1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Lightweight

British rally driver and 1972 Motoring News Rally Championship winner; this was his second Carrera RS Lightweight acquired from the UK Porsche importer, registered in August 1973.

Irish rally driver who financed the purchase with borrowed funds and re-registered the car as AUI 1500; achieved numerous outright wins across major tarmac events before retiring from competition after the 1975 season.

Several successive owners based in Britain continued campaigning the car extensively in rallies over approximately four years until homologation eligibility lapsed.

Purchased the car after homologation expired and entered it in local South African rallies before selling to Van Heerden.

South African owner who upgraded the car to Group 4 RSR specification with a 3.4-litre twin-plug engine for historic racing; ownership effectively ended following a rollover accident at Kyalami in 1987.

Kept the car in unrepaired post-accident condition for approximately two decades before deciding to sell in 2010.

Well-regarded RS authority based in Great Britain who undertook a thorough four-year restoration completed in April 2014, returning the car to original factory specification with authentication from Porsche AG.

Final round of the 1973 World Championship; one of three international rallies the car contested that year under Morley.

Gruelling five-day, roughly 1,200-mile event; Curley beat several competing RS models to take the win.

Curley's third consecutive Donegal win; defeated a newer alloy-bodied 3.0 RS among others, and photographer Esler Crawford captured an iconic airborne image of the car.

Third major tarmac rally outright victory of the season; Curley beat leading rivals including Roger Clark.

Curley's final competitive outing in the car; he led the rally before mechanical or other issues forced retirement.

One of approximately 14 international-level events entered during the car's subsequent British ownership period from 1975 to 1979.

Van Heerden was leading from pole position when a crash rolled the car; driver was uninjured but the car was left too damaged for immediate repair.

Celebratory display on the rally's finish ramp the day after restoration completion, marking four decades since the 1974 victory.

Historic recreation involving 172 rally cars across six stages; original driver Curley and co-driver Austin Frazer participated, and the event also included a reunion with former Donegal co-driver Terry Harryman.

South African historic racing series; car was running in Group 4 RSR configuration during this period.

Car was upgraded to Group 4 RSR specification, including installation of a 3.4-litre twin-plug works-type engine.

Carried out during Albert Van Heerden's ownership in South Africa.

Comprehensive four-year restoration to original factory specification, using period-correct new-old-stock and donor-sourced components wherever possible. Work included careful repair of the original shell retaining factory welds, replacement of the roof and wiring loom with period-correct sourced items, installation of the last two available original right-hand-drive floor panels obtained from Porsche's parts department, and a rebuild of a correct 911/83 crankcase engine re-stamped with a proper replacement suffix. Porsche AG fully inspected the car and issued a new factory chassis plate upon completion.

Commissioned by the consignor; work spanned approximately four years and was completed in April 2014. Believed to be the most thorough private restoration ever undertaken on a 2.7 RS.