In 1973, Porsche first unveiled its now-legendary 911 RSR. Short for “RennSport Rennwagen” — literally translating to “Racing Sport Racing Car” — the RSR-spec 911 represented the absolute pinnacle of performance for the Stuttgart marque and would quickly prove its worth, racking up an enormous number of titles and race wins. Despite being pretty long in the tooth by modern performance standards, genuine 911 RSR specimens routinely fetch seven-figure sums when trading hands or crossing the auction block. 

Well aware of this reality, vintage Porsche fanatic Richard Schickman would launch The RSR Project, which is an East Coast-based customs and restoration shop specializing in delivering bespoke RSR restomod tributes — the latest of which to break cover is a 1986 911 known as the Gulf Blue 3 project. 

The Basics

Originally leaving the factory as a 1986 911, The RSR Project’s newest build pays homage to the original 911 RennSport Rennwagen, maintaining its iconic style and widebody appearance while gaining a host of contemporary components and hardware that collectively bolster the car’s drivability, performance, and reliability. Like all builds from the Bedford Hills shop, this 1986 one-off — which has been dubbed the “Gulf Blue 3” as it marks The RSR Project’s third build in this style — this new project was developed by the shop with ample input from the customer who chose a myriad of bespoke options and details. 

The Powertrain

At the heart of the build is a 3.2-liter flat-six engine that’s been treated to numerous upgraded internals such as race-spec cams and an upgraded ECU, before ultimately being bored out to 3.4-liters. Bolted to a manual gearbox, the engine is now good for 235hp — all of which is sent to the build’s rear wheels. 

Gulf-Liveried Wide-Bodywork

After being converted to widebody-style bodywork, this one-of-one 911 restomod has been cloaked in a custom Gulf livery with a powder blue base, orange racing stripe, and orange “Carrera” and “Porsche” text/script. What’s more, this particular build has also been optioned with a front and rear bumper deletes, front and rear aluminum decklids, and a ducktail spoiler. The entire thing also now rides on a set of 15” Braid wheels shod in Michelin TB-15 tires.

Extensive Upgrades

Just like every other donor that comes through The RSR Project’s HQ, this 1986 specimen was first treated to a ground-up restoration before being built back up as a high-performance restomod marrying vintage looks and modern performance. In a bid to modernize the ’86 911’s handling, the restomod has been gifted a modern suspension setup complete with new bushings and top-of-the-line Bilstein shocks. Bolstering the vehicle’s stopping power is a new set of modern four-pot brakes. A number of weight-saving measures have also been taken to both increase handling and provide a better power-to-weight ratio. 

The Cabin

Rather than trying to modernize the interior of the vehicle, The RSR Project instead opts to stay true to the original RSR, with a largely spartan, race-inspired cabin that, in this case, has been treated to classic RS door panels, lightweight Perlon carpeting, a vintage dashboard fitted with fully updated gauges, a WEVO racing-style shifter, and seats trimmed in super-premium leather and fitted with Scottish Tartan inserts.

What Makes It Special

From Paul Stephens AutoArt to Singer to Gunther Werx to Macing Revival, there’s legitimately no shortage of elite Porsche tuning shops churning out high-dollar 911 restomods. So, while it shares these other shop’s spare-no-expense approach and slew of bespoke and configurable options, what really makes The RSR Project’s Gulf Blue 3 so special is the fact that it’s been engineered to lend itself to daily driving. The build boasts a handful of modern amenities and a level of modern reliability that actually allow it to be a competent daily driver and not just another garage queen. It also happens to just be a stunning vehicle. 

Straight From The Horse’s Mouth

“I actually started RSR Project to build a custom for myself. As soon as enthusiasts and collectors took a look at my finished car out on the road, many wanted one for themselves, “ explains The RSR Project’s founder Richard Schickman. “My background is in operations and manufacturing, so my professional skill set has served RSR Project well as more and more clients commission cars with us.”

“Original RSR cars are almost impossible to find these days, and if a collector does manage to procure one, they seldom drive it,” Schickman continues. “Inversely, RSR Project builds cars that are made to be driven. While many companies strive to make classic cars into something decidedly modern, RSR Project recaptures the original essence of the RSR in a period correct way that better suits drivers today. RSR Project cars are not for everyone, but driving purists that know the original car can come to us.” 

Spec Sheet

Pricing, Availability, & Build Times

While the 1986 Porsche 911 “Gulf Blue 3” is already spoken for, The RSR Project is currently accepting commissions for its RSR tribute restomods with pricing starting from $375,000. Build times for these one-off 911s are typically around 12 to 18 months. 

1986 Porsche 911 ‘Gulf Blue 3’ By The RSR Project

The RSR Project’s 1986 Porsche 911 “Gulf Blue 3” is a bespoke 911 restomod that’s been extensively modified in order to deliver modern performance and reliability while maintaining the original 911 RSR’s iconic widebody apperaance and minimalistic cabin. What really distinguishes it from other 911 restomods is the fact that this build is engineered to lend itself to daily driving.