One of Two Ever Built: The 1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.8 'Strassenversion'
One of the rarest Porsches ever assembled – a 1993 911 Carrera RSR 3.8 ‘Strassenversion’ showing just 10 kilometres from new – is set to cross the block at the RM Sotheby’s Woodcote Park Auction on July 8, 2026, estimated at £1,850,000-£2,200,000 (approximately $2,500,000-$3,000,000 USD). This is the same car that stunned the collector car world when it sold at Bonhams’ Abu Dhabi auction in November 2023 for $2,127,500, still coated in its original factory Cosmoline preservative.
What Is the 911 Carrera RSR 3.8?
To appreciate this car, you need to understand the RSR 3.8’s place in Porsche history. When the FIA disbanded the World Sportscar Championship in 1992, Porsche faced a crisis: its flagship Works racing program was finished and there was no customer racing series to replace it. The answer was the 964-generation 911 Carrera RSR 3.8 – a purpose-built GT racer that would reignite Porsche’s motorsport legacy for a generation.
Powered by a naturally aspirated 3.8L air-cooled flat-six producing an ostensible 325 bhp – but widely reported closer to 375-380 bhp in real-world testing – the RSR 3.8 was devastatingly fast. With a 0-60 mph time of approximately 3.7 seconds and a top speed exceeding 180 mph, it dominated international GT racing almost immediately. It scored outright wins at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the 1000 Kilometres of Suzuka, and the 24 Hours of Interlagos, while claiming GT class victories at Le Mans, Daytona, and Sebring.
Porsche built just 51 RSR 3.8 examples in total – and only two of those were configured for road use.
The Rarest of All: The 'Strassenversion'
The German word Strassenversion simply means “street version” – but there is nothing simple about these two cars. While RSR production wrapped up in the summer of 1994, a single VIP client visited Porsche’s Exclusive Manufaktur department and placed a landmark order: four Turbo S Lightweights and two road-legal Carrera RSR 3.8 ‘Strassenversion’ coupes. At a time when Porsche was facing serious financial difficulties, this extraordinary commission was not turned away.
To tie all six cars together, the client specified two signature details across the entire fleet: gold brake calipers and Speedline RS wheels with centers finished in Amethyst Metallic. Both RSR Strassenversions also received the uprated twin-ignition “Le Mans”-specification race engine, a 120L fuel cell, a complete air jack system, and a 40% locking rear differential – full race hardware, wrapped in a bespoke road-going package that had never been done before and has never been repeated since.
The car offered at RM Sotheby’s Woodcote, chassis 496107, wears Polar Silver Metallic over a breathtaking full Guards Red leather interior. Porsche’s craftsmen didn’t just trim the seats – they hand-stitched the entire Matter roll cage, the steering column, the center console, door cards, and even the built-in air jack lines in matching red leather. The result is the most extraordinary interior ever fitted to a 964-generation 911.
Delivered in 1996 - and Barely Touched Since
The bespoke nature of the build meant chassis 496107 wasn’t delivered until March 25, 1996 – a full two years after RSR production had officially ended. It was then stored directly after delivery by its first owner, with the factory-applied Cosmoline protective coating left entirely intact.
The car was rediscovered in early 2015, still wearing its original tires and showing just 10 kilometres on the odometer – delivery use only. It passed to a second owner in May 2017 and was purchased by the current vendor in November 2023. Neither subsequent owner has disturbed its extraordinary time-capsule condition. The dust and grime accumulated during decades in storage remain on the bodywork – a deliberate choice, as cleaning it would erase a defining part of the car’s provenance.
The sister car, chassis 496109, finished in Grand Prix White, has been seen at various concours events and shows slightly higher mileage – making chassis 496107 the more original of the two.
The Bonhams Abu Dhabi Sale: November 2023
This car first came to public attention in a spectacular way when Bonhams offered it at their On the Grid – The Abu Dhabi Auction on November 25, 2023, held at the Yas Marina Circuit. Pre-sale estimates ranged from $2,000,000 to $2,500,000, and analysts predicted it would set a new record as the most expensive 964-generation 911 ever sold at public auction.
The hammer fell at $2,127,500 – a strong result that confirmed the car’s status as an elite-tier Porsche collectible. The sale generated worldwide media coverage and cemented the Strassenversion’s reputation as one of the most significant air-cooled 911s in existence.
RM Sotheby's Woodcote Park 2026: A Rising Estimate
Now, less than three years later, the same car returns to auction with a higher ask. RM Sotheby’s has catalogued chassis 496107 as Lot 148 at their Woodcote Park Auction on July 8, 2026, estimating the car at £1,850,000-£2,200,000 GBP – approximately $2,500,000-$3,000,000 USD at current exchange rates.
That represents a meaningful step up from its 2023 Bonhams result, reflecting both the sustained strength of the ultra-rare air-cooled Porsche market and the car’s unique status as a virtually undisturbed, single-owner time capsule. RM Sotheby’s Woodcote Park has established itself as one of the premier venues in the UK for blue-chip collector cars, making it a fitting stage for one of the rarest 911s ever produced.
Why This Car Matters to Collectors
The 911 Carrera RSR 3.8 Strassenversion sits at the absolute apex of the 964 Porsche collecting world for several reasons:
- Absolute rarity: Only two Strassenversions were ever built – making it rarer than a Porsche 959, Carrera GT, or 918 Spyder by production numbers alone.
- Full race specification on a road-legal chassis: The twin-ignition Le Mans engine, 120L fuel cell, air jacks, and gold-caliper brakes are factory-fitted, not aftermarket additions.
- Unmatched originality: Matching-numbers engine and Getrag G50 gearbox, original tires, original Cosmoline coating, and just 10 kilometres recorded since new.
- Blue-chip Porsche Exclusive provenance: Part of the most important single Porsche Exclusive commission of the 1990s, documented in the definitive reference book Porsche 964 Carrera RS 3.8 by Jürgen Barth, Norbert Franz, and Robert Weber.
For collectors pursuing the finest air-cooled Porsches, there is arguably no more compelling single car in the market today.
What to Expect on July 8
With its 2023 Bonhams result of $2,127,500 as a benchmark, the RM Sotheby’s Woodcote Park estimate signals confident upward momentum. Whether the hammer falls at estimate or beyond, chassis 496107 is sure to be the headline lot of the sale and one of the most-watched auction results of 2026.
For collectors, investors, and Porsche enthusiasts tracking the air-cooled market, this is a car that transcends categories. It is equal parts racing history, automotive art, and investment-grade collectible – with a story as unique as the machine itself.
The RM Sotheby’s Woodcote Park Auction takes place on July 8, 2026, in Epsom, UK.