Porsche 964 Carrera RS

These cars proved to be immensely popular, providing enthusiasts with a more race-ready option than the standard 911 of the time. The RS name was reintroduced to the European and Rest of the World markets in 1992 with the release of the 964 series Carrera RS. Unfortunately, US-based customers got the short end of the stick in the form of the RS America which was introduced in 1993 and was a much more neutered version of the Carrera RS. Borrowing heavily from the 964 Carrera Cup race cars, the new 964 RS featured an air-cooled, single overhead cam, flat-six engine producing 260 horsepower and 240 foot-pounds of torque internally dubbed the M64/03. Power was transmitted through the same G50 transmission used in the road cars but featured a lightened flywheel, closer gear ratios, steel synchromesh, and an asymmetrical Limited Slip Differential. The suspension was made to be more track-oriented through a 1.6-inch drop in ride height, stiffer springs, and shocks, as well as adjustable stabilizer bars. The wheels were made out of lightweight magnesium and the power steering which was standard in the road cars was removed to save weight, except in right-hand drive UK cars which maintained their power steering. On the interior, many of the creature comforts such as power seats, air conditioning, cruise control, rear seats, and sound deadening were omitted in an effort to save weight. Porsche even went as far as to remove the inner door handles, replacing them with the now-iconic red RS style cloth pulls. The body was also modified in an attempt to present a track friendly experience, with all chassis seams being welded and the doors and front hood being replaced by lighter aluminum versions with thinner glass being incorporated to shave off precious pounds. In all, the 964 Carrera RS weighed in at approximately 345 pounds lighter than the US version Carrera 2. In total, Porsche built 2,276 Carrera RS examples, with 1,910 being the stripped-down “basic” version (also called lightweight) as described here. In addition, there were 76 examples produced in “touring” version with some additional creature comforts added back in, as well as 290 N/GT or “sport” examples which were intended for the BPR GT Group N series racing or owners who wished to participate in track events. Overall the 964 Carrera RS was a smash hit and a wonderful reintroduction of the RS line of vehicles. It took the same spirit utilized in the production of the original RS cars in the early ’70s and built on it in a modern and enthusiastic fashion.

The example on offer here, chassis number WPOZZZ96ZN491054 and engine number 62N81669, is a 1992 Porsche 911 Carrera RS, “basic” or lightweight version. It is a matching numbers example, per the included Porsche COA, and is finished in its original Polar Silver Metallic (92E) with a black leatherette interior featuring black and grey leather-covered sports seats. This example is fitted with lightweight door cards that feature red “RS” door pulls and manually wound windows. Currently, the odometer reads 62,204 Kilometers (38,652 miles) from new. This Carrera RS was delivered new to Mizwa Motors of Japan where it remained for a good portion of its life before being imported to the United States in 2013. Upon importation, since it did not meet the 25-year rule at the time, the car was fully federalized to U.S. DOT regulations by JK Technologies, located in Baltimore, Maryland. During federalization, all removed and swapped parts were kept with the car. Once stateside, the car found a new home with an avid Porsche collector who serviced the car as needed and drove the car regularly to ensure it was always in top condition. The current owner and consignor purchased the car in 2017 where it joined another excellent collection of Porsche cars. Shortly after the time of purchase, the car now being 25 years old and federally legal, was returned to factory spec by replacing the parts that were removed or swapped out during its federalization process which included the airbag, airbag module, steering column, lower dashboard, and some lights. Since his acquisition of the car, it has been maintained well and driven sparingly. Before coming onto consignment with us the car was looked over by Auto Europe in Birmingham, Michigan, a new ignition switch was needed and the fuel pump and filters were replaced, and then it was given a clean bill of health. As it sits today, this excellent example of Porsche’s modern reintroduction of the RS name remains in great cosmetic and mechanical condition and needs nothing but a new home. These air-cooled 964 Carrera RS cars remain a unique and interesting entry into the Porsche world, very useable and immensely fun behind the wheel and sure to continue to climb in value over the years. This car would be an excellent addition to any Porsche collection or would make for a unique and useable foray into the world of air-cooled Porsches.

