Porsche 911 Carrera RS

From 1973-75 the original owner clocked up 47,000 kms (29,000 miles) with this car, the only recorded 2.7 Carrera RS delivered new to Lebanon, competing in various national and international rallies, including The Beirut-Damascus Rally with co-driver Samir Homse.

Between 1975-1991 civil war then engulfed the Lebanon and the car was placed into long-term storage within a building in Beirut, its competition career effectively over. During the years of war, the building sustained significant damage, but the main structure, along with the Carrera RS inside, managed to survive.
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After the war whilst the task of rebuilding Beirut was underway, RS #1247 was eventually re-discovered in 2006, still parked within the remains of the damaged building in which had been placed during the 1970s. The original owning family then contacted friends in the UK for advice and the car was then exported and shipped to the UK and entrusted to Autofarm to assess the conditionNowadays (in 2024), the importance or originality and the preservation of significant cars is more widely practised and understood. However, in 2007, many car collectors were still choosing a full restoration approach, opposed to recognising the value of originality and conservation in the same way as they have done for a long time in the market of furniture and arts.

Thereby, instead of restoring the car in the traditional sense, and thereby removing all of the car’s visual history, it was the new owners wish to take a conservation approach and to preserve all the patina and cosmetic imperfections that the car had acquired throughout its remarkable life, both as a rally car and survivor of the war.

The dry climate, and the fact that the car had remained under cover for all those years, had actually helped to preserve it structurally very well. Whilst the roof was severely dented where part of the building had collapsed on it, remarkably its thinner Glaverbel glass had survived intact, as had its interior, albeit the seat coverings becoming faded by sunlight, except where the harness’s sat undisturbed for all those years.

The car was therefore carefully re-commissioned mechanically, opposed to being fully restored. The engine, gearbox, suspension and brakes, were all fully overhauled, but otherwise the approach was very much to conserve and preserve. Very little was done to the bodyshell or panels than was necessary, such as pushing out the large dent in the roof where part of the building had collapsed onto it and some damage repairs to the front bumper and boot area sustained from its time rallying. The bodywork and panels were treated for any surface corrosion with rust converter and then a clear lacquer was used to protect any exposed metal areas from further oxidization. Most of the paintwork on #1247 remains first paint.

The Beirut RS really is a unique car with a unique history. Its first outing in 2008, soon after it emerged rejuvenated from Autofarm’s workshop, was the Coupe de Alpes. It was no surprise that it won the trophy for “Most Historic Car” at the event.In subsequent years, we have also carried out routine service and maintenance to this car, always respecting and helping preserve its originality. We can certainly attest to how well this car drives and how it continues to draw fascination and admiration wherever it goes.

Complete with UK registration, we are delighted to offer this unique 2.7 Carrera RS Lightweight on behalf of its current and still only second owner from new. A rare opportunity to acquire such a genuine example of one of the most sought after historic 911s of all..