44 Porsche Index: 964 RSP O RSCHEINDEXWhile the 964 generation brought modernity to the Neunefler, the RSwas a chance to sample it in a purer form. Sought after then and now,here’s everything you need to knowWritten by Chris Randall Photography by Daniel Pullen
45HISTORY AND SPECigh-on two decades had passed since thelaunch of the legendary 2.7RS, but by theearly 1990s it was the turn of the 964 to wearthose two special letters. Unsurprisingly it was thelure of the race track that sired the new model, theRS being the homologation car for the Carrera Cupseries. Naturally this was a far more focused model,one launched at the 1991 Geneva Motor Show andlimited to just 2,282 examples, although it’s worthnoting that the initial reception was somewhatlukewarm, with the very subtle appearance andminor power increase most likely responsible.Still, the majority of the cars were produced inSport specification – marketedas Lightweight in the UK –which was aimed at bothroad and club racinguse; aside fromthe even morehardcoretrack carssuchas the N/GT, the alternative was the more luxuriousTouring. This was a rarity, most buyers partingwith the requisite £64,000 wanting to benefit fullyfrom the weight-saving regime that Porsche hademployed, one that was claimed to reduce weight byten per cent compared to a Carrera 2.Beneath a seam-welded body shell the dietincluded an aluminium luggage compartment lid,thinner glass and a 92-litre plastic fuel tank inplace of the standard steel item. Lightweight carsditched any pretence of interior luxury and made dowith the thinnest of carpeting, the likes of manualwindows and locking, a lighter wiring harness andno underseal, reducing the corrosion warranty fromten to three years. The result was a car weighing aclaimed 1,230kg compared to 1,300kg if you opted forthe plusher Touring. This was Porsche doing what itdid best, paring back the 911 for those that wanted toexperience it in its rawest form.However, the engine would differ relatively littlecompared to its C2/C4 siblings, the same 3.6-litreM64/03 unit being employed, but with just a fewsubtle changes. Power was officially increased to260hp courtesy of a reprogrammed ECU, althoughin reality a few more horses were probably releasedby a more careful approach to component weightand assembly. Drive was sent to the rear wheels viaa single-mass flywheel and the Carrera 2’s gearbox –albeit with revised ratios and stronger synchromesh– and a limited-slip differential.But, given the RS’s track aspirations, it is nosurprise that the suspension and brakes benefittedfrom more wide-ranging alterations. The formergained uni-ball top mountings for the front struts,added bracing and greater use of cast aluminium,and the ride height was lowered by 40mm. Anddespite the modest increase in power and lighterweight, the brakes were uprated with cross-drilledand ventilated 964 Turbo discs, four-piston calipersall round, and ABS. UK cars also retained hydraulicassistance for the rack-and-pinion steering, lefthand-drivemodels making do with a manual set-up.Finally, the RS was treated to a set of 17-inch Cup 91wheels fashioned from magnesium alloy.
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