Carrera Collection, an impending RM Sotheby’s auction of rare Porsches 911
Interest continues to grow in The Carrera Collection, an impending RM Sotheby’s auction of rare Porsches from a single-owner fleet. Here are the latest lots for your consideration...
AUCTION NEWS
Last month, we brought you news about The Carrera Collection, an exciting auction of hugely collectible Porsches scheduled to go under the hammer in Switzerland on the 7th July. The sale is being managed by international auction house, RM Sotheby’s. When we announced the news, details of the available lots were limited, but not long before this issue of 911 & Porsche World went to print, we were treated to a long list of the star cars set to spark bidding wars at the Meilenstein in Langenthal, a hotel complex and business centre chosen to host the auction on account of it having an integrated vehicle museum (recognised for its Formula One exhibits).
THE THIRD GUARDS RED G-SERIES ON OFFER IS A 1989 911 TURBO CABRIOLET TRIMMED IN LINEN LEATHER
In addition to the astonishing selection of Porsches on offer, a variety of fascinating models from other premium marques will cross the block. A trio of BMW Z8s, two Alpina Roadster V8s, an Alfa Romeo 8C Spider, two W121 Mercedes-Benz 190 SLs and an R107 500 SL rank high among the European sports cars making an appearance, while a two early Chevrolet Corvettes and a 1969 Camaro SS convertible will be flying the flag for American muscle.
To the Porsches, then. There’s much to get through. In fact, other than the vehicles already mentioned, The Carrera Collection’s run of more than ninety cars is exclusively Porsche. They’re all super-desirable models in exceptional condition, too.
What’s catching our eye? The earliest car on offer is a 1955 1500 Speedster in white. Corvettes and drop-top Mercs aside, the stripped-back 356, which carries chassis number 80288 and engine 34322, is followed by a 1963 356 B Carrera 2 2000 GS coupe (chassis 123002, engine 97195). Next up is another 1963 356 B Carrera 2 (pictured right and pairing chassis 122866 with engine 97432). Dressed in vibrant blue, the car is a rare ‘sunroof coupe’ and, like the other 356s mentioned, will be offered for sale without reserve.
On to the 911s, the earliest of which is a gorgeous red 1966 coupe (chassis 304371, powered by flat-six number 907615). One of only two Porsches in the sale built during the 1960s, the two-litre stunner is joined by a fully restored 1969 911 S (chassis 119301274, engine 6391824) finished in a pristine coat of brilliant white.
The Carrera Collection offers just three 911s assembled in the 1970s, but it’s quality, not quantity, that matters, right?! Proving the saying true is the 1973 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring (chassis 9113600172, engine 6630185) pictured right. This ducktailed delight is united with another RS 2.7 Touring (chassis 9113601062, engine 6631032, gearbox 7830982) in eye-popping yellow, as well as a 1978 911 Turbo (chassis 9308700081, engine 6780083).
Five G-series 911s from the 1980s look set to excite bidders. All but one of these cars is finished in Guards Red. First up is a 1988 Carrera 3.2 Club Sport (chassis WP0ZZZ91ZJS105113, engine 63J02542, gearbox J11119). Then, not one, but two red 1989 Carrera 3.2 Speedsters join the party. The first (chassis WP0EB0917KS173596, engine 64K06212) features a tan interior with black piping, while the second (chassis WP0EB0919KS173678, engine 64K06292) sticks with oh-so-classic black leather, perfectly complementing the red paintwork. The third Guards Red G-series on offer is a 1989 911 Turbo Cabriolet (chassis WP0EB0935KS070338, engine 68K00637) trimmed in Linen leather.
Rounding out this quartet of eighties smashers is a third 1989 Carrera 3.2 Speedster (chassis WP0ZZZ91ZKS152128, engine 63K04132) forging its own path with black paintwork over red leather, which features black piping.
