Feared by some and adored by many, the 930-generation Porsche 911 Turbo was not for the faint of heart, earning it an infamous reputation that continues to this day. With the 930 Turbo now turning 50, we’ve picked out some notable examples from the Classic Driver Market.
In the history of every automotive brand, there are often milestones that cement their reputation. It could be winning the gruelling 24 Hours of Le Mans, reaching 1,000,000 units in production, or occasionally creating a variation of an existing model so extreme that it strikes fear into the hearts of even the most exclusive supercar makers in the world. That last point is exactly what Porsche did in 1978, taking their humble 911 and cranking it up to 11 and beyond with the addition of a turbocharger.
We have to go back to 1974, though, to figure out where exactly the idea of a turbocharged 911 came from. Starting out as a 3.0-liter Turbocharged engine known as the Type 930/50, it promised to give the minimalist Porsche a level of power the likes of which had never been experienced before. To make sure the Turbo stood out, it was given a much wider body and the now-iconic whale-tail rear wing. Almost overnight, the 911 went from a somewhat understated coastal cruiser to a Ferrari- and Lamborghini-wrecker. To celebrate the model’s 50th anniversary, we’ve rounded up some of the finest examples of the 930 Turbo from the Classic Driver Market.
These stunning 930 Turbos illustrate the development of this iconic model:
We start things off with an extremely uncommon example from 1976, meaning it features the now much rarer 3.0-liter engine, as the car was updated with the more powerful 3.3-liter engine from 1978. This example shows just how different some of the Porsche specifications were back in the day, and many forget that the Paint to Sample color palette available to customers today is largely drawn from Porsche’s rich and often vibrant past. The Türkis Diamant Metallic paintwork looks simply stunning along the sweeping body lines of this 930, but the interior is unlike anything else on this list. The striking blue is contrasted with yellow leather throughout, with blue accents throughout. The 930 Turbo is a certified head-turner at best, but this one will definitely make entire streets stop and stare!
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If a slightly more understated 930 Turbo is more your style, we present this Marathon Silver Blue Metallic example, just a year newer than the car above. This means it still features the highly desirable 3.0-litre engine and presents itself as a perfectly usable classic. Just make sure you concentrate on building up the revs, ready for when the turbo kicks in!
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This striking metallic green example headed to Gooding & Company’s upcoming sale strikes the perfect balance between standing out and blending in, as a 911 does so well. Also dating from 1977, this example features a gorgeous matching green interior, which extends to the carpets and dashboard. As lovers of all things green here at the Classic Driver office, this emerald example is the one we’d drive off into the sunset in!
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Jumping forward to 1982, we come to a 930 Turbo that looks almost otherworldly compared to the rest. This later 3.3-litre Coupé is finished in Grand Prix White over Cream leather and features a Slantnose conversion, which was a unique way to customise the 911 in the 80s as a tribute to the 935. The modified front-end wasn’t exactly a resounding success and only 34 examples exist, with this example being one of the very first!
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As with all 911s, it’s the variations that made the 930 so appealing. From coupe to flatnose, speedster to convertible, there really was a 911 for every type of enthusiast, and this one of only 39 right-hand drive 930 Turbo Cabriolets simply had to be part of our showcase. Completely restored in 2014, this sleek Silver Metallic example may well be the coolest drop-top you can buy right now. Just imagine how good that engine sounds with no windows or roof!
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And so we come to the final, and perhaps greatest, iteration of the 930 Turbo ever created; a car that carries as much mystery as it does admiration. Known as the 930 Turbo Sonauto, this 1989 model is the 6th of just 10 ever made, and packs a punch that no other Turbo Porsche had ever built before: 352.2 hp at 5,250 rpm, to be precise.
While still retaining the wider body lines and whale tail, this later model features a mesh front spoiler and a sportier chassis with Bilstein shock absorbers that lower the car 38mm at the front and 27mm at the rear. A predicted future million dollar car, this fine example has happily been enjoyed by its European owners, with over 46,000 kilometres on the clock!
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