A street-legal race car born from a purebred motorsport lineage, the original GT3 RS presented an array of cutting-edge lightweight technology, a purpose-built cockpit geared for the track, finely tuned suspension, and aggressive aerodynamics. Never officially sold in North America, it stands among the most coveted water-cooled Porsches ever made and is regarded as the ultimate iteration of the 996. This 2004 example represents one of a mere 682 units produced in total and comes finished Carrara White with Red accents. Imported to the U.S. and federalized under Show and Display, this GT3 RS is now being offered for auction out of Colorado with approximately 40k miles on the odometer.
Compared to the standard 996 GT3, the RS version features a front chin spoiler and additional air vents for the radiator in the nose as well as exposed carbon fiber mirrors, a rear wing, and a ram-air intake on the engine lid. A polycarbonate rear window is also used to save weight in addition to a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic bonnet. The GT3 RS came standard in Carrara White with the customer’s choice of either Red or Blue graphics and matching wheel centers inspired by the original Carrera RS of the early 1970s. This example features Red contrasts along with red-finished brake calipers and 18” GT3 wheels dressed in new Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. The seller notes some paintwork has been performed on the front valance and left side of the car, some bubbling is present on the hood, and the front splitter was replaced.
The lightweight and driver-focused cockpit is fitted with a Carrara White painted roll cage and leather-edged floor mats with Porsche script. The GT3 RS features cloth fixed-back Recaro bucket seats as standard factory equipment as well as a 6-point driver’s safety harness, a fire extinguisher, and Alcantara trim covering the steering wheel, shift knob, and handbrake lever. This example was further optioned with automatic climate control, an activated charcoal filter, and a top-tinted windscreen.
The GT3 RS shares the same naturally aspirated 3.6-liter Mezger flat-six engine as the standard GT3 with revised intake and exhaust ports for race homologation. A factory-claimed output of 381 HP is sent to the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. The GT3 RS features a unique suspension with progressive springs, stiffer dampers, adjustable control arms, and redesigned wheel carriers. Stopping power is provided by six-piston front and four-piston rear brake calipers with cross-drilled rotors. The seller adds that service in 2021 included replacements of the fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel sending unit, battery, fuel tank bleeder valve, hood struts, and right-rear wheel bearing. More recent service items are said to include an oil change, an O2 sensor wiring repair, and a wheel alignment.
This sale will include a clean title, owner’s manuals, and some documentation.
The seller would like you to know: “Thank you for visiting our auction. This is an opportunity to own a car that is rare and special worldwide (only 682 made). It is one of a handful known to exist in the U.S. since Porsche didn't allocate any for this market when the car was new. We enjoyed having this car in our inventory and we are excited to meet its new caregiver! Happy bidding!”
Comments (70)
Sold for $215,000
Thank you to everyone that participated! Congratulations to @Gildo! You got a great car!
Reserve is now met!
Bid in the amount of $215,000
One of the most underrated Porsches and so rare in North America
Bid in the amount of $211,000
Bid in the amount of $210,000
Bid in the amount of $206,000
Bid in the amount of $205,000
Bid in the amount of $201,250
still so rare for the price.
Bid in the amount of $201,000
Bid in the amount of $199,996
@mcollector Uploaded
Bid in the amount of $199,250
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@SportscarCollection Can you post the paint meter results?
Bid in the amount of $190,000
@CJWRacing33 Yes, you can unbolt the front part of the cage.
Since it's bolted together- is it possible to remove the front half of the cage?
Bid in the amount of $184,999
@burnrubr I believe it stays show and display forever.
@MANDREWS I haven’t done any paint work to the car. It was absolutely flawless when I bought it. Pcar included the paint work disclaimer because it was included in the previous auction. I am posting paint meter photos shortly.
Could you please help me understand the paint comments in your description? The previous owner says they never painted the car except the front valence. Your ad says the car has paint on the left side. Did you do the work since taking delivery? Is this touch up work? just on the plastic? Or a whole side was painted? Paint meter would help me understand, but could you please describe the work or reason for your comment?
Bid in the amount of $170,000
very nice! can it be legally registered and street driven or just display and show?
@Porschegstaad It was originally in Belgium.
Bid in the amount of $139,000
Bid in the amount of $120,000
Which country of first delivery?
@TubeGuy They are not rust bubbles. It is a carbon hood. At the time Porsche didn’t have the process of preparing carbon fiber for paint ironed out. All of the 996 RS with original paint on the hood get bubbles. It is hard to capture them with a camera. I will try to take a few photos of them tomorrow.
Where exactly are the rust bubbles on the hood?
the back half of the cage is factory original....the front half was replaced with a 997 cage....it was a better design and bolted right in according to the previous owner......
@jimhuiz I believe the extra bracing was added, but the structure of the cage is factory.
IMO the rear portion of the cage looks factory 996 club sport style but the front portion appears different from in-period pieces which were comprised of single tubes. I think some later club sport cages had this extra bracing in the front portion...
Bid in the amount of $100,000
The car was in perfect condition when it arrived here from the UK and I never did any paint work or body work, and there was never any damage to the car and the bottom of the car is clean and there were no signs whatsoever of track use. You can see those photos on the BAT ad.
