1997 Porsche 911 Cup 3.8 RSR Sport Canepa
VIN: WP0ZZZ99ZVS398076
The definitive and ultimate naturally-aspirated 993 variant
The 4th example of the Cup 3.8 RSR SPORT CANEPA
SPORT CANEPA upgrades include TracTive adjustable suspension, full
lightweight street interior
1 of only 30 examples produced in 1997
Pristine, unraced example! 4,083 original miles
Full RSR spec registered and street driven in Japan, imported in
2024
Factory original Grand Prix White paint, factory-installed street
fuel tank
3.8L naturally aspirated flat six engine, producing 350
horsepower
6-speed close-ratio manual transmission, RWD
This 993 began as an original Cup 3.8 RSR car ordered and delivered
to Japan. One of the 30 cars created for the 1997 model year, it
was specified in Grand Prix White with the options included that
normally came with the 3.8 RSR cars. Interestingly, it was ordered
with a street-specification fuel tank instead of a Premier
stainless steel safety fuel cell, making it easier to live with,
more reliable, along with allowing the fuel gauge to function
normally during street driving. While it may have been born out of
Porsche's motorsport department, this Cup 3.8 RSR found itself
registered and used only for street driving in Japan, remaining in
original like-new condition throughout its entire life. In 2024 it
was imported to the United States showing just 4,083 original miles
on the odometer, and arrived at Canepa. With just 30 examples
produced in 1997, this 993 Cup 3.8 RSR is an exceptionally rare
race car, and finding one in pristine condition with low miles was
an ever rarer accommodation, making it the perfect foundation for
the latest SPORT CANEPA commission.
The SPORT CANEPA program represents the culmination of Canepa's
expertise in design and mechanical performance upgrades, reimaging
special vehicles for the enjoyment and continuation of their
lineage. Known for the Porsche 959 SC, the first SPORT CANEPA car
and the start of the SC program, Canepa has incorporated new
vehicles into the commission process including the Carrera GT,
918s, 934s, 993s, 964s, and more. Through tasteful aesthetic and
mechanical upgrades and improvements, the Canepa team reimagines
cars built in different eras to be continued to be enjoyed on a
modern level, with each car's design process led by Bruce
himself.
This 993 Cup 3.8 RSR SC has been upgraded throughout the car, both
mechanically and aesthetically. The 350hp 3.8L flat six engine's
valves were adjusted, re-torqued cylinder heads, replaced lower and
upper spark plugs, gaskets, fuel filters, motor mounts, fuel
injectors, and the fuel tank and fuel lines were flushed. The
exhaust pipes and ancillary parts were cleaned, prepped, and coated
with Cerakote and ceramic paint. The cooling fan was also painted
to match the Grand Prix White exterior of the car. Next, the
factory roll bar was modified by removing the door bars to make
ingress and egress easy, with shoulder belt mounting points added.
During the restoration process, the car was cleaned by hand inside
and out, including under chassis, ensuring that it was
spotless.
The interior went through a major upgrade, with Canepa's paint shop
removing the interior and prepping it to be painted black to match
the future lightweight black interior. Sound-deadening material was
added throughout the cabin, and custom-fitted carpet and floor
rubber matting were installed. A black lightweight material roof
lining was also installed for additional sound reduction. A new
driver's harness was installed, going alongside the original street
shoulder belts.
Next, the RSR's 3-piece wheels were disassembled, with the centers
refinished in Canepa's matte Titanium finish. The wheel barrels
were polished to a reflective shine, rebuilt with new gaskets and
hardware. Going through the suspension, all components were
nut-and-bolted, ride height was adjusted and the RSR was
cornerweighted, along with a final wheel alignment for exceptional
driving characteristics. During this time, Canepa decided to also
install a TracTive adaptive suspension system, allowing for the
driver to choose variable suspension settings on the fly based on
their preference.
Now complete, Canepa's latest 993 Cup 3.8 RSR is ready to be
enjoyed by its next caretaker. Being able to experience a race car
on the road is one thing, but a fully prepped car made to handle
the street is an entirely different subject. With Canepa's
experience of recommissioning race cars into street cars, the
experience is nothing short of awesome excitement! The Cup 3.8 RSR
is the pinnacle of the naturally-aspirated 993 variants, and this
example is ready to be enjoyed.
About the 993 Cup 3.8 RSR
The Porsche 993 Cup 3.8 RSR was first introduced for the 1997
racing season, developed by Porsche's motorsport department
specifically to support customer racing teams in international
endurance events like IMSA GT and the European GT series. Building
off of the success of the regular Cup 3.8 car, the 993 Cup 3.8 RSR
dialed the naturally aspirated racer even further. Beyond the
standard items that was given to the Cup 3.8, including a full
welded Matter roll cage, an aluminum hood, a front strut brace,
fully ball-jointed suspension, a special front bumper and
adjustable rear wing, a single racing seat with a hardness belt,
battery switch, and a fire extinguishing system, the Cup 3.8 RSR
received enhanced upgrades. 2-way adjustable Bilstein suspension
for bump and rebound settings, GT2-derived bolt-on fender flares to
accommodate wider wheels and tires, bigger endurance brakes, and
the race-spec M64/75 RSR engine with 350 horsepower and G50/34
short-ratio 6-speed manual transmission.
ClassicCars.com has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States, successfully making the Inc. 5000 list in both 2015,
2016, 2017 and 2018. This prestigious accolade represents the continued growth of the company, and ClassicCars.com's dominance as the world's largest online marketplace for
buying and selling classic and collector vehicles.
The Stevie Awards, the world's premier business awards recognized
ClassicCars.com's first-class Customer Support team with a Stevie Bronze Award in 2019, celebrating the team's skills as exemplary customer support specialists.
In 2016 The Journal, brought to you by ClassicCars.com, was celebrated as the SECOND MOST INFLUENTIAL automotive blog in the world by NFC Performance.