Porsche’s 911 Carrera RS 2.7 is one of the more famous versions of the classic 911. It combined real power (over 200 horsepower) with light weight, complete with optics such as the iconic ducktail spoiler, large and staggered 15-inch Fuchs wheels and the Carrera name brought back to decorate the sides. It was the first 911 with wider rear fenders, a visual that would mark performance models in the future.
Some development cars from the Carrera RS program have survived to the present day. A good example is this incredibly brightly colored 1972 example, which was offered at RM Sotheby’s Arizona auction last month, but didn’t sell (it can’t be the color, so maybe it was the $700k-900k estimate).
The yellow car was born a 911 2.4 in the summer of 1972. The experimental 2.7-liter engine was fitted by the development team later on, but the fluorescent yellow color (TAGESLEUCHTFARBE) was specified already in the order form, as was the prototype ducktail spoiler.
And the yellow carried such significance that a special permit from the Regional Council of Stuttgart was required to allow a car in that color to be used on German roads. The reason for that is that such hues were traditionally reserved for official use, such as the fluorescent FEUERWEHR (Fire department) text on fire engines.
German authorities were not joking: when the car was sold to an acquaintance of Porsche’s development department head in 1973, the next owner ended up repainting the car in regular red when the permit for the neon yellow ran out in March 1977. It’s likely that Chrysler didn’t have to ask for an exemption to be able to paint Neons in Nitro Yellow Green in the ‘90s.
The car’s long-time second owner, Franz Sussner, didn’t mollycoddle the car when he got it. Having moved to Algeria, he had the car shipped there and drove it regularly, with Porsche engineers visiting him during tests in North Africa. All in all, he kept the car for over four decades, finally letting it go in 2016. There’s a photo of him in the accompanying history file, taken when the car left on a flatbed trailer, and one can only imagine the emotions that went through his mind when parting with an old friend.
Next, the Porsche’s new owner had it painstakingly restored by specialists. Rather than keep it red, he chose to have the paint completely redone from bare metal, with traces of the original fluorescent yellow paint discovered in nooks and crannies of the shell, including under the tail lights. Presumably, this was a good occasion of paint-to-sample Porsche color selection.
Buttoned up and with the engine rebuilt by a racing shop, the Porsche was finished with the Carrera side decal of production cars, as well as the sort of extra instruments it would have had during its development testing days.
As it stands, the Carrera RS is a curious example of a development car presented in perfect condition: test mules usually end up in completely different shape, given that most are scrapped.
Top graphic image: RM Sotheby’s
That car is simply great: the size, the shape, the details, and yes, the color too. This was back when 911s looked exactly like 911s. The duck tail is much easier on the eyes than the whale tail of later turbos. I normally prefer Fuchs alloys with black painted centers, but on this car, the chrome just works, what with the trim on the rest of the car, including those rings around the wonderfully upright, glass-lensed headlights. I also love the extra panel of analog instruments just ahead of the shifter too. 🙂
I used to walk to elementary school past a house that often had a car just like this on the driveway.
My wife had a VW rabbit it German puke green. Great car for the day after St Patrick’s day
We had one of those when I was a kid. I loved it. I asked that my bedroom be painted “Rabbit green.” My parents got one wall done and stopped because that was ENOUGH.
Again, there are more than a few similarities between Autopians: I too insisted on a certain shade of green that my parents agreed to at some considerable expense, and like you, we stopped after painting one wall. In retrospect, it was hideous.
I also had a good buddy with a Rabbit in that ‘puke green’ and he put that car through so much, including removing the transmission and carrying it up two flights of stairs to work on it in his bedroom. He also happens to be the single handiest person I know. 🙂
Interesting to note that in the flatbed photo, the car is rocking a whale tail, rather than the prototype ducktail otherwise pictured in the article.
From the Sotheby’s listing:
“The exemption expired in March 1977, after which Sussner had the car repainted in red, had Bosch driving lights fitted, and replaced the ducktail spoiler with one that was of the later “whale tale” design, keeping the original prototype spoiler in storage”
Makes me wonder if the prototype design was impractical for some reason like cooling inefficiency or some other flaw that hadn’t been revealed in testing.
Or just stuck up so far you had to stick your head out the side window to back up
Kia had “Alien Green”.
My wife has a Black Soul.
Kinda harsh, but I don’t know the details
It’s a 2012 plus edition.
Looks like a fishing lure.
except it’s not hanging from the shrubs next to the river.
wait a minute…hold my beer
Hans should have talked him out of selling that 911.
Franz definitely does not look “pumped.”
All vintage 911 must henceforth be painted fluorescent yellow. So it is said, so it shall be done.
A special dispensation may be made for orange, or Iccee blue and red, Kermit green. Or other bold primary color as so stated.
I love the color. When the Abarth came out in 2012 (or so) I really wanted one in the bright green or orange. Make the car even more obnoxious and fun.
Fiat 850s were painted bright green in the 70s, and likely other small cars.
Ford knew what they were doing when they painted the review models of the Asbo bright orange. A lairy colour for a lairy car.
What the Fuchs?
No Fuchs left to give.
“It’s likely that Chrysler didn’t have to ask for an exemption to be able to paint Neons in Nitro Yellow Green in the ‘90s.”
Is this the same color? Close to it? In Germany or the US? Just feels kinda randomly in there without any context.
I doubt the US is as highly regulated as Germany.
Exactly, but I didn’t know they sold Neons in Germany.
Only in HOAs
I’m not sure if there are actual statutes about this in various US jurisdictions, but I’ve heard rumors that you’re not allowed to paint a vehicle in “National School Bus Glossy Yellow” unless that vehicle is operated as an actual school bus.
Or maybe that’s just an urban myth.
See the Original Gone In 60 Seconds. That is School Bus Yellow.
Or Penske rental trucks.
School Bus Yellow was a color option in the Dodge Ram catalog in 2010. So was USFS green but it wasn’t called that.
Of course, I bought white because that was the color of the only diesel with a stick on the lot…
I hope that photo of Franz Sussner is the saddest thing I see today.
Nice to see someone appreciate history instead of “reimagining” it all the time.
I appreciate Singer, but also agree with your take. Preserving history is important too.
A pedestrian 911 can be reimagined. This absolutely was the right call to restore it like it was instead of what could have been. There’s a place for both.
Oh no, this car NEEDS preserved and restored to what it was originally. 100%
This color would be so obnoxious on a new 911. On this it’s delightful.
Might work on an Emira? Can’t be slow, huge, or overly curvy…
The highlighter color crew are wetting their pants over this one.
Great post. I’m going to keep it in mind if I ever repaint. Keep up the good work.
“German authorities were not joking” DO German Authorities EVER joke?
I love the color!!!!!
Nein.
In Germany, humor is no laughing matter!
In Germany, everything is verboten unless specifically allowed.
Source: I lived there (and loved it) for years.
It’s different.
“You there, you’re not meditating!
Everybody meditates here!
ONE TWO THREE FOUR!”
.
Most regulations here are jokes. But not very good ones.