Porsche 997 GT3 RS 4.0

This 997 GT3 RS 4.0 is a lifelong Italian car- sold new through the Porsche Center in Turin and under the care of just 3 enthusiasts since then. Unlike most RS 4.0s, this car has actually been enjoyed by its owners, who have racked up 30,352 km on the car since 2011- meaning that if you hope to buy an example to enjoy, this is the ideal car. Porsche only offered two colors for this GT3 RS, Carrera White or Basalt Black –with Paint to Sample offered to a rare few customers– and this car is finished in White. Although the “standard” GT3 RS at the time was fitted with a rather garish graphics package from the factory, the 4.0-liter cars received one that was much more tastefully designed and fits the white paint very nicely. Along the lower door sits an “RS 4.0” script and a silver stripe accented with a dash of red along the top and a matching silver and red over-the-top stripe adds some visual interest without making this car look too shouty. This car was also optioned with the rare white color matched wheels which make the red brake calipers really stand out behind them. One unique feature not fitted to most Porsche RS cars of this era is the front end nose lift- with the low front splitter, this is a great addition and makes the car far more pleasant to drive around in town.

Moving inside the car and the red accents continue with red Alcantara seat centers, a red-topped Alcantara shift knob, and a red headliner that do a nice job of punching up the looks of the otherwise staid interior. Fixed carbon bucket seats offer great lateral support and give you the choice of 3-point seat belts for driving around town or racing harnesses- attached to the rear half cage if you find yourself at the race track. A set of aluminum racing pedals have been installed which make heel-toe downshifting simpler and look quite purposeful in the footwell. Although the GT3 RS is designed to be used predominately on the track– the fire bottle in the passenger footwell gives that away–it makes a great touring car, too, and in the center stack sits a navigation screen and HVAC to make sure that you are comfortable behind the wheel.

To this day, Porsche has not offered an engine larger than 4.0-liters in any road-going 911, and this particular 4.0-liter variant is particularly special. Based on the famed Mezger design, this GT3 RS received a crankshaft from the RSR race car for an increased stroke, which bumps power from 444 horsepower in the 3.8-liter car to 493 while still revving happily to more than 8,000 rpm. Where the 4.0 really shines is that torque is up throughout the rev range and in-gear acceleration is exceptionally strong even from low RPM. This example is fitted with a sublime sounding “Cup” exhaust system that makes the car really scream when you are pushing on it- if you want a slightly more subdued sound though, the original system is included. The only gearbox available is a wonderfully visceral feeling 6-speed manual that truly makes you feel like you are in absolute control. When new, the GT3 RS 4.0 clocked 0-97 km/h in just 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 311 km/h.

With only 600 GT3 RS 4.0s produced worldwide, most examples have been purchased by die-hard collectors and won’t be up for sale any time soon. Because of this, any opportunity to add one to your garage is not one to be missed, and this car is a nearly flawless specimen that will be an absolute joy to drive while steadily appreciating in value.