Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

by Minichamps

This is the model a lot of us didn't even see coming. Is it a Minichamps or an AUTOart? 1:18 or 1:43? Sealed or not? We needed answers, and we needed 'em fast! Thankfully, it did not take that long for European collectors to get their hands (and for us to get info!) on this intriguing Minichamps-made gem.

Anyway, I got mine, I'm quite pleased with it and hope that you can get yours fast because I highly recommend it!

I hope you find this review informative and it helps with your decision of getting one, especially if you're still 'on the fence'.

Paint

The paint resembled on this model is ‘customer white’ but it is decorated nicely with GT3RSR logos on the sides, the front and rear like a proper presentation car from a historic company that has no intentions of giving up its dominance in GT racing. The logos are tampo-printed, which is major step forward for Minichamps. The application of these tampos in all these areas of the car is very impressive and most appreciated.

Exterior

The proportions of this model with killer curves seem very accurate. It features four openings: doors, trunk and engine cover. The latter is removable (the spoiler stays fixed) and accurate to the 1:1. The doors, which have side windows, shut really well and leave no nasty gaps but the door handles are molded. There’s a hole in the middle on the hood which is for fueling and if you look further down, you will find a pair of locking pins that look very realistic. The headlights on the RSR are the first of the racing GT3 series to show the ‘996 facelift,’ and in this model, they are nicely represented but I feel could have been done slightly better as these lack some chrome on the lamps. I also found tiny gaps between them and the body (outer sides and bottom), which may be a concern in the long run while cleaning/dusting.

The very front of the car is striking! The RSR looks more aggressive than its predecessors featuring a longer grill mesh made of actual metal, a front spoiler and side splitters (plastic), and a tow hook, which is mostly hidden. There are also a set of three small grills at the top of the front bumper that look like black mesh but are too small to tell. The Porsche insignia, although tampo printed, definitely catches your eye when seeing the car from behind as it really sticks out. A very neat piece of detail, indeed! :)

The rear of the car is typically ‘all business’ as it features a huge, Porsche-labeled spoiler (plastic), realistic looking tail lights and two exhausts that help unleash the power and harmony of the highly tuned flat-6! The rear engine cover is also plastic and includes two locking pins that look just as good as the ones in the front, and a mounted little brake lamp (also plastic). Sadly, the middle brake light underneath the rear window is just a painted red line.

By the way, both the front and rear bumpers are NOT separate plastic pieces, hence the weight of the car.

Interior

“The office” is definitely a work of art because it is replicated so well! The first thing you’ll notice when you open the driver’s doors is a black Recaro bucket seat covered in flock – very cool to touch! The cockpit is good and bad; good because of the labeled buttons and switches found in the center console, and bad because the gauges are stickers. It could have been worse, though (like UT GT2s). Other than that, very fine details can be found in the interior such as the roll cage, seat belts, pedals, sequential gear lever, fire-extinguisher and very cool wirings that are in charge of the braking and transmission.

Wheels & Brakes

The awesome multi-spoke, deep-dish rims are white with polished lip. The four Michelin slicks are properly labeled with two fat ones in the back, and thinner ones in the front, like it should be - My only problem is them not being wide enough - Brake quality is almost as good as Aa’s. The Brembo-branded calipers are properly big and the rotors, which rotate with the wheels, are accurate; with cross-drilled ones in the front and grooved ones in the rear. They might be a bit shiny but very nice nonetheless.

Engine, Trunk and Undercarriage Detail

The Naturally Aspirated 3.6L engine detail in this model is probably the best yet, mainly because only so much can be seen, even in the real thing. Unlike other releases by other brands that like use one solid piece of molded plastic, you will find a little more detail and pieces used. The carbon fiber around the intakes is not only a very nice touch but also true to the car eighteen times its size!

The hood, which is supposedly made of carbon fiber, has a lot of detail under it. You can find the fuel cell among other things and even more wirings I have no idea what they are for! Nevertheless, I found this section to be the most impressive.

Under the car, part of the engine and suspension, as well as the exhaust, the gearbox can be seen. Like AUTOart GT3s, the detail is pretty accurate but MC has the edge because the undercarriage is metallic!

The Verdict

The GT3 RSR is a sweet model and a very difficult one to pass up. It is possessed with striking looks, great detail and LOTS of accuracy. It is not perfect but its few flaws are more than compensated with sheer beauty and uniqueness. For the fans of active suspension models, MC has a surprise for ya! And those who like heavy models, you're going to love getting a hold of one of these solid Porkys. It is worth it in every aspect.

A must for every P-nut!