1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS

Regarded as one of the greatest air-cooled Porsches—and among the finest all-around sports cars—ever constructed, the 1973 911 Carrera RS 2.7 rightly sits at the center of many world-class collections. Yet the Carrera RS 2.7 presented here offers even more to the discerning enthusiast: It is one of only 200 examples of the hallowed model built in the factory Lightweight specification. Further enhancing its desirability, is an extremely rare United States-delivery car with a known history from new. Equipped with its numbers-matching Type 911/83 magnesium-crankcase engine and numbers-matching five-speed gearbox, and also exhibiting the correct under-dash Porsche production number, it is finished in its factory-correct colors. As noted by the copy of its original Porsche Fahrzeug-Auftrag (vehicle order form) on file dated 29 May 1973, this chassis was specified in Grand Prix White (908) with red exterior lettering over a Black leatherette interior. Factory options include a tinted/heated rear window, three-point seat belts, and left and right headsets; of course, the order form also notes the coveted lightweight Sport package (M471), representing a suite of features and deletions that, taken together, shaved over 200 pounds off the comparable Touring model in the pursuit of uncompromised performance. According to the original sales invoice on file from Holbert’s Porsche Audi of Warrington, Pennsylvania, the car was sold new to Halsey Frederick on 16 March 1974. Interestingly, along with the $15,000 cash price for the new Carrera RS 2.7 Lightweight, the invoice notes an immediate repaint from its factory Grand Prix White to the Porsche color Albert Blue, bringing the total cost to $15,500. Although Mr. Frederick was noted as a resident of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, he apparently kept the car in New Hampshire; a 1974 letter on file details minor service work done to the car, and requests additional sealed beam headlights to help pass the Granite State’s vehicle inspection process. Mr. Frederick scrupulously cared for this rare Porsche for nearly 25 years, with invoices on file detailing the attention he lavished on the car. In addition to routine service and maintenance items, in 1975 he also had the vehicle rust-proofed and custom-ordered Recaro seats to replace the rather spartan Lightweight-specification factory units. When he parted ways with the Porsche in the late 1990s, it was noted as displaying fewer than 32,000 miles. The second owner of this 911 was none other than illustrious collector Otis Chandler, who soon began the process of returning the car to its as-delivered appearance. As indicated by invoices and photos on file, the Albert Blue paint was removed from the car’s well-preserved bodywork, and its Grand Prix White (with red lettering) exterior appearance was restored. Further, its custom Recaro seats were replaced with correct Carrera RS 2.7 Lightweight buckets. Chandler sold the restored car on in October 2001, and it remained in the collection of its third owner for a decade. In 2011, the 911 was acquired by the White Collection, and its previous restoration benefitted from further fine-tuning, including the restoration and fitment of proper staggered, color-matched Fuchs wheels, the fitment of a correct heat exchanger, and the replacement of perishable rubber components and hardware with factory-correct components. While in the collection, the car has been started monthly and run to operating temperature. Appearing now as it left the factory, and retaining its numbers-matching Type 911/83 engine and gearbox, this 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 Lightweight is an authentic and extremely rare, United States-delivery example of the sports car against which all others are judged.