The nucleus of the cars presently announced for inclusion in The Carrera Collection comprises air-cooled cars produced in the 1990s. There’s a black 1992 964 Carrera RS (chassis WP0ZZZ96ZNS491921, engine 62N82784), a white version of the same Rennsport (chassis WP0ZZZ96ZNS490323, engine 62N80760, also from 1992), a Guards Red 1993 964 Speedster (chassis WP0CB2968RS465377, engine 62P06132) and a second example of the same rare model, built in 1994 (chassis WP0CB2960RS465440, engine 62R00588) and finished in Grand Prix White.
993 fans will rejoice at the inclusion of four examples of the last air-cooled 911, all of them hugely alluring. The first is a black 1995 Carrera RS Clubsport (chassis WP0ZZZ99ZSS390116, engine 63S85561), a yellow non-Clubsport RS (chassis WP0ZZZ99ZTS390628, engine 63S86204) manufactured during the same year, an extraordinary silver GT2 Evolution motorsport machine (chassis WP0ZZZ99ZTS393074) and the rather more sedate — but by no means less enticing — black 1996 Turbo coupe.
As you can see from the various photographs we’ve published on these pages, water-cooled Porsches are well represented in The Carrera Collection. Two 996s lead the charge — we were bowled over by the included silver GT3 (chassis WP0ZZZ99ZYS691147) and black GT2 (WP0ZZZ99Z1S695146) and had to keep reminding ourselves all cars being offered are available without reserve. There’s every chance winning bidders might score themselves a bargain. Or two.
We nearly forgot to mention the bluestriped 2004 996 GT3 RS (pictured top, chassis WP0ZZZ99Z4S697104) joining its GT3 and GT2 brethren in Switzerland. At the time of writing, the lone Boxster on offer is a white 2011 987 Spyder (chassis WP0ZZZ98ZBS740231) with black accents. Two more Porsches constructed in 2011 join the mid-engined marvel. The first is a rare 997 GT2 RS (chassis WP0ZZZ99ZBS776201), the other a 997 GT3 RS 3.8 (chassis WP0ZZZ99ZBS780433). Is it wrong of us to want them both?!
Five years of Porsche production is skipped, heralding the auction’s sublime 2016 991 R (chassis WP0ZZZ99ZGS194561), number 709 of 991 units built. Though an instant collector classic, this R-badged belter will struggle to draw eyes away from the auction’s available 2016 991 GT3 RS (chassis WP0ZZZ99ZGS188569), decorated as it is in a replica of the livery worn by Martini Racing 917-043 at the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans. Driven by Gerard Larrousse and Willi Kauhsen, the car became known as the ‘hippie’ 917 due to its bright green psychedelic stripes and violet-painted body. Every one of the Porsches featured in The Carrera Collection is a ‘bucket list’ car, but what makes this sale all the more impressive is the fact each of the vehicles on offer is from the same privately-held single-owner collection. And we’ve barely touched on the full scope of what’s available. Indeed, there are so many Porsches up for grabs, RM Sotheby’s will be hosting a second auction in Italy in order to accommodate more of the vendor’s fantastic fleet. We’ll be sure to bring you the details when we have them.
“We are delighted RM Sotheby’s has been entrusted to sell this astonishing single-owner collection,” reiterated the auction house’s classic car specialist, Felix Archer, when we were compiling this article. “The breadth of Porsche models on offer presents a huge opportunity for fans of the marque, while the entire sale contains a selection of truly desirable models.”
If you’re looking to secure ownership of an immaculately presented rare Porsche, be it classic, modern-classic or nearly new, then get head over to the RM Sotheby’s website (rmsothebys.com) and register your interest. Admission to the auction is for registered bidders, catalogue holders, consignors, invited guests and qualified media only. Good luck and happy bidding!
WHAT MAKES THIS SALE ALL THE MORE IMPRESSIVE IS THE FACT EACH OF THE VEHICLES ON OFFER IS FROM THE SAME SINGLE-OWNER COLLECTION