A question about the RGO 2L article in Classic Porsche mag

[IanM]

I've just been reading the interesting story about the '73RS Lightweight (RGO 2L) in the latest Classic Porsche mag.

As it says, the car was reshelled in 1978 at the factory (a '78 galvanised body)

However, what puzzles me is that according to the article the car has short rear trailing arms since it was rebuilt.

How can this be? I do know for a fact that the 911SC did not have short trailing arms. Only RSR and 930 Turbo had short trailing arms. They are not interchangeable as the suspension pick-up points are in different locations. To do such a modification is a major job as it requires a jig. I don't think the factory would have done that back in '78 as the values of those cars were so much lower at the time.

So, does this mean the shell is a 930 Turbo? If so, the front suspension pick-up points would also be lower. (Ask me how I know as I have a NOS 930 floorpan RHD in green primer)

[210bhp]

My late production 73 RS has short trailing arms. All May 9th 1973 to end of production modification.

Regards
Mike

[IanM]

Yes, but the new galvanised shell was from '78, not '73. (likely an impact bumper backdated)

Anyway, I've just remembered that '76 was the final year the Euro-spec 2.7RS (911/83) were being built albeit in very small numbers. Did that model have short trailing arms?
1978 was just two years after that so maybe the factory still had some RS body-in-white available then?

[210bhp]

My reading of it is that although the re-shelling took place in 1978 it’s not necessarily a 78 shell.
Replacement 2.7 MFI non-stamped engines were available in the years after production ceased on an exchange basis so why not shells?

The only way to truly know is to drop the knee bar on RGO 2L and get a peek at that secret number.

Regards
Mike

[IanM]

The only way to truly know is to drop the knee bar on RGO 2L and get a peek at that secret number.

[majordad]

According to the same article Johny Tippler the journalist who wrote the article found the dog leg first preoccupied him for the first few minutes ! Don’t believe everything you read about cars.

[jwhillracer]

According to the same article Johny Tippler the journalist who wrote the article found the dog leg first preoccupied him for the first few minutes ! Don’t believe everything you read about cars.

In the 1980's Porsche racing, rumour had it that some 2.7's were running 901 or 911 gearboxes, as they were lighter than the 915, and once off the start, dog-leg first wasn't needed, and 4/5th change was much easier and quicker than the dog-leg on the 915 ……………...

JW

[Slope330]

I knew this car before and after it’s adventure with the expansion joint on the West Way,may be old age ,never drove it after reshell but must admit I never saw a dog leg box
Did have the noisiest lsd ever!

[911hillclimber]

Interesting to me for another reason as you know Jonathan.
We're those early boxes strong enough or were they very special?

[KS]

I knew this car before and after it’s adventure with the expansion joint on the West Way,may be old age ,never drove it after reshell but must admit I never saw a dog leg box

Funnily enough, nor did Tipler...

[sladey]

So it’s a backdate then?

[KS]

The car or Tipler?

[Mick Cliff]

https://specialistcarsltd.co.uk/autos/p ... eight-rhd/

[Yellow491]

I would say tipler back dated
I would have thought the factory had a few early shells still left back then,would be easy to see which era shell.
You dont have to use a jig to extend the short arm brackets.

[911MRP]

The only way to truly know is to drop the knee bar on RGO 2L and get a peek at that secret number.

Agree too. Would be interesting to see the production number on RGO2L.

Somewhere I have an old personal email from Nick Faure who recalls driving this car after the reshell and he said the car was never the same --he specifically remarked it was not so good to drive after those suspension changes. While the shorter modified pickup point were done on the late RS to optimise the full house M491 racers with big wheels / slick the changes were detrimental to handling for road use or those RS on less extreme racing configuration. Over a long liquid lunch at RAC I independantly got the same view from a previous owner of my early car who is vastly experienced racer having won class at le mans as wel as a European championship. Guys like him and Nick who really know generally not complementary of the modified suspension on the late RS. I bow to their superior knowledge and skills when discussing nuances of the RS suspension evolution like this and how it affects the handling. Not all upgrades for the benefit full racing siblings make the car's better for general use the longer arms better for how most of is owners configure and use our cars apparently. Stability and wheel lifting affected iirc.

Also in Starkey Nick is quoted on RGO2L as " that car later went back to the factory for a new shell and all the latest gadgetry was put on it including shorter pickup points for the rear suspension to control the rear wheel travel - a shame actually as half the fun of those days was lifting a wheel.."