Porsche special models · 1972–1973
Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7: History, Specs & Production
By CarWhere Research · Updated
The 911 Carrera RS 2.7 is the lightweight homologation 911 that Porsche unveiled in Paris in October 1972. Its 2.7-liter flat-six made 210 PS, and the Sport version weighed 960 kg. Porsche planned 500 cars but built 1,580, including 200 Sport and 1,308 Touring models, and it was the first 911 with the ducktail spoiler.
The Carrera RS 2.7 was built so Porsche could race. To homologate the 911 for Group 4 Special GT, Porsche had to build 500 road cars, and a team of about 15 engineers developed the car from May 1972. It made its debut at the Paris Motor Show on October 5, 1972. The recipe was more displacement and less weight: a 2.7-liter fuel-injected flat-six with 210 PS, spartan equipment, wider rear bodywork, and the rear spoiler that gave the car its ducktail nickname.
All 500 were sold by the end of November 1972, and demand pushed production to 1,580. Once the 1,000th car was built, the RS was homologated for Group 3 as well as Group 4. Buyers chose between the bare M471 Sport package and the better-trimmed M472 Touring. RS stands for Rennsport, and the Carrera name, taken from the Carrera Panamericana where the 550 Spyder had raced, appeared on a 911 here for the first time.
Carrera RS 2.7 history, year by year
- 1972 — Development begins in May with a team of about 15 engineers; Porsche files a patent for the rear spoiler on August 5.[1]
- 1972 — World debut at the Paris Motor Show on October 5; all 500 homologation cars are sold by the end of November.[1]
- 1972 — The racing Carrera RSR makes its debut at the Tour de Corse in November.[1]
- 1973 — Production passes 1,000 cars, and the RS is homologated for Group 3 as well as Group 4; the run ends at 1,580.[1]
- 1973 — RSRs win the 24 Hours of Daytona (Peter Gregg / Hurley Haywood) in February and the Targa Florio (Herbert Müller / Gijs van Lennep) in May.[1]
How many Carrera RS 2.7s were made?
| Model / variant | Years | Units | What the figure counts |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-model | 1972–1973 | ≈ 1,580[1],[2] | total built (all variants)Breakdown per Porsche: 200 Sport, 1,308 Touring, 55 racing, 17 base cars. Porsche's original-911 history instead says 1,525. |
| G-model — Sport (M471 lightweight) | 1972–1973 | 200[1] | total built |
| G-model — Touring (M472) | 1972–1973 | 1,308[1] | total built |
Road-car totals for every Porsche model: Porsche production numbers.
Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 specs
| Engine | 2.7-liter (2,687 cc) fuel-injected air-cooled flat-six[1],[3] |
|---|---|
| Power | 210 PS (154 kW) at 6,300 rpm[1],[3] |
| Torque | 255 Nm at 5,100 rpm[1] |
| Weight | 960 kg curb (Sport); Touring 115 kg heavier[1] |
| 0–100 km/h | 5.8 s (Sport); 6.3 s (Touring)[1] |
| Top speed | Over 245 km/h (Sport); 240 km/h (Touring)[1],[3] |
| Wheels and tires | 6J x 15 with 185/70 VR 15 front; 7J x 15 with 215/60 VR 15 rear; rear body 42 mm wider[1] |
| Aerodynamics | Front spoiler and "ducktail" rear spoiler, the first on a series-production 911[1] |
| Equipment packages | M471 Sport (700 DM) and M472 Touring (2,500 DM)[1] |
| Price | 34,000 DM (Sport version)[1] |
What made the Carrera RS 2.7 significant
- Porsche calls the Carrera RS 2.7 the fastest German series-production car of its time.[3]
- It was the first 911 with the Carrera name, which Porsche took from the Carrera Panamericana road race.[1],[3]
- The ducktail cut lift at both axles and fed extra cooling air to the engine; Porsche says the taller spoiler added 4.5 km/h of top speed without extra drag.[1]
- The road car was the basis for the Carrera RSR, which won its first season's Daytona 24 Hours and Targa Florio and took three international and seven national championships.[1]
What to check before you buy a Carrera RS 2.7
- Get the Porsche Certificate of Authenticity. It confirms whether the chassis left the factory as a Carrera RS and whether it was built as an M471 Sport, an M472 Touring or a racing car.
- Treat every RS as a possible replica until the chassis number, engine number and factory record agree. Ducktail conversions of standard 911s are common.
- Check the original paint against the factory record. Porsche offered 29 colors and 27 were actually built, so an unusual color has to be confirmed.[1]
- Ask about the engine. A numbers-matching 2.7 adds value, and many RS cars were raced or rebuilt, so ask for the rebuild history and paperwork.
- Have an air-cooled 911 specialist inspect the car for body repairs, rust and earlier accident damage before you buy.
Confirm how a Carrera RS 2.7 left the factory.
The Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 predates the 17-character VIN, so a VIN build sheet cannot cover it. Porsche's own record for these cars is the Certificate of Authenticity, now called the Production Specification. The guide explains what it shows and how to order one.
Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 FAQ
How many Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7s were made?
Porsche gives a total of 1,580: 200 M471 Sport cars, 1,308 M472 Touring cars, 55 racing cars and 17 base vehicles. Porsche's history of the original 911 gives 1,525 instead.
How much horsepower does the Carrera RS 2.7 have?
Its 2.7-liter fuel-injected flat-six makes 210 PS (154 kW) at 6,300 rpm and 255 Nm at 5,100 rpm.
How fast is the 911 Carrera RS 2.7?
Porsche quotes 0–100 km/h in 5.8 seconds and a top speed above 245 km/h for the 960 kg Sport. The heavier Touring does 6.3 seconds and 240 km/h.
What is the difference between the RS 2.7 Sport and Touring?
The M471 Sport (Lightweight) was the stripped car at 960 kg; 200 were built. The M472 Touring had more road equipment, weighed 115 kg more, and accounted for 1,308 cars.
Why is it called the ducktail?
The rear spoiler, the first fitted to a series-production 911, looks like a duck's tail. It cut lift at speed and fed more cooling air to the rear engine.
Related Porsche specials and race cars
Porsche history, specs and production research
Sources
Dates, production counts, specifications and results on this page come from the sources below. Where sources disagree, the page says so or uses Porsche's own figure.
- Fifty years of the Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 — Porsche Newsroom
- The original 911: the masterpiece from Zuffenhausen (Seven generations of the 911, part 1) — Porsche Newsroom
- Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 — Porsche Newsroom (Porsche Museum press kit)
Independent reference published by CarWhere — not affiliated with or endorsed by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. Porsche, 911, Carrera and Speedster are trademarks of their owner.