Porsche revived the Carrera name for its luxuriously equipped, top of the range 911 in 1973.

Designated Carrera RS (RennSport), the newcomer was intended as a limited edition product for 'Group 4' GT racing, a class that required a minimum of 500 built.

However, the resulting demand for this fabulous car proved so great that the production run was later extended by 1,300 or so units.

Based on a lightened 911S platform, the Carrera RS featured revised suspension and wider rear wheels (beneath flared arches) for improved handling, while the 2.7-litre, fuel-injected, air-cooled six-cylinder engine’s 210bhp boosted top speed to around 150mph.

Not merely a styling gimmick, the Carrera’s trademark 'duck’s tail' spoiler made a vital contribution to high speed stability, a virtue of increasing importance as power outputs continued to rise.

Rare and highly sought after, original examples of the 1973 RS are now very expensive, a state of affairs that has inspired many a Porsche enthusiast ...