1995 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Clubsport

  For years, North America, Porsche’s largest and most influential market was excluded from some of the most desirable variants of the 911. The introduction of the 993- generation 911 Carrera RS for the 1995 model year was no exception, with the factory press kit noting its availability in both left- and right-hand-drive form, “excluding the USA and Canada.” For most North American enthusiasts, the most focused 993-based 911 would remain an object of fascination rather than ownership until the passage of time and evolving import eligibility finally changed that equation.

  The new Carrera RS was conceived as a homologation-derived expression of the 993- generation 911, offered in two distinct forms: the standard RS (M002) and the more extreme Clubsport (M003). Both were rooted in the same philosophy, lightweight construction, increased power, and chassis refinement drawn directly from Porsche’s contemporary motorsport programs but they differed in intent. The standard RS was a stripped yet road-usable driver’s car, while the Clubsport pushed further toward competition with a welded-in roll cage, more aggressive weight reduction, and a closer alignment to Porsche’s Supercup machinery. Together, they represented a single idea expressed along a continuum between road and race.

  As contemporary factory commentary in Christophorus emphasized, the RS was conceived not only for enthusiasts who might occasionally visit a circuit, but as a machine capable of sustained track use with minimal compromise, an evolution of the earlier RS ethos that blurred the line between road registration and racing preparation, and made clear that with additional development, these cars were intended to be genuinely competitive tools on track.

  Finished in Zuffenhausen just two months after the model’s triumphant introduction at the Amsterdam Motor Show, this 1995 Carrera RS Clubsport, chassis number 390077, was built for the German market and finished in the official communication color of Riviera Blue today a coveted Paint to Sample selection and one of the most desirable and emblematic Porsche colors of the 1990s. Option codes listed on its VIN Analytics Report and confirmed by its Porsche build sheet are veritable catnip for Porsche enthusiasts: 003 Clubsport, 384/385 left and right bucket seats, 405 18-inch RS wheels, 459 dome/strut brace, 471 fixed spoiler with additional wing, and 545 92-liter fuel tank among others.

  RS Clubsport chassis 390077 was acquired by Heico Motorsport to contest the 1996 Rolex 24 at Daytona, during the formative years of the German team, which would later become one of Europe's leading GT operations, earning numerous championships throughout the 2000s. Given the international nature of the Clubsport's first race entry, it is believed the car received additional preparation from Porsche's Customer Motorsport Department in Weissach. The reported work included BBS competition wheels, sliding Plexiglas side windows, pneumatic air jacks, and engine upgrades. It retains its factory Matter roll cage production sticker, while its larger Premier quick-fill fuel tank still bears its original April 1995 manufacturer's tag.

  Entered into the IMSA GTS-2 class, this Carrera RS M003 Clubsport was exactly the car Porsche intended to go from extreme street use to the racetrack in its 1990s push to return to GT racing. The Heico team fielded four Germans for the RS resplendent in Riviera Blue with start number 70. Prior to the start of the race, the car featured a taller rear wing, a rear quarter window tracking light, a roof-mounted radio antenna, along with front and rear window tabs, and the requisite IMSA safety equipment.

  The Riviera Blue RS enjoyed a strong start, running smoothly until after sunset before the Heico team's race came to an end around 9:00 p.m. with a mechanical issue. An inspection of the car shows that it is currently fitted with an unstamped Type M64/04 flat- six and G50/04 five-speed gearbox. The M64/04 engine fitted is quite a rare naturally aspirated 3.8-liter variant that powered the Carrera RSR 3.8 in top-level international GT racing in the 1990s and is very likely the unit that powered the car during its 231 laps around Daytona in 1996.

  After the race, the consignor notes that the car was acquired by a dedicated Porsche collector with the drivetrain it is fitted with today. The car was recently returned to a cosmetic condition closer to its appearance when it left Porsche's Weissach Customer Sport Department before Daytona.

  In the time since, and until quite recently, the RS Clubsport has remained within the same family, seeing only light use while sharing a garage with an exceptional group of Porsches, including two 911 GT1s, a 906, a 1973 911 Carrera RSR, and a 935. Available publicly for the first time in its history, the former Heico Motorsport Carrera RS features just 7,687 kilometers or approximately 4,776 miles at cataloging and is titled and available for either road use or track events. Perhaps best of all, it combines the rare shade of Riviera Blue, M003 RS Clubsport specification, period motorsport preparation, Daytona 24 Hours history, and 30 years of continuous private ownership in one compelling and highly collectible air-cooled Porsche.