1979-Porsche-930 Turbo

Description

1979 Porsche 930 Turbo
s/n 9309800074 engine no. 6890057
Black with Black Interior

Although the Porsche Turbo is now familiar because it is such an iconic car, it was a genuinely earth-shattering car when it first emerged in the mid 1970s. After massive success pioneering the use of turbochargers during the early 70s in the 917 Can Am and 911-based sports cars, Porsche had the knowhow to bring a reliable and capable turbocharged road car to market. The 930 was hugely impressive when new, and contemporary road testers gushed about its effortless ability to gain speed with deceptive composure, an attribute that seemed positively alien in a period when few drivers had experienced turbocharged cars. And indeed the car’s massive performance by contemporary standards made it a genuine contender for supercar status, placing Porsche in a different category than it had previously occupied in the eyes of consumers for the first time.

In many ways, the production 930 was diametrically opposed to the previous high performance 911 that Porsche had offered. The Carrera RS of just a few years earlier was a raw and elemental homologated race car adapted for the road, but the 930 was a proper flagship, a luxurious and refined car meant to effortlessly cover great distance at high speed. However, during this period, competition prepared Porsche Turbos were cleaning up on the race track, and the 930’s lurid fender flares and rear spoiler gave the car a purposeful and aggressive presence that would be immortalized, among other places, on the walls of many schoolboys. Although relatively affordable and overlooked by collectors for many years, early 930s are rapidly emerging as collectible cars thanks to their iconic styling, innovative technology, and direct connection to some of Porsche’s most successful race cars.

This particular matching numbers example shows under 9400 miles from new and its first owner was in California, where it has remained its entire life. Originally supplied to Carsten Porsche-Audi in Tacoma, Washington, it was sold to another dealer on 27 October 1978. That dealer, Del Mar Motor Cars in Camarillo, California sold the car to its first owner in July of 1979. The original financing documents and purchase order are present with the car. He kept the car until June of 2001, at which point the car had 7074 miles. The car was likely not driven at all in the early 1980s, as the original registration slips are with the car with stickers still attached, having never been applied to the license plate. A 1993 emissions test indicates that the car had 5500 miles at that time, while services and smog checks from the 1990s to present show the gradual accumulation of mileage to the car’s present reading. The car’s first owner sold it to another keeper in 2001, who kept the car about ten years.

Since then, it has had two relatively short term keepers who have spent considerable money servicing the car. The first three owners were all in Camarillo, CA. The car had an engine out service 700 miles ago in 2011, including transmission service and valve adjustment. In February 2013, the car had an extensive service at Andial at a cost of just under $10,000, including replacing the auxiliary air valve, replacing both rear axles, replacing the master cylinder and brake booster, replacing the soft brake lines, fitting new tires, fitting new belts, servicing the wastegate, adjusting the clutch, and repairing the air conditioning and radio.

Cosmetically, the car is in excellent shape. It has been repainted once to high standards in its original color, and the paint shows almost no wear or damage. Close inspection reveals slightly more orange than the car would have originally had. The body is extremely straight, and all panels fit and operate as new. The lights and glass are excellent throughout, including the windscreen, which is the original item with minimal wear, still with “Made in West Germany” etching. The trim is generally excellent, although the black anodized trim is lightening on the windscreen surrounds and door top trim. The chin spoiler is in good shape other than one small blemish near the left fog lamp. The wheels are generally excellent, other than a small area of curb rash on the right rear wheel.

The interior is extremely original and is well-preserved. The seats are in good shape, with light wear to the driver’s bolster only. The carpets are excellent, as are the switches and controls. The gauge pointers, which often fade on 911s of this era, are in as new condition. The car retains its original equipment including steering wheel, shift knob, and radio. The dashboard is in good shape, with minor shrinkage to the leather, as is common on these cars. The headliner and door panels are excellent as well.

The engine compartment is correct and unmodified in appearance. While not detailed for show, it is very clean and shows signs of recent maintenance. The trunk is in excellent shape, with no signs of damage to the structure, and undisturbed original wiring harness. The original spare, dated March of 1978, is in place, as is the original tool roll, jack, compressor, emergency sunroof crank, and even the plastic gloves for use while changing the spare. The car also has manual pack with books (including Blaupunkt radio supplement) as well as original touch up paint. A Certificate of Authenticity from Porsche is included, confirming that the car is matching numbers, is still finished in its original color combination, and was originally equipped with sunroof and limited slip differential.

This is an exceptional opportunity to acquire an extraordinarily low mileage 930 that has been a California car from new. Very well documented and extremely complete, this car is very correct and original, in addition to being turnkey thanks to its recent service with Andial. Additionally, as a 1979 example, this car is from the last year of production prior to a six year hiatus during which Porsche did not import any 930s to the United States. High caliber early 930s have seen a recent explosion in interest as collectors realize the model’s significance as well as its comparatively undervalued price and tremendous performance compared to 911s from the 1960s and early 1970s.