Carrera RS 2.7: why is the 1973 car so special?
Built for motorsport homologation, the 1973 model-year Carrera RS 2.7 received a 2.7-litre flat six with mechanical fuel injection and Nikasil-coated cylinders, producing 210 PS (DIN). It has wider rear wings, the famous ducktail spoiler on the engine lid and Carrera script along its flanks. Two specifications were offered: Touring, better equipped, and Sport, known as the Lightweight, with thinner steel and glass, bucket seats and pared-back equipment.
For a restoration these differences are decisive: every weight-saving detail and every model-specific part contributes to authenticity. As many 911s have been converted to an ‘RS look’, the inspection begins with numbers, plates and paperwork, and everything original is recorded before a single part is removed.
The 911 G series (1974–1989): which versions?
From the 1974 model year the 911 gained impact bumpers with bellows, driven by American regulations. This is the G series, built until 1989 without changing its overall shape.
- 1974–1977: 911, 911 S and Carrera 2.7; K-Jetronic injection on the standard 2.7 cars.
- 1976–1977: Carrera 3.0.
- 1978–1983: 3.0-litre 911 SC; Cabriolet from the 1983 model year.
- 1984–1989: Carrera 3.2 with DME Motronic engine management; 915 gearbox until 1986, then the five-speed G50 with hydraulic clutch from the 1987 model year.
- 1989: Speedster based on the Carrera 3.2.
- Targa throughout; the Turbo has its own page, Porsche 930 Turbo.
What to check on a Porsche 911 G model
From the 1976 model year the body was made from hot-dip galvanised steel. The protection is real, but it no longer works where it has been breached: accident damage, old repairs, drilled holes. Earlier cars, the RS 2.7 included, do not have it. The usual inspection points:
- timing chain tensioners, noisy on start-up when they weaken;
- cylinder head studs, pulled or broken depending on the engine;
- heat exchangers and exhaust, often corroded;
- oil weeps at gaskets and along the lines to the front oil cooler;
- synchromesh and shift mechanism of the 915 gearbox;
- DME relay and wiring loom on the Carrera 3.2;
- sills, suspension mounts, windscreen base and roof seals on Targas.
Chain tensioners and head studs: the two engine questions
The early chain tensioners rely on their own sealed oil reservoir; when one fails, the chain can jump a tooth and the valves can meet the pistons. The Carrera 3.2 received tensioners fed by engine oil pressure, an upgrade often fitted to earlier engines during a rebuild.
On 2.7 engines with magnesium crankcases the head studs can pull out of their threads; on some 3.0 engines it is the studs themselves that break. An accurate diagnosis comes at strip-down: it shows whether the studs need replacing, the case threads repairing, or a full Porsche engine rebuild, with every tolerance measured, parts replaced or reconditioned and their origin stated.
915 or G50 gearbox: what is the difference?
The 915 gearbox, in four- or five-speed form, served the G series until 1986. Its shift is precise but demanding: worn synchros and a tired linkage give stiff or vague changes. A rebuild means a complete strip-down, inspection of gears, synchros, bearings and differential, then a refresh of the shift mechanism.
The G50, introduced for the 1987 model year, uses a different synchromesh and a hydraulic clutch, and its shift is lighter. Among other work, our workshop has restored the G50 gearbox of a 1989 930 Turbo Cabriolet. Our approach is described on the Porsche gearbox rebuild page.
Servicing, bodywork and trim
A 911 of this period lives well when it is driven and maintained to the manufacturer’s schedule: oil changes, adjustments, checks for leaks, brakes and running gear. Our Porsche servicing page explains the approach, with an invoice that doubles as a service record.
In the body shop, restoring an RS 2.7 or a 911 SC follows the same logic as an older shell, with particular care for the bumper bellows, the flared wings and Targa seals. Upholstery, made entirely in our workshop, reproduces the cloth, leather or leatherette of the original specification, or an interpretation of your choosing.
What our workshop does for your 911
For a Carrera RS 2.7 as for a G-series 911, we offer servicing, mechanical work, engine and gearbox rebuilds, bodywork, paint, upholstery and full restoration. The car is inspected before any detailed, line-by-line quotation; a first opinion is possible remotely from photographs and videos. One team looks after the car, photographs of important stages are sent to you and no additional work goes ahead without your approval.
For the earlier generations, see the Porsche 911 of 1964 to 1973.