Porsche 911 2.8 Carrera RSR

The ultimate 911.

There is no more iconic a silhouette than that of the early 911 and of all the variations and differences in these cars, the shape of the 2.7 RS with its aerodynamic ducktail is the most instantly recognisable. It captured the imagination like the Jaguar E-Type had a decade before, and the initial run of 500 road cars sold out almost immediately. Porsche had to reinstate production to build more – another 1,090, in fact – just to meet demand.

‘RS’ stands for Rennsport in German, meaning "racing sport". The Carrera name had been reintroduced from the 356 Carrera which had itself been named after Porsche's victories in the Carrera Panamericana races in Mexico in the 1950s.

The Carrera RS was essentially available in two road or rally specifications. M472 - the Touring version with the full standard 911 interior package, trims and bumpers, and M471 - the lightweight

The lightweights shaved 100 kilograms off the weight of a Touring, coming in at around 970kg and proved extremely successful in rallying, taking victory on the East African Safari Rally with Björn Waldegård and at the hands of Nick Faure winning the British Saloon Car Championship. However, Porsche wanted to go one step further by taking on Ferrari and Matra at the highest possible level of motorsport. As a result they would need to develop a third iteration which was designated M491, “Renn Sport Rennen”, or Motor Sport Racer. Just 49 of these cars were built after the precursory ‘R’ numbered development cars, and they would tip the scales at just 850 kg.

The 2.7 RS six-cylinder provided the car with a not insignificant 210hp in 1972. Whilst a capacity increase from 2687cc to 2808cc may seem minor, the changes internally were significant. Racing camshafts, high-compression pistons and twin-spark cylinder heads with larger valves all contributed to an astonishing 90bhp increase over the 2.7 RS. A formidable power to weight ratio, the RSR now had the power to outrun its rivals.

Dubbed the 2.8 RSR, this car quickly proved to be a tour de force. In 1973 the 2.8 RSR won the Daytona 24 Hours, the Targa Florio, the World Cup of Speed, as well as overall victories in the IMSA GT Championship and the Trans Am Championship in the United States, the latter of these were both won by one single chassis: 911.360.0727

Porsche saw the promotional opportunities of winning in the USA. They set aside two of the development RSR ‘R’ cars for the USA, sending R4 & R3 to Peter Gregg and Al Holbert respectively. Peter Gregg took R4 to victory at the 1973 Daytona 24 hours, but after such a monumental victory for the marque, the car was returned to the factory in Germany. Porsche dispatched a replacement car to Gregg’s Brumos team in the form of 0727.

However, for Porsche’s most significant motorsport partner in the U.S, 0727 was built unlike any other RSR.

Seeking to capitalise on the opportunity for a replacement car mid-season, 0727 was built a cut above. Thinner gauge steel was used for the bodywork, going one step beyond the ‘standard’ RSR’s weight-saving quest. The car was based on the factory World Sports Car setup but built especially for Gregg and his Brumos team to tackle their next challenge; winning both the Trans-Am and IMSA championships. This car was built wider than any other RSR, with its rear arches stretched to accommodate body strengthening measures from the 3.0 RSR. It would additionally see larger diameter shock towers as a result, as well as the addition of newly developed titanium coil-over racing shocks. Further upgrades came in the form of 9- and 11-inch-wide Fuchs wheels, masking 917K-specification four-piston ribbed brake callipers.

Most notably however, for the 1973 season, Porsche supplied Gregg with an additional 3.0 RSR engine, to be fitted in place of the standard 2.8 litre powerplant. There is no question driver talent played a key role in the cars successes too; the car dominated at the hands of Gregg and co-driver Hurley Haywood against a field of V8-powered Camaros and Corvettes.


Delivered to New York on April 7th 1973, 0727 was trucked down to Florida and prepared for the opening Trans-Am round which took place at Road Atlanta just eight days later. Gregg’s victory at Road Atlanta was the first of many that season and he finished the 1973 campaign as both IMSA and Trans-Am champion. Porsche were in fact so pleased with Gregg’s results, that at the end of the season they agreed to sell the car to him for the princely sum of $1!

Peter Gregg’s accomplishments in 1973 firmly cemented the RSR and himself into the Motorsport Hall of Fame and this car 0727 remains one of only two American Works ‘73 RSRs and the car with the most race victories to its record.

