For over 50 years, the Porsche 911 has enjoyed an enviable record as one of the finest sports cars on the planet. It is the benchmark to which all other sports cars compare themselves and are compared to. It remains, to this day, the most revered model in Porsche’s vaunted history.

While all 911s are truly brilliant cars, the best of them are born and bred in the crucible of motorsport. And the Type 993 Carrera RS is one of those very best. As it was based on the Carrera Cup competition car, it was specifically conceived as a homologation special to qualify the RSR 3.8 for BPR GT3 and GT4 racing. As such, the Carrera RS was only offered to the European market, and it never made its way stateside when new.

At its heart is the 3.8-liter flat-six engine, which boasted numerous improvements over the earlier 3.6-liter engine, allowing the 3.8 (Type M64/20) to produce 300 brake horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 262 foot-pounds of torque at 5,400 rpm. It was fitted with Porsche’s innovated Variocam variable-length intake system and also featured newly designed forged pistons of a reduced height and a relocated wrist-pin, helping to keep piston weight below the standard 3.8-liter engine. The new engine also sported dual oil coolers and lightened rocker arms, amongst a host of additional upgrades that heightened the car’s performance.

Furthermore, the engineers at Stuttgart went to fanatical lengths to make the Carrera RS as light as possible. Its weight was brought down to a svelte 1,280 kilograms, as Porsche deleted virtually everything that was unnecessary, including central locking, radio speakers, power-adjustable seats, electric windows and mirrors, sound insulation, air bags, the rear defroster, and even the headliner! And Porsche didn’t stop there. The Carrera RS features thinner window glass, an aluminum front boot lid and doors, Recaro seats, and lightweight interior door panels with traditional fabric pulls.

Mechanically, the suspension was upgraded with a front strut brace, ball-joint front damper mounts, and adjustable anti-roll bars, with five positions for the 24-millimeter front bar and three positions for the 21-millimeter rear piece. The Carrera RS also received a limited-slip differential, the same anti-lock braking system as the 993 Turbo, and ABS traction control.

This Carrera RS was finished new in Porsche’s iconic Guards Red over a black leather interior, the same combination it sports today, and was delivered new to Germany. It is clear that its original owner wanted to enjoy his new Porsche on the street, as it was equipped from new with optional electric windows, air conditioning, and front airbags. Although its earliest history is not known, the car was imported to the United States and federalized by G&K Automotive Services in Santa Ana, California, in 2003, and it has remained in the U.S. since. It was subsequently acquired for The Pinnacle Portfolio for its rarity and pure Porsche character.

Cosmetically, the car is in spectacular condition and has clearly been well cared for its entire life. With a recent repaint in its original and eye-catching shade of Guards Red, coupled with the Club Sport rear spoiler and front splitter, it presents beautifully and exhibits few flaws throughout. Having been driven 42,000 miles, the interior presents just as well, as it has been equally well maintained. Sliding into the driver’s seat, the focused nature of the car is instantly apparent from its lack of creature comforts and the addition of a roll cage. Most recently, the RS was smog tested in the state of California in June 2015, and it passed with flying colors, leaving it ready for road use in all 50 states. In a recent test drive, an RM Sotheby’s specialist remarked that it was “the most exciting 993 I’ve ever driven,” further commenting that it felt considerably faster than a 911 Turbo of the same era, no doubt due to its lighter weight and raw, race-inspired demeanor.

While 911s have been quickly gaining momentum in the market, the 993 remains the most promising model for future appreciation as a collectible. As the final iteration of the air-cooled 911, this generation is lauded for its overall driving dynamics and character, with distinct linage in design to the earliest 911s.

The Carrera RS is not only the most exciting to drive but also perhaps the most collectible, as it is the rarest and most focused iteration of the platform, with just over 1,000 examples built, of which none were originally imported to the U.S. Today, very few 993 Carrera RS have made their way to the United States and most of those are kept out of sight in private collections. As such, the opportunity to purchase a formally imported and fully road-registered Carrera RS in the United States is very rare indeed, and it warrants serious consideration from any Porsche enthusiast.

As prices are certain to rise and prime examples become increasingly difficult to source, this Carrera RS would be an astute acquisition for any Porschephile, and it is perhaps the purest way to sample the marque’s last air-cooled 911. With a definitive link to the iconic Carrera RS 2.7 of 1973, the 993 Carrera RS is indeed the final air-cooled RS model and the final link in a series of brilliant 911s. Its heritage is instantly discernable the moment one steps behind the wheel, and much like the Carrera RS 2.7, it will not disappoint on either road or track.

Simply put, the Carrera RS has everything you want and nothing you don’t.