DCLee

RS-- Sorry, I couldn't find a white smiley. Perhaps plaid?

for pix of my car:

<a href="http://www.ParabolicaMotorsports.com" target="_blank">http://www.ParabolicaMotorsports.com</a>

993RS

Nice Lee! BTW: I thought I saw you post a number of white smiley's (drawn with white lines too, pretty neat...)

Hank Cohn

I am actually posting this to view my new avatar; however, since Lee mentioned me in this post, I wanted to respond. This is the second RS project that I have done. The first was an RSCS replica which we (Autometrics Motorsports and I) took to the limits of sanity. Lee will understand this as he has exceeded the limits of sanity. My current project is significantly saner. My opinion is that no matter how much money we throw at a project such as this that it will NEVER be a factory RS, a replica, perhaps, but not the real item. As such, I do not count myself as an RS owner nor do I wish to dilute or in any way detract from a true factory car.

Hank Cohn 993-RS (Replica Sport)

PS. 993RS, your car looks great!

dcpmark

Hey guys......what makes an RS an RS? Were there factory 993 RSs for sale, or are all RSs converted from regular 993s? If so, what's the standard that makes a 993 a RS?

Thanks!

993RS

The RS's were a limited number produced by the factory. For example, of the 1973 RS, I believe there were 1,500 cars produced. The 993RS was only produced in 1995 in limited numbers. This was just to meet racing homologation rules. So many who would have liked to have one, but could not because none were being produced anymore, started converting their stock 993s to 993RS's. To do this it is not only a question of engine and suspension, but also removing certain components from the car (electrical windows, seats, etc.), or replacing others with light weight components (windows for example). Rubber bushings replaced with uniball, etc. Ultimately, you can build an RS that nobody could tell the difference to from an original, apart from the VIN number.

Hank Cohn

Mark:

Here is a good primer on the RS. <a href="http://www.mcp-motorsport.com/images/description.asp?ID=28" target="_blank">http://www.mcp-motorsport.com/images/description.asp?ID=28</a>
It is a factory car made in very limited numbers. It is quite special and other than the street RSRs and GT2s it is the most unique and pure sports car Porsche has made in the modern air-cooled era. There is an excellent article in the June 2000 edition of Excellence Magazine (I hope I cited the correct month/year). Real (factory) RSs have a number of special parts. While you can do a fair job of copying the appearance of one and even its motor and transmission, there are numerous parts that would cost a fortune to replicate. The standard is the factory car. Any other is just a 993 RS replica.

Hank Cohn

993RS

Totally agree Hank...

Hank Cohn

I see that 993RS has beaten me to the response. I believe he gave an equally good answer. We differ, however, on the definition of a real RS. When you put a disclaimer like "nobody could tell the difference from an original, apart from the VIN number,” I think that says it all. No one can tell a fake Rolex from a real one either, but that doesn't make the fake one real. By the same token, it doesn't invalidate all the hard work 993RS has had commissioned on his car, but it is still not a factory RS and, in my opinion, can not be valued as such.

Hank Cohn

Dang-it, 993RS. You must be using the power of your 3.8. You are just to fast for me. Stop posting for a second and let my little 3.6 catch up.

Hank Cohn

dcpmark

[quote]Originally posted by Hank Cohn:
<strong>There is an excellent article in the June 2000 edition of Excellence Magazine (I hope I cited the correct month/year). </strong><hr></blockquote>

Thanks for the reference, Hank! I forgot that I had all the Excellences dating back to 1996. Actually, the article you are referring to is on Pg.64 of the June 1999 issue, entitled "Rare Carrera RS Clubsport."

Hank Cohn

Mark:

Thanks for correcting my error. I liked that edition so much that I put it somewhere safe. If only I could remember where that was.

By the way, I have searched the Internet on several occasions and haven't come up with much information on the 993 RS. There are several good pieces of information in the 993 Workshop Manuals and in a few magazine articles. I am only aware of 3 real RSes in the US, although I am sure that there are more.

Good night all,

Hank Cohn

993RS

Hank,
Not much out on the Internet, but here are a couple I found:
<a href="http://www.flat-6.net/view.php?model=993&sel=993+Carrera+RS&tab=oview" target="_blank">RS1</a>
<a href="http://members.tripod.com/~msherman/rs.html" target="_blank">RS2</a>

Hank Cohn

993RS:

Thanks for the links. That is about the same level of stuff that I have found. I have a few books that briefly touch on the details of the car and a few of the options one could have ordered from the factory. It would be interesting to see the “official” options list from 1995/1996. As stated before, the Service Manual is a very good source for the differences in the cars. One day I will go through the service set and compile a list of differences.

Thanks again,

Hank Cohn

Rocket

Autocar wrote a good review in 2nd August 1995 edition. You can get a back copy from them for 2.95 GBP (00 44 1235 523005) or write to Haymarket Reprints, PO Box 200, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 3FG, England.

Another Autocar article "Top 100 drivers cars ever" the RS came 2nd (1st went to the Maclaren F1 @ 650,000 GBP). Walter Rohl (Porsche development) also explains how he lapped the Nordschleife (Nurburgring) in 8 mins 10 in the same article.

I could email these articles if anyone is interested, but I won't post it incase I am breaching Copywrite laws.

Rocket

993RS

Kim,
Actually, just the opposite: WAY too little time on our hands... Some much Porsche related stuff and life is so darn short...