The words ""homologation special"" will surely stir the emotions of

　　any car enthusiast. The term signifies an obligation for automotive

　　manufacturers to build a minimum number of road-legal cars to meet

　　the entry criteria for certain racing classes. As an end result,

　　every-day car buyers have the opportunity to claim a piece of

　　motorsport history with their own racer for the road-albeit often

　　slightly pared-back to meet road safety requirements. As long-term

　　participant in many forms of motorsport, the Porsche badge adorns

　　several memorable ""specials"". The road-going 959 was born out of

　　the manufacturer's wish to compete in Group B rally racing, while

　　the 911 GT1 ""Strabenversion"" was a road-going foil to the

　　endurance racing legend 911 GT1 Evo. But before all these came the

　　first and most coveted of Porsche homologation specials-the 911

　　Carrera RS 2.7-which was initially made to satisfy the 500 required

　　for Porsche's entry into Group 3 racing. It was also the first

　　specific homologation model that Porsche actively marketed.

　　Brand-new for the 1973 model year, the RS 2.7, in Sport

　　(Lightweight) or Touring spec, was based heavily on the earlier

　　1972 911 S. Key differences came through significant weight-saving,

　　and the fitment of a larger bore 2.7-litre version of the

　　late-specification 2.4-litre 911 S engine. The revised engine was

　　rated at 210 horsepower, packing almost 20 per cent more torque

　　than its predecessor. Thinner-gauge steel panels, a glassfibre

　　engine cover and bumpers, and minimal creature comforts kept the RS

　　Sport to just 960 kilograms. The recognizable flared rear wheel

　　arches and ""ducktail"" spoiler give the model signature features

　　that separate it from its road-going forebears. Porsche set out

　　with the intention of building just 500 examples of the model, but

　　the customer order book was complete before the end of 1972. A

　　second series of 500 were laid down, these being sold by the spring

　　of 1973, so a third series was offered. Ultimately, a total of

　　1,580 cars were built of all variations, including 1,308 of the

　　""M472"" Touring version.

　　This example, chassis ""0388"", an early-January 1973 build, is one

　　of those important first series cars. It was sold new in Paris as a

　　basic ""no extras"" Touring model. Thought to be one of only four

　　cars sold into France in Sepia Brown, accounts of its history

　　suggest it led a very busy life as a daily driver in its early

　　years. In early 1986, the car was acquired by Philippe Aunay,

　　President of Porsche Club France from 1980 until 2004. Mr Aunay was

　　a high-profile personality around the French Porsche circuit,

　　establishing the Rouen Porsche Centre and IMSA race team in the

　　1990s, all-the-while amassing an impressive collection of

　　homologation-spec 911s. He claimed that the Porsche had covered

　　223,000 kilometres when he acquired the car, as told in a 1992

　　article in Flat 6 magazine that celebrated 20 years of the RS. As

　　an enthusiast of early-RS models, Mr Aunay entrusted the car to

　　legendary Porsche preparer, Louis Meznarie, and commissioned a

　　total overhaul. This included a comprehensive colour change to Gulf

　　Orange-none had been sold into France in that colour-plus a general

　　simplification back to the more basic Sport specification, while

　　retaining the special Recaro sport seat option. The mechanical

　　rebuild included a factory-exchange transmission, and a total

　　engine rebuild onto a new-and still unnumbered-magnesium

　　crankcase.