Equipment
1991cc/210hp, Weber carbs, 5-speed, Fuchs wheels, Plexiglas windows, competition interior with Scheel seats, half roll cage, Heuer timers on the dash.
Condition
#3 Good
Runs and drives well. Flaws not noticeable to passersby. Most common condition.
One of 20 911 Rs produced, delivered to French driver Fernand Schligler and campaigned extensively in period, including at the Tour de Corse and multiple other French rallies. Owned briefly in the '70s by Thierry Sabine, who went on to found the Paris-Dakar Rally. Has gotten restoration work in fits and starts over the years, but work was completed about 10 years ago. The paint has a few scuffs and scrapes on the front bumper. The Plexiglas windows are very yellowed. The engine (a replacement unit) presents well, but needs a light detail and the interior shows light use. Insanely rare and desirable despite some flaws.
Market commentary
The 911 R was the first in the long and illustrious line of hardcore, lightened 911s aimed at the race track. Porsche used aluminum and fiberglass body panels, Plexiglas side windows and a thin windshield, upgraded brakes, wider wheels, and a similar-spec 1991cc engine to that used in the 906 prototype racer. The company hoped an ultra-light version of its flagship model would do well in GT racing and in rallies, and built a handful of examples to try out while determining if it was possible to build and sell 500 examples for homologation, as the rules required. In the end, the R project didn't get off the ground and became a footnote. Well, a footnote in general racing history, at least. For any fan of early 911s, it's a dream car, and the kind of thing for which you can wait years before seeing on the market again. In fact, the last 911 R to appear at auction was this one, sold at this same auction in 2021. It brought $3,306,000, so this is a massive price hit. It's not clear what happened here, as it crossed the block in the middle of Saturday's sale, and it's hard to believe there weren't at least a few heavy-hitting Porsche buyers paying attention to this one.