Porsche 964 Carrera RS

The 3.6-liter M64/03 air-cooled, dry-sump flat-six was tuned to produce 260 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 240 ft-lbs of torque at 5,000 rpm. The beloved G50 gearbox received close-ratio gears with steel synchronizer rings, modified shift sleeves, taller first and second gears, and an asymmetrical ZF limited-slip differential borrowed from the 911 Turbo that allowed for 20 percent lockup under load and 100 percent lockup under braking. The lightened flywheel adds to the Carrera RS’s racy demeanor, allowing for snappier revs and shifts.

In the end, Porsche produced a total of 2,276 examples of the 964 RS. 1,910 of the total production run were the bare-bones “Basics”, also referred to as Lightweight models. 76 examples were finished in Touring trim which added back some of the niceties of the street cars such as AC, sunroof, power windows, full interiors with sound deadening, and unique seats. 290 were finished as N/GT or “Sport” models intended for racing in the BPR GT Group N series.

Due to America’s strict emissions laws, the 964 Carrera RS models were never slated to arrive on US shores. This vehicle, Chassis 490667,  was imported from Japan a few years ago and received a full respray in its original color of Polar Silver Metallic prior to being sold at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction in 2017. It is one of the “Basic” cars, but the eagle-eyed will notice something not typically seen in a non-Touring model. At the previous owner’s request, we retrofitted an air conditioning system using all factory Carrera components to combat the summer heat with a negligible impact on overall weight and performance.

Driving the 964 Carrera RS is what really sets it apart from other 911s of the time. At 350 pounds lighter than a standard 911 Carrera 2 and significantly stiffer, paired with a perfectly geared transmission and more powerful engine, it is one of the most enjoyable 911 driving experiences one could have.