The 964-generation Porsche 911 ranks as one of the most desirable iterations of the landmark sportscar, representing the penultimate version of the air-cooled flat-six engine. Of 911s from this era, the Carrera RS is without doubt among the most sought-after, with an engaging no-holds-barred driving experience that harks back to the great models that have worn the RS nameplate.

While more powerful 911s were available, none matched the thrill and driver involvement of the Carrera RS, which was essentially a roadgoing version of the Stuttgart firm’s Carrera Cup racer. Stripped of all unnecessary weight, the RS featured an aluminium bonnet, magnesium alloy wheels, a smaller battery, thinner-gauge glass, and a lighter, pared-back wiring loom. Inside, sound insulation was removed, while carpeting was reduced and door cards simplified; even the stereo became an optional extra.

Though it shared its 3.6-litre flat-six engine with the base Carrera, it was more potent in this guise, driving the rear wheels via a racing clutch, single-mass flywheel, a five-speed manual gearbox, and a ZF asymmetric limited-slip differential. The resulting machine was an order of magnitude more exhilarating than its Carrera stablemate.

The lion’s share of Carrera RS production comprised “Basic” or “Lightweight” versions, of which the car offered here is one. Chassis 490323 was built on 16 October 1991 and was destined for the Japanese market (though it retained its left-hand-drive configuration). Finished in Grand Prix White, it was first registered on 7 May 1992 prior to being delivered to its first owner via Porsche importer, Mizwa, three days later. Documents on file suggest that the car remained in Japan for more than two decades. An accompanying invoice from Porsche Centre Yokohama, dated 24 October 2005, details ¥624,194 of work that included replacement of the brake pads and sensor, fuel pump, gearbox mounts, and a full fluids service. Another invoice from the same specialist outlines a further ¥1,578,846-worth of work carried out in September 2015, which included replacement of the front suspension struts and shock absorbers. In March 2016, the Carrera RS joined The Carrera Collection. At the time of cataloguing, the odometer read just 27,135 kilometres.

With the perfect blend of modern styling and old-school air-cooled character, the 964-generation 911 is understandably an object of increasing collector interest. Few variants are as sought after as the Carrera RS, of which the car offered here is a fine, nicely specified, and well-presented example complete with its matching-numbers engine.