History of the Ducktail Porsche Ducktail and Carrera RS 2.7

The Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 set the template for the modern 911 circuit car. So this year, Porsche celebrated its 50th anniversary by bringing together World Rally Champion Walter Rohr, 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Timo Bernhard, and a selection of classic 911s to look back at the history of the Carrera RS 2.7 and its successors.

The Carrera RS 2.7, introduced in 1972 as a homologation special, was instantly recognizable by its ducktail rear spoiler. It was the first production sports car to be equipped with a spoiler that included a ducktail and a small front lip spoiler. The ducktail counteracted aerodynamic lift, reduced drag, and even improved engine cooling. It also became an iconic styling feature and was to make a comeback with the 2023 Porsche 911 Sport Classic.

This familiar shape was initially a simple panel held in place by a piece of wood; wind tunnel tests showed that this panel, protruding from the 911's sloping rear, cancelled lift and created downforce.

This was also the first time Porsche used the name Carrera for the 911 (it had previously been used for the 356 in 1955). Porsche revived the name, which means "race" in Spanish, to indicate that the RS 2.7 was something special. This is a bit ironic given that the Carrera name is now used for the base model of the 911.

With thinner sheetmetal and glass and no insulation, the Carrera RS 2.7 was lighter than other 911 models of the time. It was also faster, accelerating from 0-60 mph in 5.5 seconds and reaching a top speed of 149 mph.

This speed was achieved by a 2.7-liter flat-six that produced 210 hp and was sent to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. the RS 2.7 was also the first production 911 to be equipped with rear tires wider than the front tires for better traction. It was also the first production 911 to be fitted with rear tires wider than the front tires to improve traction.

Porsche wanted to enter the RS 2.7 in the FIA Group 4 category, but homologation required a production run of 500 cars. Sold out in just three months, Porsche produced 1,580 units (including 200 lightweight versions) through 1973. The Carrera RS 2.7 was also successful in sports car racing and rallying, but was soon replaced by the 2.8 RS and RSR 3.0 racers.

The RS 2.7 was followed by other hardcore 911 road cars, including the 911 GT3 RS 4.0. Launched in 2011 as a send-off for the 997-generation 911 GT3, it was powered by a 4.0-liter flat-6 that produced 493 hp. The RS 4.0 had a small ducktail, but it is surrounded by a larger rear wing, showing how the spoiler has evolved over the decades.

The 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS continues the RS tradition of low weight and advanced aerodynamics. However, an elaborate system of ducts and vents, along with an adjustable wing with an F1-style drag reduction system (DRS), make even the GT3 RS 4.0 look old-fashioned. However, Porsche considers the GT3 RS a descendant of the Carrera RS and has released a one-off model in the original green and white livery.