RE: RPM Porsche 997 CSR Retro

RE: RPM Porsche 997 CSR Retro

Friday 2nd October 2015

RPM Porsche 997 CSR Retro

A little mild 997 backdating to accompany RPM's well-established CSR performance mods



You'll likely be familiar with Porsche sales and service outfit RPM's range of tuning upgrades by now; we've driven and liked its CSR branded 997 and 996 911s and the mods work on Boxsters too. Intended to sharpen up the standard driving experience with upgrades like a lightweight clutch and flywheel, Wavetrac limited-slip differential, custom exhausts and range of suspension packages from KW to Ohlins they are a pleasing balance for 'fast road' and track use.


The old-school nod provided by the distinctive carbon ducktail applied to both has been expanded into a 'CSR Retro' package for the 996, which we reported on earlier in the year. The backdating debate is as strong as ever when it comes to 911s, RPM among the first to apply the trend to the water-cooled generation and PHers divided on its success in respect of the 996. With its round headlights and more traditional lines the 997 arguably provides a better basis for a few retro flourishes and, unsurprisingly, this has been RPM's next move.

With early 997 values bottoming out and cars available for less than £20K the temptation to put some of that saving into some CSR finishing touches may well be strong. Certainly this first 997 CSR Retro built by RPM pulls the look off by treading a fine line between homage and pastiche, the 19-inch Fuchs wheels, ducktail and graphics relatively subtle as these things go. This one is based on a facelift 'Gen2' car but the changes are actually easier to apply to the more retro looking (and cheaper) Gen 1s. And, of course, reversible if fashions change.

Like the mechanical upgrades, the package can be bought as a whole for around £30K on top of the price of a donor car or bought piecemeal and tailored to budget and taste. Not cheap by any means but as even regular air-cooled 911s edge into the realms of appreciating assets to covet rather than daily drivers to be enjoyed it offers an interesting alternative. Inspired? Our 997 Buying Guide can help you get a feel for the market and discussion of 997 values can be found in a recent Catch It While You Can. Over to you on whether or not you think the look works...

Author
Discussion

Output Flange

Original Poster:

16,793 posts

210 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
article said:
This one is based on a facelift 'Gen2' car but the changes are actually easier to apply to the more retro looking (and cheaper) Gen 1s.
That's a .1 in the picture.

Edited by Dan Trent on Friday 2nd October 11:47

ducini

37 posts

134 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
Does not look backdated, but rather just a 997 sporting a slightly ill-designed bodykit

simonzerolimits

19 posts

125 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
don't bother

buy one though drive it and spend the balance on a proper classic

3.2 carrera's will be 50K in 5 years time

no stopping time !!!! or porsche air cooled prices

pirategaz

51 posts

173 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
Well I like it! Not sure it pulls off the retro look all that well but is a good looking car all the same...
However... 30K plus the price of the donar car min 20K more for a good one... Surely better off spending 50K on a proper appreciating classic as apposed to a copy that in many peoples eyes in this thread doesn´t pull off the classic look all that well.
again I do like it but not for 50K

Dan Trent

1,866 posts

167 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
Output Flange said:
article said:
This one is based on a facelift 'Gen2' car but the changes are actually easier to apply to the more retro looking (and cheaper) Gen 1s.
That's a .1 in the picture.
Just to clarify...

RPM's press release said:
The 997 CSR Retro is based on a Gen 2 model 997 Carrera 3.8 which has undergone a comprehensive amount of RPM engineering, with all aspects of the car being assessed and upgraded to enhance performance. The exterior was back-dated to Gen1 spec to lose the modern LED lighting and get closer to the classic look.
Cheers!

Dan

Output Flange

Original Poster:

16,793 posts

210 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
Dan Trent said:
Just to clarify...

RPM's press release said:
The 997 CSR Retro is based on a Gen 2 model 997 Carrera 3.8 which has undergone a comprehensive amount of RPM engineering, with all aspects of the car being assessed and upgraded to enhance performance. The exterior was back-dated to Gen1 spec to lose the modern LED lighting and get closer to the classic look.
Cheers!

Dan
Wow. I can see that selling like hot cakes.

Dannbodge

2,160 posts

120 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
I've always liked the wheels on the retro porsches.
These ones look great too.

uremaw

300 posts

196 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all

£30k?!? Surely the retro part of the package is just the wheels and ducktail? The front splitter and side skirts don't look retro, and the rear bumper appears to be unchanged? Surely the wheels and rear spoiler couldn't cost much more than £6-8k all in?

Dan Trent

1,866 posts

167 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
uremaw said:
£30k?!? Surely the retro part of the package is just the wheels and ducktail? The front splitter and side skirts don't look retro, and the rear bumper appears to be unchanged? Surely the wheels and rear spoiler couldn't cost much more than £6-8k all in?
CSR package (see the link in the story) comprises the mechanical upgrades (engine rebuild including lightweight clutch and flywheel, exhaust, suspension, etc) with this Retro addition of ducktail and wheels just a visual garnish on top. You're getting more than wheels and a wing for the full £30K but previous discussion with RPM suggests each package is configured according to the needs and budget of the customer. To qualify as a 'full' CSR there's a base level of work/expenditure though.

Cheers,

Dan

TB Rich

349 posts

218 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
Doesn't work as well as the 996 CSR Retro.

The back is too wide on this, is it a C4 shell? Might pull it off better in a C2 shell if it is.

slodge

512 posts

161 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
I like it when people make their Porsches different to others out there - the 911 is a car with a great history of modifying after all.

Looks nice to me and sounds even better!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLOmRJowLYk

Cheers

Slodge



RoverP6B

4,338 posts

127 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
I'd rather have this than a 991.

epom

11,398 posts

160 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
Those wheels and the ducktail, yep.

Vee12V

1,329 posts

159 months

Saturday 3rd October 2015
quotequote all
Looks like a parts bin dog's dinner. Nope, (not for me).

Wills2

22,669 posts

174 months

Saturday 3rd October 2015
quotequote all
simonzerolimits said:
3.2 carrera's will be 50K in 5 years time
They are 50k now.

http://www.911virgin.com/porscheforsale/220/9113.2...

http://www.911virgin.com/porscheforsale/807/9113.2...



GTRene

16,369 posts

223 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
quotequote all
slodge said:
I like it when people make their Porsches different to others out there - the 911 is a car with a great history of modifying after all.

Looks nice to me and sounds even better!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLOmRJowLYk

Cheers

Slodge
I like that.

fastgerman

1,911 posts

194 months

Monday 5th October 2015
quotequote all
No likey

The 997 is beautiful, leave it standard :-)

Ollywood

173 posts

140 months

Thursday 8th October 2015
quotequote all
If I remember right when they first launched the 996 csr it was positioned as a gt3 alternative as the originals are so expensive. Not too sure if this version has the same compelling argument. If it would look closer to the classic sport then it would be a lot prettier at the moment there is something 80's tuner about it.