Included with the sale of this car are factory books, Porsche COA, service records, jack, and spare.
The Details

EXTERIOR

Body And Paint

The Polar Silver Metallic paint, while understated in color, shows off the shape of the car very nicely. The quality of the paint remains in exceptional condition as a glass out bare metal respray of the car was performed not that long ago., There is a smooth and consistent finish around the car. There are some very minor imperfections that should be expected such as minor paint chips around the headlight trim rings as well as on the inner parts of the wheel wells located behind the tires. The body itself presents straight and smooth, with consistent and proper gaps all around.

Glass And Trim

The glass throughout the car appears in good clean condition with no issues to speak of. The headlights are clear and work as they should. The rear taillights are free from cracking, a common problem on 964 era cars. The black rubber trim around the car appears supple and with good color, however, it does appear to pulling up in a few spots around the edges of some body panels.

Wheels

The lightweight magnesium wheels appear in good condition with a few minor chips from normal use but an overall consistent and smooth finish.

INTERIOR

Seats And Surfaces

The lightweight style door cards are clean and well-fitting with their iconic red “RS” style door pulls. The deeply bucketed, leather Recaro seats remain in good shape with some creasing forming on the seating surfaces and a few very minor scratches in the leather as well as some minor wear in the area that the seat belts make contact with the shoulder of the seat. The red seat belts provide an excellent and contrasting item to the interior. The RS branded steering wheel shows some minor scuffing but has good seams with nice tight stitching. The bezel around the ignition shows some stereotypical scratching from missed key insertions over the years. The carpets throughout the interior retain good color and decent fitment. The carpets in the rear of the car that replaced the back seats have become a bit baggy but show minimal wear. The dash is smooth and well-fitting with no waviness or pulling, however, it does appear that there are two screws missing from the driver’s side top area. Plastic surfaces throughout the cabin retain a smooth and consistent finish with good color and bright lettering. The perforated headliner appears nice and tight with good color.

Functionality And Accessories

The lightweight aluminum doors open and close as they should and the manually wound driverside window moves up and down with no issues and the electrically operated passenger window functions properly as well. The gauges all appear clean and clear with bright and easily legible numbers and lettering. It appears that all buttons and switches on the interior operate as they should. The emergency brake holds the car firmly in place and the shifter has a nice clean leather boot and moves easily through its range of motion. The twist dial to move the rear spoiler up and down functions as it should, with the spoiler extending and retracting with no issues.

ENGINE BAY AND TRUNK

Engine Bay

The engine bay appears clean, tidy, and well cared for. Black plastic surfaces appear smooth with good color. Hoses, cables, and wires all appear well kept and cared for. Overall the engine bay is highly correct and clean. There are numerous stickers and labels with Japanese writing scattered throughout the engine bay, a nice homage to the interesting history of this car. The only real area of note is the fireproof padding located on the back which is falling down a bit, a common problem with Porsche’s of this era.

Trunk Area

Much like the engine bay, the front trunk area remains clean, tidy, and highly correct. Painted metal surfaces remain smooth and show no signs of any issues past or present. Factory stickers and stampings are present where they should be and the clean space-saver spare and jack are tucked neatly in the lower portion of the trunk. In an effort to save additional weight, Porsche opted to remove the pesky hood struts in favor of a single hood prop that functions without fear of the aluminum bonnet falling down and hitting you in the head! A battery cut off switch is located conveniently in the front of the trunk area to prevent battery drain when the car is not in use.

Underside

The underside of the car appears clean and well cared for with no real issues not note.

MECHANICALS

Engine

The air-cooled flat-six fires to life with ease and settles into a smooth idle. On the road, it makes excellent smooth power with no flat spots or stumbling to speak of.

Transmission

The transmission shifts smoothly between gears with no issues. The clutch holds power easily, with good feedback and take up.

Brakes And Suspension

The upgraded suspension is readily noticeable on a test drive. It feels very direct and a bit more harsh than the standard 964, both of which are to be expected from a track derived model. The suspension remains tight and responsive with no odd noises or road behavior to speak of. The brakes function very well, bringing the car to a smooth and controlled stop with no issues.