1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Lightweight
2.7 RS Lightweight (M471)
Engine: 2,687 cc, air-cooled horizontally flat six
Production dates: November 1972 – July 1973
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Power: 210.0 bhp @ 6,300 rpm
Torque: 188.0 ft lbs @ 5,100 rpm
Weight: 900 kg (1,984 lbs)
0-60 mph: 5.6 sec (est)
Top Speed: 150 mph (est)
Of all the 1580 Carrera RS 2.7s, only 200 were made were ordered with this lightweight ‘Sports’ trim which made the car more responsive and purposeful. In many ways these few cars were the ultimate road-going Porsche of the 1970s. Known as the Sports, Lightweight or even the M471 option code, these cars had improved the power-to-weight ratio. Reports of 75kg were stripped from the standard model by fitting lightweight body panels and lightweight glass. As a result, the Lightweight was a nimble 900kg car compared to its Touring counterpart at 975 kg.
The RS ‘Sport’ or ‘Lightweight’ (conversion M471) took an RSH and added bigger wheels, carpet in the luggage compartment and a better passenger seat. What all Lightweights lack, compared to Touring RSs, are items like front bumper trim and decorative chrome strips that run the length of the sill beneath the Carrera script. For the first series of Lightweights, the Porsche crest was a weight-saving sticker instead of a metal badge. On the rear decklid, simple rubber hooks took the place of a metal catch and cable.
The carpet is thin felt overlaid with rubber mats, the glass is thinner too, and you hear every granule of grit flicking into the arches or tinkling along the floor plan. There’s no radio. One sun visor. No armrests. Minimal sound deadening. A blank circle of plastic sits in place of a clock. To open the door, tug on a thin length of leather; to close it, pull on a simple plastic handle. The low-back Recaro bucket seats are thinly padded lightweight items too. Gone too are the rear seats and glovebox panel. Under the hood, a plastic 85 liter gas tank was fitted and only one battery was used.
Both the Touring and Lightweight shared some of the same hallmarks such as the ducktail rear spoiler, larger flares for the Fuchs alloy wheels and the larger 2.7 liter engine capable of 210 bhp. The lightweight is easy identified by its fiberglass rear bumper guards. Other than that it is almost outwardly identical to the Touring models.
When you drive a 2.7 RS Lightweight, it’s obvious that the car was built to be a race car. It responds to steering inputs immediately and seems to anticipate what you want it to do. However, it is difficult to drive on the street because its responsiveness and lack of sound-deadening tempt you to drive well above the posted speed limit and the constant sound of rocks hitting the underside of the chassis scares owners of these very expensive machines.
Related: The Ultimate 2.7 RS Guide, Carrera RS 2.7 Touring, Carrera RSR 2.8
Videos
Pictures
We have included a number of cool pictures of the Lightweight 2.7 RS, but don’t forget to check out the full picture gallery for dozens more photos of this gorgeous car. See full picture gallery.
Specs & Performance
| submitted by | Richard Owen |
| type | Series Production Car |
| built at | Stuttgart, Germany |
| production | 200 |
| engine | Air-Cooled Flat 6 w/Dry Sump Lubrication |
| position | Rear, Longitudinal |
| aspiration | Natural |
| valvetrain | SOHC |
| fuel feed | Bosch Mechanical Fuel Injection. |
| displacement | 2687 cc / 164.0 in³ |
| bore | 90 mm / 3.54 in |
| stroke | 70.4 mm / 2.77 in |
| compression | 8.5:1 |
| power | 156.6 kw / 210.0 bhp @ 6300 rpm |
| specific output | 78.15 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 233.33 bhp per tonne |
| torque | 254.89 nm / 188 ft lbs @ 5100 rpm |
| body / frame | Unit Steel, Fiberglass Decklid |
| front tires | 185/70VR-15 |
| rear tires | 215/70VR-15 |
| front brakes | Radially Vented & Axially Drilled Discs |
| rear brakes | Radially Vented & Axially Drilled Discs |
| front wheels | F 38.1 x 15.2 cm / 15.0 x 6 in |
| rear wheels | R 38.1 x 17.8 cm / 15.0 x 7 in |
| steering | Rack & Pinion |
| f suspension | Transverse Control Arms w/Torsion Bars, Anti-Roll Bar, Bilstein Shock Absorbers |
