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RS

RS 3.6

The RS was a driving machine with minimal concessions provided for comfort. 

Uprated suspension, seam welded chassis, lack of power steering, rechipped/higher output engine, larger rims, rolled wheel arches, turbo brakes up front, Cup brakes in the rear, revised gearbox and no rear seats all added up to an incredible driving machine. 

Further weight saving measures included the removal of a significant number of the electrical components such as the seat motors, electrically operated side view mirrors, lack of power windows, removal of superfluous door fittings such as side pockets, door handles etc, lack of gas struts to hold up bonnet and boot, no undercoating and a reduction in sound proofing material.

Perhaps not as drastic an automobile as the 993 version of the RS, the 964 3.6 RS was non the less an impressive driving machine. A constant willingness to rev itself to death, stiff as rock suspension and fantastic handling with strong brakes all added up to an adrenalin producing sled (if not a little tricky at the limit).

Most notable differences included a bulging rear tail, lowered suspension and 17" Cup rims.

Performance was 260bhp at 6100rpm and 325Nm at 4800rpm. A total of 2,051 cars were built.

RS 3.8

In 1993, a more extreme RS was introduced. The RS 3.8 was an extremely limited run (100 total?) vehicle produced on a Turbo Wide Body chassis with a non turbo charged engine of 3746cc. The car maintained phenomenal performance with 300bhp at 6500rpm and a maximum torque of 360Nm at 5250rpm.

Power was transmitted through the 18" Speedline rims wearing massive 235/40ZR tyres up front and 285/35ZR tyres in the rear. 

Performance figures quoted on the 3.8 were 0-100kph in 4.9 seconds, and a top speed of 274kph.

RS America

The US markets did not have the European RS (regulations did not permit the vehicle given the thinner side glass, lack of side intrusion bars etc that were all weight saving measures). To quench the thirst of the enthusiast, the RS America was manufactured. For all intents and purposes, the car was a stripped down Carrera 2 (no aircon, no rear seats etc), with a fixed rear wing and sports suspension pack. The engine etc was not uprated. 

Such models were actually cheaper than the standard Carrera 2's on offer at the time, although the driving experience was less diluted.

These should not be confused with the extremely rare Carrera Cup 964's brought into the US specially for the aborted Cup races- these cars carry significant premiums over almost any 964 due to their extreme rarity and rather strange history [CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON THE CUP CAR].

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Production RS in maritime blue and in racing livery