In 1995, on the heels of the successful 964 RS variant, Porsche debuted a limited-production, lightweight variant of the 993. This newest Carrera RS arrived only a few years before the ‘RennSport’ nomenclature would be normalized by the water-cooled 996 GT3. Fitted behind the rear axle was a ‘Type M64/20’ 3.8-liter flat-six – a bigger unit than that of any other road-going 993 – equipped with a strengthened valve drive mechanism and bigger intake and exhaust valves. With its cylinder bore increased, the RS now produced an additional 28-horsepower over the standard 993. Porsche also equipped the RS with a limited-slip differential, and anti-lock brakes sourced from the 993 Turbo. To maximize the impact of these upgrades, weight-saving measures involved removing the hood struts, headliner, interior door handles, power-adjustable seats, and the rear defroster.
This vibrant Carrera RS was completed on 6 October 1996 for the Japanese market, finished in Speed Yellow over a Black partial leather interior and sold through Showa Auto. It was optioned as an M002 spec RS and features the Club Sport aerodynamic package. With this additional cost package, the original owner received a sculpted front bumper with winglets and a deeper chin spoiler. Towards the back, a large fixed wing with integrated intakes provided additional downforce to plant the rear tires. Rolled wheel arches, thinner glass, and an aluminum front trunk lid completed the motorsport modifications on the exterior. The motorsport theme continued inside with fixed, body color painted back fiberglass Recaro bucket seats, while optional air conditioning and electric windows suggest the original owner sought a more daily-usable RS.
The accompanying Carfax report verifies that the Porsche arrived in the United States in late 2016 when it was imported from Japan by its first US owner. After two years on the West Coast, the car entered the care of its third owner in 2018. Today, at an indicated 45,369 kilometers this highly original light-weight 911 variant still rides on its factory set of 18-inch Speedline three-piece light-alloy wheels and is offered with a number of original and rare Japanese market delivery items including its ‘cooler’ bag with first aid kit, spare bulb kit, air compressor, Porsche ‘Mizwa’ working gloves, a light kit, toolkit, jack, and spare. Never originally exported to the US, this Carrera RS presents an extremely rare opportunity to acquire the ultimate road-going version of the final naturally-aspirated air-cooled 911.
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