The Porsche 930 Buying Guide – The 911 that changed the sportscar game forever

The Porsche 930 is the first-ever turbocharged 911and a characterful sports car that still has plenty of old school thrills to offer.

The 930 has always been an important model in Porsche’s long history, and now with almost every 911 featuring forced induction, its influence and legacy has renewed significance. This very first 911 turbo may have only had 260bhp at launch but that massive mid-range torque and lightweight bodyshell gave the 930 the kind of performance that put it amongst the fastest sportscars of its time.

Enthusiasts who had grown up on more traditional big capacity naturally aspirated performance cars were not used to the power delivery characteristics of these early-turbo cars. This combined with the 930’s short wheelbase earned the car a reputation for rather tail happy on-the-limit motoring.

The on-boost performance however was more than a match for the established supercars of the day and despite its tricky handling the 930 quickly gained a cult following. Constant development over the years reduced the lag and tamed the wayward rear end to a degree but it remained a car that demanded your full attention when pushing its limits.

Drive one today and you may be forgiven for wondering what the fuss is all about as you wind the rev-counter up towards the 3,500rpm mark. Then as the needle swings past this number and the turbo is finally on song, a sudden wave of torque shoves you in the back and warps the car down the road leaving you flailing for the next gear. They say that the best things in life are worth waiting for, well the 930’s power delivery is one of those things. This is no modern, rationally doled out turbo power delivery, all the horses are dumped into your lap in one go. The 930 demands a skilled hand to extract the best from it and this is part of its charm. Getting on the boost mid-corner makes it abundantly clear why many 930s became tree trunk ornaments, smoothness is rewarded and once you are in tune with the machine it delivers an exhilarating drive. The 930 still feels very rapid today and has become one of the most collectable of the impact bumper 911s.

Porsche 930 Turbo

Available in coupe, convertible, targa and speedster body styles, the addition of an intercooler and uprated 3.3 litre engine in 1978 was the biggest change carried out on the Porsche 930 during its production and these cars are slightly more manageable at the limit. US cars produce slightly less power than their UK counterparts due to emissions restrictions in place at the time. The five-speed G50 gearbox was only available in the last year of production although some cars may have been modified to take this updated transmission. In general, the market is very active with values on the rise so if you see a particularly cheap car on offer make sure you go in with your eyes open.

 

Parts are available from Porsche themselves or a huge number of specialist suppliers. Avoid badly modified or poorly repaired examples as the value in these cars is based heavily in their originality. Check that the service history is comprehensive and verifiable, that the numbers on the engine and chassis match and verify the mileage.

Porsche 930 Engine and gearbox

Worn turbos and injectors are expensive to repair so, if possible, get a specialist to check these out before committing to a purchase. Minor oil leaks do not necessarily indicate a worn engine, they all leak to some extent. Blue smoke billowing out the rear under hard acceleration can signal a damaged turbocharger. Correct ignition timing and properly functioning waste gates are important to avoid expensive repairs down the road. Exhaust studs can brake causing exhaust leaks so check if this has been repaired as the issue is common.

The majority of cars came with a hardy four-speed gearbox, only the last 1989 model year cars got the five-speed G50 unit. Both are reliable but the extra cog in the G50 ‘box does give more flexibility and some cars have been converted to this spec. Clutches can last up to 50,000 miles but this number varies greatly based on how the car is driven.

Porsche 930 Turbo

Porsche 930 Suspension and brakes

All models from 1978-on came with uprated brakes derived from the 917 race car, they are more than up to the task of hauling the car down from high speeds but ABS was not fitted and pedal pressures are high. The ride should be firm but not harsh, if the car feels unsettled when turning in check the suspension bushes and alignment. Common problem areas are worn dampers and rear torsion bar bushes.

Porsche 930 Bodywork and interior

Accident damaged cars are rife, so inspect the body panels and paintwork for signs of badly repaired accident damage as well as to verify the history of the vehicle.

Porsche body shells were well galvanised (from 1978-on), however, these cars are now decades old and rust can be an issue in areas where repairs have not been carried out correctly or in nooks and crannies where leaves and debris can collect and cause rot to develop.

The Porsche 930 is broadly similar inside to the rest of the contemporary 911 Carrera range, that makes parts easier to source but it also suffers from similar issues such as warped door cards and cracked dashboards. Heat exchangers do go on the blink and are costly to replace so be sure to check the heating system out.

Model History of the Porsche 930

1975:     Porsche 911 Turbo (930) introduced with 260bhp

1978:     Upgraded Porsche 930 released

Engine capacity increased to 3.3 litres with air-to-air intercooler, power up to 300bhp

Brakes upgraded with minor changes to rear wing and boost gauge added to instrument binnacle

1980:     930 withdrawn from US market due to new emissions regulations

1981:     ‘Slant Nose’ modification made available to customers, entailing revised front headlight treatment with pop-up headlights instead of standard units.

1984:     Uprated fuel injection system as well as new exhaust system lower emissions and increase power

Interior received updated heating system

1986:     Additional creature comforts added to spec including heated front seats, central locking and leather lined door trim.

Slant Nose modification becomes official option. Named 911 Turbo SE in UK and 930S in US (from 1987-on)

Larger turbocharger and intercooler raised power by 30bhp

1987:     Move to LE-Jetronic fuel injection system further reduces emissions and 930 is reintroduced to US market

1988:     Minor upgrade to brake discs

1989:     Final year of 930 Production

G50 five-speed transmission replaces four-speed unit

Uprated speaker system introduced

Production numbers

930 3.0:                2,819 units

930 3.3:                18,770 units

 

Which Porsche 930 to buy

As is often the case with historically significant classic sports cars, the earliest models tend to be the most desirable, in this instance the first batch of 3.0-litre four-speed cars are also far rarer than latter variants. Low mileages, long histories and originality are all highly valued and prices vary accordingly. There are still plenty of abused examples out there so be sure to thoroughly check under the shiny paintwork for evidence of neglect. The last of the line five-speed cars are also in demand as well as the rare slant-nose versions which also came with a power upgrade.

If you prefer to drive your classic rather than just stare at it then the more refined 3.3-litre cars are actually the better bet, The additional intercooler and updated fuel-injection system (on post-1984 models) makes them easier to live with day-to-day and the on/off boost transition is less likely to send you backwards into a hedge.

The again, this duality of character and rawness compared to newer sports cars is very much part of the appeal. Treat the 930 with respect and it will still deliver the kind of addictive in-gear acceleration that has made the turbocharged 911 such a popular model today.

 

Porsche 930 Specifications

3.0-litre Turbocharged Flat-Six

Power:                 260bhp

Top speed:         160mph

0-60mph:             5.4sec

Economy:            21mpg est

 

3.3-litre Turbocharged and Intercooled Flat-Six

Power:                 300bhp (330bhp for slantnose)

Top speed:         160mph

0-60mph:             5.2sec

Economy:            21mpg est

Text John Tallodi  Photos Porsche, KARERO Classic Porsche, Gasoline Kitchen , private owner

 

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