1989 Porsche 911 Turbo Type 930

Sold for $308,000 at 2016 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island.
In the late 1960s, Porsche began experimenting with turbochargers, however, a road-going model was not introduced until 1975. It was initially only available in Europe and since it was so different from the 911, it was given its own internal designation, the Type 930. It was federalized for the U.S. and debuted in 1976 at the Turbo Carrera.

Initially, it was powered by a 3.0-liter flat six mated to a wide-ratio four-speed manual transmission. Performance was impressive, with zero-to-sixty mph achieved in just 4.9 seconds with a quarter-mile time of 13.5 seconds and a top speed of 1956. When introduced, it was the fastest production car in America. Visually, there were several noticeable differences from the naturally aspirated versions; they had a 'whale-tail' spoiler and large flared wheel arches. Standard equipment included a reinforced chassis, Bilstein gas shocks, and an oil cooler. As the years progressed, Porsche engineers continued to refine the car, and steadily increased the horsepower.

By 1986, the engine had grown to 3.3 liters, and Targa and Cabriolet versions became available for 1987. Beginning in October 1988, a five-speed manual transmission with a hydraulic clutch was made standard. For the final year, the Turbo featured firmed-up suspension componentry to improve driving response. Rear-suspension torsion bars were increased in diameter, while front and rear anti-roll bars were increased in thickness, and damper settings were made firmer.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2016