| r suspension | Trailing Arms w/Torsion Bars, Anti-Roll Bar, Bilstein Shock Absorbers |
| curb weight | 900 kg / 1985 lbs |
| wheelbase | 2271 mm / 89.4 in |
| front track | 1443 mm / 56.8 in |
| rear track | 1473 mm / 58.0 in |
| length | 4147 mm / 163.3 in |
| width | 1778 mm / 70.0 in |
| height | 1321 mm / 52.0 in |
| transmission | 5-Speed Manual |
| gear ratios | 3.18:1, 1.83:1, 1.26:1, 0.925:1, 0.724:1 |
| final drive | 4.43:1 |
| fuel capacity | 85 litres or 22.44 gal. |
Auction Sales History
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Lightweight 9113600354 – did not sell for $900,000 First Series M471 Lightweight. One Of Only 240 Lightweight Models Built. Original Swiss Delivery. Excellent Provenance Period Racing History. Restored By Nate Cantwell And Douglas Brown. A Well-known And Well-respected RS Lightweight. Auction Source: ‘Rolling Sculpture’ 2015 NYC by Keno Brothers
Viper Green 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS Lightweight 9113601034 – sold for $935,000 An Outstanding Example of Porsche’s Iconic 2.7 RS. One of Only 200 M 471 Lightweights Built. Originally Finished in Striking Viper Green Livery. Fascinating Italian Provenance Documented by ACI Records. Beautifully Restored and Equipped with Proper 911/83 Engine. Auction Source: The Pebble Beach Auctions 2015 by Gooding and Company
Grand Prix White 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS Lightweight 9113601193 – sold for $962,500 Fully Documented Restoration by the Porsche Factory in 1995. Continuous Maintenance Records Since Restoration. Retains Matching-Numbers Engine. One of 200 Carrera RS M471 Lightweights. Classic Grand Prix White with Red Livery. Auction Source: The Pebble Beach Auctions 2015 by Gooding and Company
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Sport Lightweight 9113600649 – sold for €1,008,000 One of just 200 M471 lightweight “Sport” versions. A matching-numbers example; four documented owners from new. Freshly and thoroughly restored by Porsche specialists, with no expense spared. The “must-have” for any serious Porsche collector. Auction Source: Villa Erba 2015 by RM Sotheby’s
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS Lightweight 9113600883 – sold for $1,402,500 Arguably the Most Recognizable Classic 911. Desirable German Delivery, Second-Series M471 Lightweight. One of Only 240 Such Examples Produced. Original Grand Prix White with Blue Livery. Highly Original Example. Matching-Numbers Engine and Transmission. A Remarkably Pure and Sorted Carrera 2.7 RS. Eligible for Exclusive International Concours and Driving Events. Auction Source: The Amelia Island Auction by Gooding & Company
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Lightweight 9113601210 – sold for $470,000 1 of 200 original M471 Carrera RS Lightweights. Correct matching Lightweight chassis and VIN per factory build records. Correct 2.7 liter Series 1 Carrera RS engine. Fully documented ownership from new with German Fahrzeugbrief. Restored by Winkler and Ehlert, Germany. Pace car for the 20 year Anniversary of the RS Parade, Hockenheimring, Germany. Auction Source: 2012 Daytime Auction by Mecum
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Lightweight 9113601079. Having covered less than 54,000 kilometers, this RS is in great cosmetic condition overall, with a great presentation that pleasantly balances the freshness of a recently restored car with the honesty of an un-restored one.
The car completed service in June 2009, by the highly regarded David Loop European, to include the replacement of shift bushings, hood supports, lubrication of throttle linkage, replacement for the engine compartment insulation, new front and rear brake pads, brake fluid flush, oil and filter change, and clutch cable boot. The distributor cap and ignition rotor were also replaced. In August of 2009, Porsche expert Ben Kirchner comprehensively inspected the car. His overall impression was extremely positive, and he marveled particularly at what a superb driving example this is, as well as at its excellent mechanical health. Auction Source: Monterey 2012 by RM Auctions
