I can’t say I’ve seen something like this before. This 1988 Porsche 911 Turbo started off innocent enough, but was converted to a Speedster body and I really don’t know how I feel about it. I actually enjoy the standard G-body Speedster quiet a lot and thankful that Porsche actually produced it. But this? My mind is struggling to process it. I think I know why.
The 1978 model year was a big change for Porsche 911 Turbo as the turbocharged 3.0 liter was swapped out for a 3.3 liter with an addition of an air-to-air intercooler. That made an already dangerous car into one that was truly capable of ruining not only your day, but your life. Lifting while going around a corner would result in some pretty nasty snap oversteer, and if you aren’t ready for it or had some so so tires, watch out. Some people loved the absolute rawness and danger of the car, but personally I’ll take a pass. Still, every 930 from 1975 to 1989 is sought after no matter what the condition, thus resulting in big prices.
This 1978 might look familiar as we took a look at it a few years ago from when it was for sale under previous ownership. It is finished in paint to sample Medium Green Metallic, which pointed out previously is an old GM color. It has some wild green carpets to match, which of course results in a big price tag. Funny thing is, the price on this one actually went down.
I like a certain degree of completeness so why not go ahead and bookend things? This Black 1977 Porsche 930 Turbo Carrera resides at the other end of the 930 spectrum from the 1989 930 I featured on Monday. It isn’t from the first year of 930 production so this isn’t the perfect comparison, but since it is from one of the first two years when the 930 utilized a 3.0 liter turbocharged engine without an intercooler it still provides a glimpse into the model’s early days.
Looking at them both you could easily mistake one for the other. Their dimensions are the same even if the ’89 has gained a couple hundred pounds so you won’t notice much there. The most obvious difference is the rear spoiler. Porsche modified the 930’s spoiler in ’78 so as to accommodate the new intercooler that would feed air into the larger 3.3 liter engine. It has much more pronounced wings, which has garnered it the name tea tray compared with the whale tail of the 3.0 liter models. The fog lights too are different as they became integrated into the front bumper. We notice the same difference when comparing the 911SC and 3.2 Carrera.
While the outside is quite similar, the differences in the interior are much more apparent and show the evolutionary changes of the 911 in general over this time. We find a similar evolutionary development under the skin. Naturally power increased and with it came larger 4-piston ventilated disc brakes. The 930 now could stop as well as it could go. And, of course, in 1989 Porsche fitted the 930 with the G50 5-speed transmission, the biggest change these cars had seen since their displacement increase in 1978.
How do we explain the 930? It’s appeal seems both undeniable, but also uncertain. It’s raw and powerful and appeals to all of our childish sensibilities. It’s kind of a Hot Wheels car come to life. In some cases you might really think that’s what has happened. But we’re grown now and not everyone wants a car with a massive spoiler and bulging rear fenders. All of that power requires your full attention in a world where paying attention has become a novelty. But there are times when I look at one – and I’m sure some of you do as well – and can’t think of why I might want something else.
Here we have a triple black 1989 Porsche 930 Coupe with 80,457 miles on it. This comes from the final year of 930 production, a significant point for those in search of one of these turbos since it was the only year Porsche equipped them with a 5-speed manual transmission rather than the previously utilized 4-speed manual.
Update 12/12/18: This Kremer-modified 930 sold for $173,600.
I honestly don’t know where to even begin with this one. It’s so audacious that I think it’s best just to have a look at it first and then discuss it. But let’s at least lay out the basics: This began as a 1976 Porsche 930 Turbo delivered in Germany. It’s original color was the Ice Green Metallic exterior we see here – presumably sans graphics – with a leather-to-sample green interior. It was sent to Kremer Racing for their 935K package and the end result is the car we see here. I love just about everything about this 930. It’s kind of insane and perfect at the same time and fits very well into the crazy Porsche racers of the ’70s.
This Kremer-modified 930 will be up for auction this Saturday, December 8 as part of RM Sotheby’s Petersen Automotive Museum auctions.
