Back in the days before Porsche fully realized they could charge their prospective customers more for offering a pared down, track ready version of their cars, they cooked up a version of the 964 for the U.S. market to appease the lack of U.S. bound RS models. While the RS America lacked some of the cool racing bred details of the European market 964 Carrera RS, Porsche at least offered it to the market at the lowest price point of the market range. Since you had to option in most of the comfort features that buyers want in these cars, a fair amount of prospective buyers passed on the RS America went instead to its more portly and well appointed brethren. Still, as the lightest of the 911s out of the box, these became a favorite amongst Porsche Club racers and weekend auto crossers, who typically modified them to the nines. That’s why it’s so rare to find an unmolested example such as today’s Guards Red 1993 :
Year: 1993
Model: 911 RS America
Engine: 3.6 liter flat-6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 67,000 mi
Price: $79,000 Buy It Now
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1993 Porsche 911 RS America on eBay
Guards Red on Black, 5-speed, #438/701, AC, Sunroof, Limited Slip, complete service and maintenance history, 67k miles, collector condition. It is very rare to find one of these cars that is still completely stock/as delivered from manufacturer. The body and paint on this car is in near perfect condition, it has almost no flaws. All the paint is 100% original with exception of the front bumper cover and has never been damaged. All the factory RS America badges and decals are still on the car.
The interior is also pristine and 100% original and correct with the exception of the new Infinity Speakers. No bolster wear and no smoking. Mechanically it is 100% stock and original. The only modification is the installation of H&R Euro ROW ride height springs, which came stock on all of these cars delivered outside of the U.S. Everything in and on the car works perfectly as it should, even the A/C blows cold, which is uncommon on older Porsches. All original owners manuals, booklets, original keys, tool kit, and RS America supplements.
This is a very good collector Porsche. Just over 700 ever made, many of which were turned into track cars.
For a while in the late 90s, these cars could be had on the cheap. I new a man who went through a string of them, and they always were $25,000 – $35,000 cars. Like the E30 M3, those days appear to be long gone and the RS America – despite its bargain roots – now commands the strongest money this side of a Turbo in the 964 lineup. This holds especially true for pristine examples like this one. Perhaps the market has finally corrected Porsche’s original pricing error in a very German touch.
Finding a stock example such as this really is a treat. As the seller notes, most have been modified for track use and few seem to be in original specification, never mind pristine condition. Unmodified except for Euro-market springs, this is a re-optioned car with A/C and sunroof, both desirable options for the owner long-term, though they soften the hard-edged true nature of the RS. That leads me to my main complaint of the RS America – like most Porsches in the 1990s, it just never really felt special enough compared to what I knew was available across the pond. Though I admit Midnight Blue is my favorite on these cars, this Guards Red example looks so excellent it might be enough to change my mind. The spoiler, stance and wheels give the RS America the look that suits the car well, but I’m still left scratching my head, wondering if the RS America is really an $80,000 car today.
-Carter
I have a 55,xxx mile mint and unmolested RS America with an agreed value insurance policy. I had no problem insuring it for $70,000. The insurance company checked the current market values for these cars, and underwrote the policy.
I know Canepa sold one of them for $79,000 and Sloan Cars also sold one of them for $79,000.
Don’t get me wrong, I like the RSAs but am perplexed by the huge premium they command over regular C2s. It is basically a Carrera 2 with cloth sport seats, M030 suspension, rear spoiler and no power steering. They were a great deal when new because they were significantly cheaper than the C2 and could be ordered without sunroof or a/c. Regular C2s had these items as standard. Note that they are not lighter than the C2 unless the sunroof and AC are deleted, nor do they have the suspension of the real Carrera RS. Give me a “regular” C2 with sport seats, sport suspension and locking diff for $25k. Remove the power steering and a/c if you really want to.
It is refreshing to see one that hasn’t become a track rat. However I’m with Pete on this one. I like the RSAs a lot; but for my use and money I’d buy a Carrera 2 for less than a third of the price.
Pete and Kevin, you nailed my point on the head, no disrespect to audemars or your car – it’s a great platform and fantastic looker, I just really don’t get the premium over a C2.
Carter – It all comes down to rarity. The less there is of anything good, the more it’s worth. Porsche made 701 RS Americas vs. thousands of the C2’s, and they made 936 Speedsters vs. thousands of the Cabriolets. The low production number, and people willing to spend the money, increases the value over time.
Did you know that, when new, the 356 Speedster was cheaper than 356 Cabriolet? Now its worth a lot more, because of the low production number, and people willing to spend the money.
Audemars, again with due respect to your vehicle, it doesn’t come down to rarity. There are plenty of examples of rare cars that don’t command a similar massive premium. The E28 M5 is significantly more rare than the E30 M3, as is the E24 M6 and even the E34 M5. Yet, none of those cars – while offering much more performance, command the ridiculous premium the E30 M3 is. Audi made about 700 “Special Build” 1987.5 Coupe GTs – numbers along the same lines as the RS America, and while they do command the strongest money of Audi GTs, they aren’t worth three times a regular one. Even among Porsches, there are plenty of examples. 924 Turbo? 928 GTS? 912? 944 Turbo S? All rare cars to find in good condition, but don’t carry massive premiums over the other models. No, sometimes it seems that people in the market get convinced that a certain car is worth a certain amount, and they drive the prices up. Why are early 911 Ss worth hundreds of thousands of dollars all of the sudden? They’re not more rare than they were 5 years ago. If anything, more of them have popped up in good condition out of the blue. Yet they command strong prices in any condition. You hint at it one of your lines – “people willing to spend money” – but to my point, I’m not sure that people willing to spend money equates to a certain car being worth an amount, even if it commands that price. The E30 M3 is a perfect example of that.
You are correct in your comments, Carter. I should have added that certain model designations make the ‘people willing to spend the money’, wanting to pay the premium.
In the case of Porsche, “RS” and “Speedster”, along with the supporting RS and Speedster VIN numbers, creates a higher demand because of the following they have. This is also the reason why every RS and Speedster in history has gone up in value, as time goes on.
By the way, I have a friend that liquidated 2 of his Mutual Funds a couple of years ago. With one of them he bought a 911 RS America and with the other one, he bought a 911 American Roadster. The return on the RSA was the highest, followed by the American Roadster. The 2 Mutual Funds lagged in performance.
This 67,000 mile 964 RS America sold for $60,000. Prices continue to rise.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261275339671
Audemars, thanks for posting the update. Still, although prices continue to rise, $60,000 is $19,000 less than the original asking price, and part of my point – I just couldn’t see how it was a $80,000 car. Thanks for tracking it though, we always appreciate the updates!
Anytime!
It will be interesting to see where all these will end up, price wise. I had to think about it for a week when I purchased my RSA with 25,000 miles from http://www.willhoitenterprises.com for $42,000 eight years ago (big money back then). I drove it a couple times a week until I reached 50,000 miles, and have had it stored once the prices started increasing so much.
I drive it every so often on weekends, since the agreed value insurance has a mileage limit.
But, even if there wasn’t a mileage limit, I enjoy the 500E so much more. The car is a beast. The way the prices are going on those, I might have to insure it for a value and store it also.
Here is another RS America for sale with more miles, for $69,900:
http://www.exoticclassics.com/1994-porsche-911-rs-america-rs-america-c-174.htm?
FYI – The RS America with close to 70,000 miles just sold for $69,900.
http://www.exoticclassics.com/1994-porsche-911-rs-america-rs-america-c-174.htm?
Audemars – thanks for the links – was going to write it up but when we went back I saw that it sold. Neat looking car!