PROVENANCE
Jean-Claude Miloe, Paris, France (acquired circa 1992)
Paul Tholly, Saint-Étienne, France (acquired from the above in February 1996)
Xavier Ravon, Saint-Étienne, France (acquired from the above in October 2000)
Jacques Souvignet, Saint-Étienne, France (acquired from the above in November 2005)
Marc Blanc, Saint-Étienne, France (acquired from above in 2013)
Current Owner

THIS CAR
The 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS has long been considered not just a pinnacle of early 911 development, but a pinnacle driver’s car, period. This vehicle, no. 1193, is one of only 200 RS Lightweights and benefits from a thoroughly documented Porsche factory restoration commissioned by noted Porsche connoisseur Jean-Claude Miloe.

The Porsche 911 brand represents the continuing evolution of the tropfenwagen concept, with the engine and gearbox between the rear wheels. With his work on the Auto-Union Grand Prix cars, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche has become personally associated with the design, although other makers such as Tatra, Mercedes-Benz, and Saab also developed tropfenwagen.

The 1973 RS is the most powerful, the lightest, and the last of the first-generation, slim-bumper 911s now preferred by collectors. It also introduced significant design features that would become 911 hallmarks, among them widened rear-wheel arches – to accommodate wheels and tires that were wider at the rear than at the front – Fuchs wheels, and an engine cover spoiler. The 1973 RS was developed during a period of gasoline scarcity that resulted in new racing regulations, excluding Porsche’s dominant 917. Porsche thus turned from building race car prototypes to modifying road cars – specifically the 911 – for the track. Notable wins for the 1973 RS were the 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, and the Targa Florio. Racing regulations demanded that 500 examples be built; and to Porsche’s surprise, there was plenty of demand, and a total of 1,580 RS examples were sold.

Mechanically, the RS benefited from a raft of evolutionary tweaks. By using flat-top pistons and nikasil-lined cylinders, a technique Porsche first used on the 917, the engine capacity was enlarged by a few hundred cubic centimeters, resulting in the first Porsche road car with more than 200 hp. Wind-tunnel research led to a larger front air dam and the distinctive ducktail spoiler, which reduced rear end lift by 75%, a factor that seems likely to have assisted with the RS model’s reputation as a stellar drivers car.

In Lightweight (or M471) specification, Porsche pared the weight of the RS to 1,984 lbs., down from 2,194 lbs. in standard touring form. The savings were accomplished by using thinner body panels, a fiberglass front bumper, an aluminum-and-fiberglass engine cover, Glaverbel glass, and a stripped interior with minimal soundproofing.

Mr. Miloe sourced 1193 in the early 1990s, and sent it to the Porsche factory at Zuffenhausen, Germany, in 1995 for a comprehensive restoration. In February 1996, it moved on to Paul Tholly, and remained in the Saint-Étienne area of France for the next two decades. The consignor, a discerning collector, acquired 1193 from Marc Blanc. As offered, this fabulously rare RS Lightweight has a thorough maintenance record from restoration to the present and is in excellent condition. The consignor notes that 1193 feels considerably more spirited than the quoted 210 hp might suggest.

Documentation includes several Contrôle Technique Certificates, France’s rigorous vehicle inspection scheme that covers all aspects of vehicle performance. Combined with maintenance records detailing items such as suspension adjustment and the replacement of the oil cooler radiator, a picture emerges of continual robust mechanical health.

No. 1193 is handsomely appointed in Grand Prix White with red decals and a black cloth interior, and has a competition-style roll cage in place. The Porsche factory restoration is detailed across three separate invoices, totaling more than 75,000 DM. During the restoration, as a precaution against oil leaks, the Porsche factory fitted a new aluminum gearbox in place of the original magnesium unit. The original magnesium gearbox will be supplied with 1193.

Surely the 1973 RS, such as this remarkable example, is the original inspiration for the modern 911. M471 specification, excellent condition, exciting provenance, and thorough restoration and maintenance documentation make this a particularly desirable example of the coveted 911.