I am a little excited about this car. Here we have a Forest Green Metallic 1989 Porsche 930 Slantnose Coupe, located in Houston, with a variety of rare options including Recaro classic sport seats and the performance kit that raised output to 330 hp. It has traveled – using the term quite loosely – a mere 217 kilometers over the course of its life. As a final-year 930 this particular example sits as a museum piece showcasing some of the unique history of these machines.
So why my excitement? Well, no lie, I have had my eyes on this car for years, though I’ve never seen it. What I mean by that seemingly contradictory statement is that for as long as I can remember I have seen this 930 listed on RPM’s classifieds and it was clear from the description that it was a special car. The ultra-low mileage obviously makes it super special, but even with more typical mileage it’s still a special car. However, it always was listed as “pictures coming soon.” I began to wonder if it actually existed. Finally it does. I can’t say I know precisely when everything was posted, but I happened over to their site earlier this week and there it was. I am not disappointed.
Anytime I feature one of Porsche’s early 3.0 liter 930s I mention that 1976 was their first year and as such tend to be the most valuable. But in the back of my mind I know that’s only partially true. 1976 was the first year the 930 came to the US market, but it was not the first year of production overall. A relatively small number, 284 in total, were produced for various markets in 1975. It should go without saying that it is very rare for us to see one come up for sale. Even more rare is to see one come up for sale that already has been imported into the US. That’s exactly what we have here:
A fully restored Salmon Metallic 1975 Porsche 911 Turbo Carrera with an “interior to sample” stated to be in Linen that sits with 67,440 kilometers on the clock. As if this were not enough rarity, this also is one of just 31 right-hand drive examples and was originally delivered to Hong Kong. I don’t know that having a RHD 930 is necessarily the thing you need on US roads, but it does add an extra cool factor to just about any imported car.
If you’ve been reading these pages long enough you’ll know that I love a bright red interior. You might also recall that for me a white exterior is a color for which I have a very love/hate relationship. I think it can work incredibly well on some cars and look incredibly boring on others. In both cases, what I like about these colors comes down to contrast. It is not the individual color itself that I enjoy, but rather the way in which it complements other colors. I can think of few better examples of this than the presentation of this Grand Prix White 1988 Porsche 930 Coupe with Lipstick Red interior and just 26,842 miles on it.
The interior is about as bright as they come on a Porsche. Contrasted with the Grand Prix White exterior it stands out in sharp focus. It’s ostentatious, but because the exterior is white I don’t find it garish. It brings some excitement to the car in a way that the much more standard black interior simply could not do and it enhances that white exterior. Overall, this is really nice looking 930 whose color combination is quite befitting of the car’s dynamic capabilities.
The former seller of this car has informed us that the listing is not legitimate. A good reminder to always do your homework before bidding!
I don’t typically like to do this – feature two identical models back to back – but I thought this might make for an interesting data point and comparison with the Light Yellow 930 I featured on Wednesday. And let’s be honest this is a very attractive 930 in its own right so it’s worth our attention.
So here we have an Emerald Green Metallic 1976 Porsche 930 Turbo Carrera, located in New York, with Cinnamon leather interior and 49,000 miles on it. I actually featured this car around this same time last year and while the pictures are the same I don’t think it actually is in the hands of the same seller. It now is up for auction and the reserve has been met so it should be passing on to a new owner. The curious part of me wonders for how much it will sell. The rest of me just loves the color!
I feature yellow Porsches frequently enough that you might begin to think they were a common color. They aren’t, though there have been periods of time in which we did see them more frequently. In the early years of the 911 they were pretty rare and that brings us to this car: a Light Yellow 1976 Porsche 930 Turbo Carrera, located in California, fitted with a Cinnamon leather interior with tartan inserts. Speaking to its rarity this is said to be 1 of only 52 930s produced in Light Yellow in the first two model years, i.e. prior to displacement being increased to 3.3 liters, and of those 52 this is the only one to feature tartan seat inserts. It’s a unique and interesting combination that really speaks to the period in which this 930 was built. Seat inserts have come back into fashion to some degree on the 911, but very few match the tartan inserts we saw in the ’70s. Boring these are not.
Oh and do I need to mention that this 930 comes from perhaps the most desirable model year? Yeah, this one is worth a serious look.
