The Art of Luxury Issue 44 2020 | Page 19

APPRECIATING PORSCHE: A Refined Collection of Limited-Edition Examples Arrives Online By Forest Casey For many enthusiasts, the ultimate goal is to one day own a Porsche. Only an air-cooled example will do for some, while for the rest of us, any car bearing the Stuttgart crest would be welcome. But for a growing number of true connoisseurs of the brand, acquiring a 911 merely represents the rocket launch—achieving orbit means opening up entirely new worlds of collecting, like the following examples: 1992 Porsche 911 Carrera RS True Porschephiles seek out the brand’s limited-edition variants. Instead of a base-model Carrera, they opt for the Carrera RS, considered by collectors to be the purest form of 911. With a potent 3.6-liter engine and original blackover-purple color scheme, this 1992 Porsche 911 Carrera RS embodies the brand’s unique blend of thoughtful engineering and bold personalization options. The 993-era RS traced its lineage back two decades, to factory-tuned examples like this 1975 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 Coupé, of which only 395 were produced for the American market. 1975 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 Coupé While Porsche’s motorsport division is renowned for its engineering acumen, they weren’t the only avenue for personalized performance. This 1987 Porsche 911 Turbo ‘Group B’ benefited from an upgraded 935-type adjustable boost control with a larger intercooler, oil cooler, and turbocharger—all installed to factory ‘Group B’-spec by Porsche’s Swedish importer. Due to the extensive modifications required, this kit could only be installed by the Porsche factory or VAG-owned importers, making this example even more desirable than a typical Turbo. 1987 Porsche 911 Turbo ‘Group B’ But even an exceptionally rare 930 variant pales in comparison to a factory prototype. This lucky 1969 Porsche 911 S 2.2 Coupé Prototype was picked by Porsche’s testing division, pulled from production, and factory-equipped with an early development 2.2-liter Type 911/02 engine—only the 12th built; a real piece of Porsche history. For more information about Porsche Passion, 1960–2020, and to view additional offerings and auction information, please visit rmsothebys.com. 1969 Porsche 911 S 2.2 Coupé Prototype