Jerry Seinfeld, a well-known Porsche-phile as well as comedian, stars in and hosts a cool show called Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Each episode involves Seinfeld picking up a fellow comedian in a car du jour and basically shooting the shit about whatever comes to mind.
In the second season of the series, there is an episode with Seth Meyers from Saturday Night Live fame. The intro of this particular episode with Meyers is remarkable in that it features Porsche’s 1973 Carrera RS, considered by many to be the greatest air-cooled production Porsche. Seinfield even makes the bold observation that “you can ask anyone that’s ever driven one; there’s something about this car that feels…perfect.”
The Carrera RS seemingly has the optimal balance of power, performance, and driver enjoyment that is so difficult to attain in a sports car, no matter how hard a manufacturer may try. But with the RS, Porsche got it just right by taking a standard 911S, bumping the power, improving the braking, suspension, adding wider wheels and tires, lightening the car, and adding its iconic duck tail spoiler. This effort was made to homologate the RS for racing competition, but it also yielded a car that is greater than the sum of its parts.
The ’73 RS was only made for one year and although 500 were needed to qualify for FIA standards, a total of 1,580 units were ultimately produced, thus justifying why examples can command high 6-figure prices. These are rare birds indeed.
Two versions of the RS were available from Porsche: Lightweight and Touring. The Lightweight had thinner body panels and glass windows and weighed 2,150 lbs. Our featured car is a genuine 1973 Porsche Carrera RS Touring that weighed 220 lbs more than the Lightweight. This low-mileage car was originally purchased in Italy and found its way into an American collector’s hands by way of Mexico. It has been well maintained and professes to be in overall excellent, but not concours, condition. It is now available at Fantasy Junction with the asking price of $499,000. If you can only have one Porsche (and can afford it), this is the one to have.
Year: 1973
Make: Porsche
Model: Carrera RS Touring
Engine: 2.7L flat six
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 5,852 kilometers
Price: $499,000
1973 Porsche Carrera RS Touring
s/n 9113601222 engine stamped 6631197
Light Ivory with Black Interior
The legendary Carrera RS is widely regarded to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest roadgoing Porsche ever. Its primary purpose was to homologate the car for competition use, which required the construction of a minimum of five hundred examples within twelve months. Eventually, the cars proved to be so popular that the production run was expanded several times, with an eventual total of 1580 cars being built. The cars themselves featured larger more powerful engines, flared rear wheel arches to accommodate wider wheels, numerous deletions and alterations to reduce weight, improved suspension, and a few cosmetic alterations, which would become the car’s trademark. With its distinctive contrasting striping and wheels and the simple and functional ‘burzel’ or ducktail, the styling of the RS is iconic. The real treat, however, is in the driving. It epitomizes the ultimate Porsche experience with its immense tactility, balance, and nimbleness. Very few cars are as communicative and engaging as a properly set up 911 of this vintage, especially a Carrera RS.
This particular car was, according to its Certificate of Authenticity, an M472 Touring model supplied new in Italian specification, finished in Light Ivory with Black interior. Although its early history is unknown, the car found its way to Japan, then to a collection in Mexico before coming to the United States, where it has been part of a collection that has included a host of other interesting Porsche road cars, as well as a 962 and a 935.
The car is in excellent mechanical and cosmetic condition. While not freshly restored, it has a crispness that is very attractive. It has some M471 Lightweight attributes including fiberglass bumpers and lightweight door cards without armrests or map pockets. The body is excellent, with straight panels and good fit. The paintwork was done to high standards and is in very nice condition other than a few small chips from use. There are a couple of hairline cracks in the paint on the front bumper. The lights and lenses are excellent throughout. The glass is generally excellent as well, save for a small area of delamination at the bottom of the windscreen and a few small marks from road use. The wheels are very nice 7 and 8 inch Fuchs with color crests. The limited amount of chrome trim is very good to excellent, with light scratches in some of the door frame trim.
The interior is excellent. The dashboard is free of cracking or warping, and the gauges and switches are in fine shape. The car is fitted with desirable 300kph speedometer and also has a pair of rally timers. The sports setas have been reupholstered with corduroy inserts and are in excellent shape, while the carpets and in very good condition, aside from a hole in the driver’s heel pad. The steering wheel has the appearance of a very nice original item rather than a freshly restored one. The headliner is in excellent shape.
The engine is very clean driver condition, but not detailed for show. It has been updated with Carrera chain tensioners. The front compartment is structurally excellent and has correct dual batteries and plastic fuel tank.
The undercarriage is solid and free of corrosion. The engine and transmission are both extremely clean and dry, and there is evidence of recent maintenance. The car is fitted with SSI stainless heat exchangers.
The car feels special to drive. It is genuinely quick by modern standard and the engine runs well. The gearbox works as designed and the chassis and suspension are well-resolved, providing the inimitable and highly communicative 911 experience that makes the RS such a legend. There is a wonderful precision coupled with a sense of durability resulting in part from the 911’s massive success in endurance racing that makes the car a pleasure to drive.
This is an excellent opportunity to acquire an attractive and genuine RS that is an ideal car to use. Cosmetically attractive but not so perfect as to discourage its use, this example is ready to drive and enjoy. It comes with Certificate of Authenticity, owner’s manual with RS supplement, and tools. Inspections welcome by prospective purchasers.
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