The Porsche 911 GT3 RS might be the ultimate road-going beast in the modern 911 lineup, but if you think it's the pinnacle of Porsche's lightweight engineering, think again. Enter the 911 SC/RS, a rally-bred machine so exclusive and stripped down, it makes the GT3 RS seem almost plush in comparison. With only 21 units ever built, even the most die-hard Porsche enthusiasts might not be familiar with this Group B rally special, which was specifically designed to dominate the rally stages of the early 1980s.
May 19, 2024 at 19:20
by Chris Chilton
- Porsche constructed only 21 SC/RS examples in 1984 to homologate the 911 for rallying.
- The car featured a wide-arch Turbo body integrated with a 252 hp naturally aspirated 3.0-liter engine for street and a more robust 276 hp version for racing.
- The road version achieved 60 mph in a blistering 4.9 seconds, rivaling the speed of a 911 Turbo.
The GT3 RS, heralded for its featherweight construction and ferocity, feels like a heavyweight boxer next to the alchemist-like creation that is the SC/RS. Conceived in the crucible of rally racing fervor, Porsche only dared to unleash 20 of these mythical beasts for public consumption – with one reserved as a showpiece in the company's own museum. These homologation specials fused the 911 Turbo's brawny exterior with a 3.0-liter flat-six engine, enhanced and ready to charge.
Porsche's mission was clear: shed every gram of unnecessary mass. That’s why the SC/RS, officially named Type 954 among aficionados, didn’t have a badge screaming 'RS' – because even those few grams were too much. The superfluous was scrapped, yielding a car that was as light and lean as its helicopter-tight tolerances would allow.
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To make the SC/RS possible, it was built around the outgoing 3.0-liter SC engine instead of the larger 3.2-liter from the Carrera, which would have been heavier. This precision in choice allowed Porsche to craft an automobile weighing a mere 960 kg (2,116 lbs), skimming past the minimum weight limit that racing regulations would have imposed with a larger engine.
The SC/RS's weight-saving ballet extended to fiberglass bumpers, aluminum panels, and glass thin enough to whisper through, creating an environment devoid of luxury. These precise measures made it a full 200 kg (440 lbs) lighter than a standard European SC and a whopping 350 kg (772 lbs) less than a Turbo.
Forged from high compression pistons, 935 cylinder heads, and a mechanical fuel injection system, the SC/RS's engine surged from the SC’s respectable 201 hp to a spirited 252 hp in street trim, with race versions brewing a robust 276 hp. When paired with its incredible lightness, these enhancements translated to raw power, enough to rival the turbocharged models of its era.
Sprints to 60 mph clocked under 5 seconds, with rapid accelerations to 100 mph in less than 12 seconds. From inception, color choice was a stern white, reflecting its no-nonsense, all-business demeanor.
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Examine any of these rare gems closely, such as chassis 021, which was fresh out of Porsche’s workshop in March 1984. Though not the most decorated rally veteran, finishing 14th in the Tour de Corse, it encoded Porsche's dedication to crafting rally-racing masterpieces. This longstanding jewel in Porsche's RS lineup is now awaiting a new chapter, over at Bring a Trailer, with bids already soaring past $450k and eight days still to end.
