To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The Taj Ma
Garaj Collection event, 28 September 2019.
Estimate:
$225,000 - $275,000
- As new with only 1,130 miles
- One-owner example; special-ordered by John Dixon
- Sparely optioned without air-conditioning
- Clean DME report with no over-revs
- Fully documented, including Porsche Certificate of
Authenticity
The 997 GT3 RS was, broadly speaking, a stripped-down homologation
special, a race car detuned for the street. It was introduced in
Europe in late 2006 and appeared in the U.S. in the spring the
following year. Fewer than 1,200 examples would be built
worldwide.
The GT3 RS variant was based on the ferocious 3.6-liter GT3, whose
Type M97/76 DOHC, four-valve six with titanium connecting rods,
VarioCam, and a two-stage resonance induction system combined to
produce an impressive 415 horsepower at 7,600 rpm and 295
foot-pounds of torque at 5,500 rpm. The G97/90 six-speed manual
transmission with close-ratio gearing was fed through a locking,
asymmetrical-ratio differential. There was traction management with
Porsche's patented ABD (Automatic Brake Differential), ASR
(Automatic Slip Regulation), and MSR (Engine Drag Force Control)
systems, as well as Porsche's computer-controlled PASM (Active
Stability Management). To ensure occupant safety, the GT3 RS was
fitted with more than a dozen airbags and tire-pressure
monitors.
The GT3 RS was capable of a 0-60 sprint in four seconds flat, with
a maximum track speed of over 190 mph. The RS variant was fitted
with a number of special aerodynamic features, including a new
front fascia to house the nose radiators, a new air splitter, a
divided rear bumper, and center-mounted exhaust pipes. The RS was
available with a full roll cage and racing seats for owners who
felt a need for speed. There were no rear seats. There was
extensive use of carbon-fiber, including a large fixed rear wing
similar to that used to stabilize the racing 997 GT3 RSR at high
speed.
The GT3 RS continued the use of McPherson strut front suspension
and a Multi-link (LSA) rear suspension, which was introduced in the
993 series. The new LSA ("Light, Stable, Agile") design, wrote
Porsche at the time, "...finally put an end to the capriciousness
of the rear engine-powered 911. It mainly affected the rear axle,
which was based on a multi-link suspension tested in motor races
and which facilitated excellent driving dynamics. The axle
kinematics are designed to ensure that the vehicle's suspension
compresses significantly less when accelerating and driving round
bends."
A light-alloy rear subframe, to which lightweight struts with
aluminum shock absorbers were mounted, improved overall handling
and response, as well as reducing noise and vibration. There were
large anti-roll bars at each end, and the huge 13.75-inch
ventilated and cross-drilled disc brakes with ABS were clamped by
six-piston front calipers in front and four-piston calipers in
back. Porsche made sure that lesser traffic would take note of the
GT3 RS; it was available in only a few colors�White with orange
graphics, Black with orange graphics, and Orange with black
graphics. Wide 18-inch-diameter front and 19-inch rear spoked
light-alloy wheels with 30-series rubber was standard on the GT3
RS. The wheels were painted to match the car's accent striping.
This stunning, virtually new 911 GT3 RS was specially ordered by
John Dixon, owner of the Taj Ma Garaj in Dayton, Ohio. Although
John had no intention of racing, he and Eric McKenna from
P3Autokrafte carefully went through the order forms to select or
delete various equipment items in search of as light a car as
possible. This car was delivered without a rollbar and standard
seats in black leather with Alcantara inserts instead of racing
buckets, an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and
black headliner and visors; however, John deleted the weighty
standard air-conditioning system. A few compromises for planned
street use meant the retention of electric windows, cruise control,
navigation system, a stereo radio with CD player, and embroidered
floor mats.
The car was completed on 20 February 2007 and delivered through
White Allen Auto Group in Dayton, with a delivered price in excess
of $126,000, as noted on the included factory window sticker. The
car received its pre-delivery inspection on 16 March 2007 and was
then handed over to its new owner. Mr. Dixon registered the car
with the state of Ohio a few days later and renewed its
registration annually. He used the car infrequently; total mileage
at the time of cataloguing was a mere 1,130.
The very collectible high-performance Porsche is supplied with all
its original documentation, a variety of marketing materials, a
special tool kit, spare keys, never-installed "RS" center caps for
the wheels, and clean DME and CARFAX reports. It is as close to a
new, just-off-the-assembly-line Porsche as one could imagine,
unmolested and unmarked, ready to provide its next owner with both
visual enjoyment and visceral excitement.To view this car and
others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM
website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/tg19.