The Innovative 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring

At the start of the 1970s, Porsche faced a problem – its all-conquering 917K was being regulated out of competition, and in GT racing, the 911 was facing ever-sterner tests. The answer came in the distinctive shape of the Carrera RS 2.7 – a lighter, faster version of the 2.4S, with innovative aerodynamics to aid high-speed stability. Despite strong reservations from groups as diverse as Porsche’s own marketing department and the road safety lobby, the now-iconic ducktail spoiler was born.

The marketing team thought they’d struggle to sell the minimum 500 needed for motor sport homologation, but Porsche eventually sold more than 1500. Perhaps not that surprising, given that it was the fastest production car Germany made at the time, with a 0-60mph time a whisper under six seconds and a top speed of 150mph.

One of those select customers was Simon Kidston’s father, Commander Home Kidston. Already impressed with his first Porsche, a 2.0S, news of a higher-performance, limited-number version piqued his interest enough to place an order for a pale yellow one, similar to a 911 he’d seen in France.

However, the car arrived finished in bright egg-yolk Signal Yellow, which looked rather flashier than a retired naval man and farmer had intended. It also caused the young Simon some embarrassment being picked up from school.

However, the young Kidston soon warmed to it – a full-throttle ride-along through Bournemouth living long in his memory, particularly for the gaggle of open-mouthed teenagers left in the ducktail’s wake.

As the years passed, Simon persuaded his father not to sell the car. Driven on occasion, it sat mostly under a blanket in the garage. When the family began a new life growing olives near Siena, it followed them to Italy, despite being right-hand drive. Simon took over custody in 1990, and it’s the car he says he’d never sell. Not only was it used for his wedding, but it’s the car his son first drove at midnight on his 17th birthday. Apart from a fuse blowing on the sunroof back in the 1970s, the RS 2.7 has never broken down in 70,000 miles.

It was repainted 15 years ago – and in the process stripping it back they found that it had first been finished in pale yellow on the production line, and then repainted in its current hue before delivery!

I got to see it live and pictured it at Concours of Elegance 2023, which marked the Signal Yellow RS 2.7 Touring’s first appearance at a major concours event.

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