1978 Porsche 930 / 911 Turbo

Model History

The words ‘911 turbo’ invoke such a visceral response in nearly anyone between the ages of 7 to 97. It is a moniker that is principally unparalleled in want, desire and out-of -the-box performance and has reigned supreme for over 40 years. Of course there are others that may have better performance numbers, bigger displacement, more exotic flair…the same want, the same desire, the same poster-hanging credibility…but the 911 turbo does it without labor, with purpose without being pretentious. It is confident in what it brings and has no problems letting you know it…but does it with a unbridled charm you simply can’t resist.

The 911 Turbo was originally intended to be a limited street legal production run that would allow Porsche to race the Group 4 Turbo RSR/Type 934. Porsche was required to build 400 street-legal 930s by 1975, and so in October of 1974 at the Paris Auto Show, the German automaker unveiled the 930 to the world. Street car production began in early 1975 but would delay until 1976 for the U.S. market. Demand exceeded expectation and Porsche sold the first 400 production 930s within just a few short months.  Another 1,000 would sell one year later. Advertising in the 70’s presented the 930 as “Exclusive. Explosive. Expensive.” Funny how some things just never change.

By today’s standards, a first gen 911 turbo may seem barren or austere, but at the time Porsche had to decide whether the street production version would be a stripped down race-ready RS look alike, or whether it should hold a more luxurious GT status. The latter won out making the 930 the flagship for the brand, complete with power windows, air-conditioning, and fine leather seating. Fitted with a single KKK-turbo, the flat 3.0L six-cylinder made 245hp (260 outside the U.S.) and at the time, was planted to the ground via the outrageously-wide 16 x 8 rear Fuch wheels tucked under the hippy flared wheel arches.  The now-famous “whale tail” rear spoiler was installed to help vent more air to the engine while creating more downforce to the rear. With a weight less than 2,700lbs, 0 to 60 times were just over 5 seconds and top speeds of over 150mph.

Car History

Today we bring you this very well-kept European spec Porsche 930 turbo from a private collection held in Colorado. This 930 is one of six 930’s held and is being sold only because it is a duplicate color in the line up. They are all stored in a climate controlled facility and according to the seller, this one has only been driven to heat the oil completely and evaporate condensation in the crankcase a few times per year.

From the seller, this car was carefully selected for a collection of 1975-1979 Porsche Turbo Carrera and 930 vehicles with 930 VIN’s. The collection was refined in 2015 to have only Silver cars of each year with the 930 VIN’s. That left this car and another as duplicates in the group. It is offered for sale for no other reason and is a superior running and driving example of the first year of the inter-cooled 3.3 Liter 930 models.

Exterior

There have been no reported or known collisions, rust, or adverse history of any type, and no deferred maintenance according to the seller. This sunroof-delete 930 presents completely stock with no modifications reported, known, or visible from new. The Sienna Metallic appears to be in excellent high-gloss condition with no noticeable flaws. There is a small piece of rubber trim slightly misaligned on the rear trunk lid. The iconic Fuchs wheels appear to be in excellent condition, as do the body color headlight trim rings. Note the gas filler lid is on the driver side on the early Turbos.

All of the panels fit as new when they left the Stuttgart factory. The accordion-style impacts on the bumper and rubber bumperettes show no fading, discoloration or cracking. The glass and chrome all around is reportedly original and appears as such.

Interior

The black supple leather seats show their age quite well. Much of the wrinkling you see in the images is from the soft leather. The turbo script mats are still present and show some signs of minimal wear. The VDO gauges show no cracks and highlight the 67k miles this one has carried over its life. All of the switches appear to be present. No rust could be seen on the door jambs or sills. The rubber all appears to be intact and no cracks on the dash are evident. The door armrest storage lids show a little wear but nothing unusual.

Engine

The 930 turbo arrived in the U.S. in 1976 with a 3.0L flat-six. That engine was also used in the 1977 model year. After that, Porsche upped the displacement to the 3.3L and added an intercooler…this bumped the hp from 260 to 300 (RoW stats). Thus the ’78 was the first of the original 3.3L, making it highly collectible in the marketplace.

The seller reports there is no maintenance required at this point. The car will be sold with a complete service history dating back to the delivering dealer in Germany and includes every receipt since.

Documentation

This 930 retains its original engine (#6780128) along with original 4-speed gearbox (#780513) and comes with a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity. Many records dating back to new are included, and the seller reports nothing is needed at this time. The original books come with the car.

Estimated Value

As with many of the cars we feature, proper valuing is difficult given the low production volume and the rarity of examples going to market, compounded by the wide-range of examples and conditions you may find. A reported 1,257 930’s were produced in 1978 and this one is stamped as #297 in the 930 VIN lineup for that year. The recent market on comparable 930’s of 1978-79 MY have sold at auction ranging from $72,000 to $125,000 for a 41k mile example.

Final Thoughts

This 930 brings with it two collectible features, the Sienna Metallic body paint and it is the first year of the 3.3L turbo flat-six. It has been well cared for by an enthusiast and collector. The mileage is in that perfect zone of being able to both retain collector value but also enjoy it for what it is…a bucket list 911 turbo.

Bid Now and Drive Fun Daily.

Disclaimer: We do our best to represent the vehicle from the information provided but this should not be implied as an inspection. Second Daily is not the owner of the vehicle and therefore we recommend as with any online vehicle purchase, as a potential buyer you should either arrange to visit it in person for a personal inspection, or hire a professional service to conduct a pre-purchase inspection. The full VIN number is given here, as potential buyers, you can perform your due diligence to determine if this vehicle meets your standards. Second Daily is not liable for the condition or contents of the vehicle. Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information.