What better way to celebrate 30 years of 993? Total 911 meets the iconic Carrera RS

Written by Lee Sibley

Photography by Simon Jessop

For 30 years, the 993 has enjoyed widespread acclaim as the last air-cooled 911, and therefore the ultimate classic Porsche. Values have always remained buoyant, while general stock condition has tended to be excellent. Almost universally, the 993 is dearly loved and admired.

At the top of the tree sat the Carrera RS, introduced two years into 993 production. Sure, the GT2 might lay claim to being the ‘uber’ 993, adding power and subtracting mass from Porsche’s heady Turbo package, but the RS significance bleeds well outside the fourth-generation 911: it’s the pinnacle of two decades of air-cooled Rennsport evolution.

As you might expect, the 993 RS has long been revered by purists, but today it’s achieved halo status as a simple, lightweight racer, with unbridled purity at the core of its DNA. This is reflected in market values. Upon release in 1995, a 993 Carrera RS in Comfort specification would have set you back £68,495. Nearly 30 years on, that same model is now storming towards the £300,000 mark.

Records show that 1,104 993 RS models were built by Porsche for worldwide markets, of which 227 were the even lighter Clubsport variants (recognisable thanks to a larger, taller and bi-planed rear wing). A grand total of 38 993 Carrera RSs were sold in the UK (26 in 1995 and 12 in 1996), although there has been much coalescence of the cars since, and multiple lefthand-drive cars now reside in Great Britain.