Porsche 993 Cup 3.8 RSR

The Porsche 993 Cup 3.8 RSR

From the very beginning in the 1950s, the young Porsche brand developed vehicles that were specially designed for use in motor sports. This involved both particularly powerful engines and special bodies that were inter alia optimised for low weight. The Porsche 550 Spyder and the derived 356 Carrera models with the king-shaft engine, were the first examples of the synthesis of series production vehicles and motorsports technology. Porsche has continued this tradition through the later model series of the 911 to the present. Thus, at the end of 1996, the racing version of the 993 series was presented: the 993 Cup 3.8 RSR was the successor to the 964 Carrera RSR 3.8 and was intended specifically for racing in the GT3 classes (now GT2) and national racing series of the time, as well as for 24-hour races. The racing car was based on the Porsche 993 Cup and received the wider fender flares and racing chassis from the 993 GT2. It had a welded roll cage by Matter, aluminium bonnet, two-way adjustable Bilstein suspension, ball-jointed suspension, special front spoiler, adjustable rear wing, single racing seat and fire extinguishing system. The car was therefore ready for the race track ex works. The six-cylinder naturally aspirated boxer engine with a displacement of 3.8 litres (type M64/75) from the predecessor was only slightly modified and produced 350 hp. The gearbox, optimised for racing, had six gears instead of five. Especially for endurance races, a brake system with brake discs of 380 millimetres in diameter and a 100-litre safety tank were also available as an option. Finally, the 993 Cup 3.8 RSR was an exclusive delight: only 30 examples were manufactured in the 1997 and 1998 model years.

This vehicle

This Porsche 993 Cup 3.8 RSR is one of only 30 examples built by Porsche Motorsport GmbH in Weissach. It was ordered via Porsche Motorsport North America Inc. in the summer of 1996 by US racing drivers Max Schmidt and Duke Johnsen or respectively their racing team Duke-Schmidt Racing. All documents around the purchase including the order, several down payments, correspondence, optional extras for the motor sport application of this model and freight documents are available in the original form. According to the original sales invoice from Porsche Motorsport North America Inc. dated December 23, 1996, the purchase price including three additional sets of BBS rims for fender flares was 150,000 USD. In addition, further race-specific equipment was ordered from other manufacturers, which is also documented via invoices. A special feature of this 993 Cup 3.8 RSR is the original factory painting in black colour. The standard was a white paint, which was ordered for most of the cars. Optionally red and black were also possible. Presumably, this example is the only black car. The delivery of the car in the USA took place on December 11, 1996. 

Under the owner and racing driver Max Schmidt or respectively various racing teams under his leadership/cooperation, the car was used in various racing events in the USA in the early years. Among them were several times the "24 Hours of Daytona". No serious accidents are known from racing. In addition, all doors, rims, hoods and other vehicle parts as well as all exchanged spare parts are still avaliable in the original (of the delivery condition) with this car. This 993 Cup 3.8 RSR is exceptionally well documented, the data volume comprises ca. 1 gigabyte. In addition to the aforementioned correspondence regarding the purchase, there are service booklet, key card, technical instructions for racing use, numerous service, repair and parts invoices, performance and measurement logs of the vehicle, notes and records, order lists for spare parts and consumables, participation documents and regulations for various North American racing series as well as results lists. In 2013, this Porsche 993 Cup 3.8 RSR was acquired directly from Max Schmidt by its second and current owner in Europe and has since been part of a small private sports car collection with no further racing record. Due to the motorsport history, the extremely comprehensive documentation as well as the known ownership history with only two owners, this might be the only Porsche 993 Cup 3.8 RSR of this kind.