Developed to homologate the 911 in the FIA GT3 sports car racing class, the 996 GT3 was introduced by Porsche in 1999. A “Carrera Cup” car for the road with a few creature comforts added back in, and a spiritual descendant of the iconic 911 Carrera RS, the GT3 enjoyed considerable success on the track with class wins at Le Mans, Sebring, and Daytona. In 2003, Porsche introduced a stouter RS variant – standing for rennsport or “racing sport” – which was even sharper and more track-focused.
Guided by Andreas Preuninger, head of Porsche’s GT department, the next- generation GT3 – based on the Type 997.1 – launched in 2006 with a new and more powerful 415 bhp, dry sump, 3.6-liter flat-six engine, “zero lift” aerodynamics, and a track-oriented version of Porsche Active Suspension Management, which went a long way in smoothing out imperfect roads.
Shortly thereafter, an RS version – still meeting the requirements for use on public roads – served as a homologation model for a variety of racing series. The new RS upped the model’s performance potential with additional weight- reduction measures, increased grip and stability via wider bodywork and rear track, and a close-ratio, six-speed transaxle with a single-mass flywheel, which benefited engine response. Porsche conservatively estimated the 997.1 GT3 RS of blasting to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and a 192 mph top speed. In October 2006, Britain’s Car magazine said the new RS “is 911 distilled, a concentrated hit of rear-engined Porsche adrenaline and we are absolutely hooked.”
Between 2007 and 2008, Porsche produced the GT3 RS in extremely limited numbers, with just 452 examples built in all for the North American market. One of a mere 230 examples imported into the US for the 2007 model year, this 997 GT3 RS was delivered new via Jim Ellis Porsche in Atlanta, Georgia, finished in Black with contrasting orange accents over a complementing black leather interior. Well equipped from the factory, the car’s notable options include bi-xenon headlamps, Sport Chrono Package Plus, and Porsche Communication Management (PCM) 2.1 with navigation. Delivered new to a private collection in Georgia, the GT3 RS was sold in 2010 to a Colorado-based enthusiast who drove it sparingly and entrusted it to Littleton Porsche dealer Stevinson Imports for service throughout his decade-long ownership. Offered today from a Chicago-based owner and displaying less than 2,350 miles on the odometer at the time of cataloguing, this GT3 RS is offered with books, window sticker, and a CARFAX Vehicle History Report that notes authorized dealer servicing and no history of accidents or damage.
Limited production and an eye-catching color combination make this first- generation 997 GT3 RS a compelling choice for the dedicated Porsche collector or for the enthusiast looking to experience one of the most visceral 911s ever built.
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2006 
