lot of success at the Green Hell, which made Manthey’s reuniting with this car at last week’s AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix all the more special.
Since its retirement from professional racing in 2002, it’s enjoyed a few more tweaks and now produces little more power than a standard 993 RSR. Today, the M64/75 engine sends roughly 380 horsepower through a six-speed manual transmission. Powering a stripped frame weighing just 2,425 pounds, it is strikingly quick for something not too powerful by today’s standards. Just witness the way it sits nicely at corner exits and accrues speed down the Nurburgring GP circuit’s straights. Unfortunately the footage doesn’t capture the incredible bark of the car well, but the link below certainly does.
Those beautiful BBS rims tucked underneath the flared arches, a short wheelbase, and that elaborate rear wing make the 993 RSR a feast for the eyes.
For an onboard experience with the 993 RSR, watch Leh Keen at work in one here.