• 1973
• Brumos Porsche-Audi Corp. / Peter Gregg, Jacksonville, Florida
• 15/04/1973 TRA Road Atlanta (P. Gregg) 1st OA (#59)
• 21/04/1973 IMS Daytona 3 Hours (P. Gregg / H. Haywood) 1st OA, 1st GTO class (#59)
• 05/05/1973 TRA Lime Rock (P. Gregg / S. Posey) 2nd OA (#59)
• 16/06/1973 TRA Watkins Glen (P. Gregg) 2nd OA (#59)
• 04/07/1973 IMS Paul Revere 250, Daytona (P. Gregg / H. Haywood) 2nd oa, 2nd GTO class (#59)
• 15/07/1973 TRA Sanair (P. Gregg) 6th OA (#59)
• 28/07/1973 TRA Road America (P. Gregg) DNF (#59)
• 19/08/1973 TRA Edmonton (P. Gregg) 2nd OA (#59)
• 15/09/1973 IMS Lime Rock 100 Race 1 (P. Gregg) 2nd oOAa (#59)
• 15/09/1973 IMS Lime Rock 100 Race 2 (P. Gregg) 1st OA (#59)
• 30/09/1973 IMS Road Atlanta 200 (P. Gregg) 1st OA, 1st GTO class (#59)
• 14/10/1973 IMS Indianapolis 3 Hours (P. Gregg) 1st OA, 1st GTO class (#59)
• 25/11/1973 IMS Daytona 250 (P. Gregg / H. Haywood) 1st OA, 1st GTO class (#59)

At the end of the ‘73 season, e the car was sold by Gregg and passed into the hands of professional racing driver Charlie Kemp. Gregg retained his ‘hot’ 3.0 engine to accompany his inbound 3.0 RSR.

Kemp was sponsored by Days Inns Hotels for the 1974 season, and back with the 2.8-litre engine, Kemp’s best finish with the RSR in 1974 was ninth overall at the Mid-Ohio 5 Hours..In 1975, Kemp ran the 911 under the Armor All Racing Team banner and was much more successful. That season, every race he finished he placed inside the top ten, most notably taking third overall at the Daytona 24 Hours.

• 1974
• 21/04/1974 IMS Road Atlanta 6 Hours (C. Kemp) DNF (#23)
• 12/05/1974 IMS Laguna Seca 100 Race 1 (G. Loomis) 28th OA, 23rd GTO class (#23)
• 12/05/1974 IMS Laguna Seca 100 Race 2 (C. Kemp) 15th OA, 14th GTO class (#23)
• 19/05/1974 IMS Ontario 4 Hours (A. Johnson) DNF (#23)
• 30/06/1974 IMS Mid-Ohio 5 Hours (C. Kemp / J. Tunstall) 9th OA, 9th GTO class (#23)
• 10/08/1974 IMS Talladega 200 (C. Kemp) DNF (#23)
• 18/08/1974 IMS Charlotte 300 (C. Kemp) 15th OA, 12th GTO class (#23)
• 02/09/1974 IMS Lime Rock 100 Race 1 (C. Kemp) 20th OA, 14th GTO class (#23)
• 02/09/1974 IMS Lime Rock 100 Race 2 (C. Kemp) 10th OA, 10th GTO class (#23)
• 1975
• 02/02/1975 IMS Daytona 24 Hours (C. Kemp / C. Baird) 3rd OA, 3rd GTO class (#23)
• 21/03/1975 IMS Sebring 12 Hours (C. Kemp / C. Baird) DNF (#23)
• 20/04/1975 IMS Road Atlanta 100 mile Race 1 (C. Kemp) DNF (#23)
• 20/04/1975 IMS Road Atlanta 100 mile Race 2 (C. Kemp) 5th OA, 5th GTO class (#23)
• 04/05/1975 IMS Laguna Seca 100 mile Race 1 (C. Kemp) 6th OA, 6th GTO class (#23)
• 04/05/1975 IMS Laguna Seca 100 mile Race 2 (C. Kemp) 7th OA, 7th GTO class (#23)
• 10/05/1975 IMS Riverside 6 Hours (C. Kemp / C. Baird) 4th OA, 4th GTO class (#23)
• 01/06/1975 IMS Mid-Ohio 100 mile (C. Kemp) 8th OA, 8th GTO class (#23)
• 14/06/1975 IMS Mosport 100 mile (C. Kemp) 5th OA, 5th GTO class (#23)
• 04/07/1975 IMS Daytona Paul Revere 250 mile (C. Kemp) 5th OA, 5th GTO class (#23)
• 09/08/1975 IMS Talladega 1 Hour (C. Kemp) 9th OA, 9th GTO class (#23)
• 24/08/1975 IMS Mid-Ohio 6 Hours (C. Kemp / C. Baird) DNF (#23)

The Porsche was then sold via broker George Valerio to Dan MacLaughlin of Southern California MacLaughlin retained 0727 until 1979 at which point it went into the hands of a long-term US owner who used the car sparingly in the early 1980s. The car was put into storage where it remained until 2012 when the car was sold and exported to Europe. 0727’s condition was fully documented upon its arrival and these photographs highlight just how original the car was. The re-enforced strut towers in great condition, the car retains its extra-thin gauge original doors and roof. The car was restored back to its original specification at this time.

• Mugello Classic Endurance Racing 2014 : Winner GT1, car n°24, driver : J-Ph. Grand

Residing within a prominent European collection until now, this fantastic RSR with unrivalled history presents on the button; a significant part of Porsche’s history particularly in the USA.

A wonderful opportunity to own the fastest RSR built, this example is available for viewing at our showrooms just outside London immediately.