Technically you are supposed to drive the car only 2500 miles a year. It now has a USA registration and in reality there is no one checking and most people don't drive more than 2500 miles a year anyway. This car has been legally federalized and meets all 50 state requirements to be licensed.
@Flatcrank The car was not a US delivered vehicle as the RS was never offered here. The cage is from the factory and not an add on.
@gblue Have you retained paperwork and before/after photos of the body repairs and paint?
It seems like that would be a major factor in the perceived value.
Thanks again,
@gblue Being an EU-spec car explains the hood and cage. Is that also a factory disconnect?
Has the suspension been modified or refreshed?
Thanks,
This is presumably a US delivered vehicle, but the factory did not bring the cage as a factory option (though the chassis of the RS included the welded plates for the cage feet.) The quality of the installation of this example looks good cosmetically. The question would be the quality of the hardware installation (whether the feet or bolted to plates, making it easily reversible to being a road car, or welded in place, which would require a more surgical operation to remove the welds, clean up the plates, add the bolt-in plates and maintain the integrity of the vehicle.) Of course, any track day car is far more likely to have had "excursions" and consequent damage that could be very effectively repaired, at which point, for a track car, does it really matter? : )
I had the 996.2 GT3 (same engine) back then and regret selling it.
I looked on the BaT ad as well, but saw no paint meter readings. Do you have a meter and have the ability to show us whats been repainted?
The essential information for buying a GT3 (any generation) is the DME readout (aka "over-rev" ranges report.)
I think it's reasonable to expect a track day car has some rash on the front that is either covered by PPF or a dealer will likely "freshen" the paint (though owners generally prefer to leave a car with stone chips and no "stories."
@PorscheLover199 This is information that I am relaying from its previous listing. I haven't done any paint on the car and I am not able to detect any signs of paint work, but the previous owner informed me that is was done and I wanted to be upfront about it. I will do my best to post paint meter photos.
Can you be more specific about the extent of “some paintwork has been performed on the front valance and left side of the car”? Paint meter readings of the car would be great if possible!
@gblue - do you know if the limitations of 2500 miles per year are accurate?
@gblue imported The car from the UK and I bought it from DK Engineering who is a top class dealer
Aloha from Maui, Andrew bought the car from me on bring a trailer and flew out and we drove it for a couple of days all over Maui and had a great time. I am ported this car from the UK a few years ago and had it federalized and enjoyed it immensely. Only an RSR prompted me to sell it… This car looks runs smells new. No disappointments…
@TubeGuy We bought it before we opened our store but we knew it will eventually be listed for sale. We actually flew out to Maui and drove it there for a few days before we shipped it to the US. The car is proper fun to drive. Definitely a drivers car!
So you bought it to sell it? I assume the first thing he did was take it to the best Porche GT car mechanic or a Porsche dealer to assess just what he received. Didn't he? Or you? Anything else doesn't make sense.
All you have to do as a minimum is pay $450 for an oil change and Porsche will look it over. Or to get top $$$ do a PPI.
I'd love to have one of these but it would be for bragging rights I guess. It is bad ass. I have a 997.2 but this is OG
@TubeGuy Me and my business partner were the buyers. My business partner lives in Florida.
So the owner in Maui sold it via BAT 1/25/23 to a buyer in Florida, and you bought it from him and brought it to Denver? Does not look good for a guy to by it via auction to sell it to you to resell so soon. So can you please give us some factual details?
Bid in the amount of $19,962
@luis.seneriz Working on it. I will post shortly.
@supermoo Yes, it is. You are welcome to come check it out.
Is this car viewable in person if I wanted to come see it?
Bid in the amount of $11,000
Would be great to get a cold start, driving video and a dime report.
If I get this one I will have the 996 trilogy. Early 99 coupe cable throttle, 03 turbo last year made in Germany stamp mezger with the improved g50 transmission and this one. Now I need more days per week to drive because I have two other cats. Awesome car.
Love this color combo
Bid in the amount of $9,962
@Fryingpan It is legal to be driven but you are limited to 2500 miles per year. To my knowledge it is not enforced.
Quick question regarding the "Show and Display" status. I thought that once a vehicle was imported under this exception, it could never be titled for street use, even after the 25 year rule. Am I mistaken? Thank you.
@Tangerine997 I’ll look through them tomorrow and post some of the significant ones. I have too many to post them all.
@SportscarCollection ok thanks for the quick response.
Are you able to post any of the records you have.
@Tangerine997 I have a whole folder with records and import documents. It was definitely not tracked by me or its previous owner. I don’t have any information prior to that, but it does not show the typical wear from track use. The car was imported under show and display but it now carries a normal title that has no brands or notes on it.
@SportscarCollection Aside from the Carfax and that it was sold at auction in January 23, do you have any other history of the car.
Service records ownership prior to you. Any track use you know of. Is it still Show and Display only or can it be titled as a street vehicle.
Thanks.
Simply a perfect car. Someone is going to be very happy driving this!
Hello and welcome to the auction of our beautiful 2004 Porsche 911 GT3RS. I am here to answer any questions! Good luck to the bidders!