To celebrate the 20th anniversary of its landmark 911 Carrera RS 2.7, Porsche launched an updated version based on the 964 Carrera 2, called the Carrera RS. This new competition-oriented road car, a homologation of the 964 Carrera Cup race car, was not available in the United States, reportedly having been deemed too extreme for the market, with its track-focused suspension and absence of sound insulation, air conditioning, power windows and a stereo system—all shed in the name of weight savings. Overwhelming demand in the United States for a track-focused 911 prompted Porsche to create a version called the RS America that met U.S. standards and could be optioned with amenities such as air conditioning, a stereo, a sunroof, and a limited-slip differential. It retained the fuel-injected 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine—albeit slightly detuned—and close-ratio five-speed manual transmission of the Carrera RS. Like its counterpart, the RS America still featured a stripped-down interior for weight savings and a lowered sport suspension; but it had a large fixed-plane “whale tail” spoiler at the rear instead of a retractable wing. Porsche Cars North America CEO Fred Schwab described the RS America as the perfect car for autocrossers and track junkies.

In all, only 701 RS Americas are believed to have been constructed over a two-year period, beginning in 1992, for the 1993 and 1994 model years—with most of having been built as 1993 models. Only a few standard colors were available: red, black, and white. Two metallic finishes—blue and silver—could be selected at extra cost. In addition, customers could order a color of their choosing through Porsche’s exclusive “paint-to-sample” program, as was done with this example.

This RS America features an extremely rare color, having been custom ordered from the factory in paint-to-sample Ferrari Yellow, a $2,498 option at the time. The original owner elected not to option a sunroof or stereo, making it even more unique, but did option it from the factory with air conditioning and a limited-slip differential.

Now under only its second ownership, this RS America showed less than 18,500 miles on the odometer at time of cataloguing. It is accompanied by the purchase order, window sticker, and other documentation from the original sale, along with a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, and a Porsche Production Specifications certificate.