1989 Porsche 930 Turbo Coupe

Summary: A fantastic highly original and unmodified G50 5-speed 930 coupe. All original paint (verified with paint thickness gauge) in excellent condition. Previous PCA concours winner that is still extremely nice. A truly exceptional no-excuses collector caliber car. Complete with books, tools, and jack.

This car is in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The 930

Although the Porsche Turbo is now an iconic and natural fixture in the consciousness of car buffs, it was genuinely earth-shattering when it emerged in the mid 1970s. After massive success pioneering the use of turbochargers during the first half of the 1970s 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 performance car junkies for the first time.

In many ways, the production 930 was diametrically opposed to Porsche’s previous high performance 911, the Carrera RS. Where the RS of just a few years earlier was a raw and elemental homologated race car adapted for the road, 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 distinctive, purposeful, and aggressive presence that would be immortalized, among other places, on the walls of many schoolboys in the 1970s and 80s. Although relatively affordable and overlooked by collectors for many years, 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, which by extension, means some of the most successful race cars of all time.

Initially available in a non-intercooled 3.0 liter variant that is now highly collectible, albeit curious to drive, a 3.3 liter intercooled variant superseded the 3.0 for the 1978 model year. By 1980, US laws had evolved enough to prevent the further sale of the 930 by Porsche North America, and it was not until 1986 when the incorporation of oxygen sensor, electronic assistance for the mechanical fuel injection system, and three-way catalytic converter permitted its return to the US, and with 29 more horsepower than when it left after the 1979 model year. The wheels were larger too, 16 inches in diameter, and 9 inches wide in the back, and the various updates performed over the years to the SC and the Carrera 3.2 were also in place, such as the revised interior and integrated fog lamps.

For 1989, the excellent G50 transmission with hydraulic clutch, which had been introduced for the 1987 model year in the Carrera 3.2, was finally fitted to the 930. The combination of the onset of boost at a relatively lofty 3500 rpm and the four tall gears of the 1988 and earlier 930 meant that driving a 4-speed example requires careful planning and patience. The significantly improved shifter feel and the more closely spaced gear ratios of the 5-speed gearbox dramatically enhances the driving experience of the 930, and for this reason along with the rarity from only having been produced for one model year, they carry a significant premium of at least 25% over a 4-speed car.

This Car

Therefore, this particular car represents the ultimate in desirability for the 930. In addition to being a 5-speed 1989 model year car, it has covered just 26,000 miles and is fantastically clean, even for a car of this low mileage. It has all original paint, as verified by a paint thickness gauge, and is wonderfully clean no-excuses collector caliber car. It was sold new in Bedford, Ohio on 7 September 1989, and was originally equipped with catalytic converter, limited slip differential, short shift lever, rear parcel shelf speakers, amplifier, sunroof, CD player, velour trunk, and Raff leather. The car spent most of its life in the Northeast, where it was obviously used sparingly in fair weather only. It has most recently been part of a sizeable collection that includes five other Porsche Turbos and several Italian exotics.

Condition

Cosmetically, the car is in exceptional condition. It is clear that it was detailed and prepared to high standards when it was shown, and it still presents beautifully. The original paint in excellent, with very very minimal blemishes in the form of a few very small marks on the front end from road use. There are also a few light marks on the rear fenders, also from road use. The swirl marks are extremely minimal. The wheels are essentially unmarked and present extremely crisply, with a fresh as-new appearance. The trim, glass, and lights are also excellent.

The interior is equally nice. The leather is excellent throughout, as are the carpets and dashboard. The gauges, switches, and instruments are in similarly nice condition and there is a crispness to the car’s presentation that is not always present in these cars. The interior is completely stock aside from a metal handbrake handle.

The story is similar in the engine compartment and trunk. Both present extremely well and are unmodified. The correct decals are present in the engine compartment and it is clean and nicely detailed. The trunk carpet is excellent, and the inner fenders are in original undisturbed condition. The jack and correct alloy space saver spare are present, along with plastic tire changing gloves.

The car runs and drives very well. It has a tight, coherent feel consistent with its low mileage. The engine starts easily and pulls well, the brakes are capable and easy to modulate, while the clutch has a reassuring and positive feel. The gearbox is a pleasure to use. The steering is communicative and tight, as are the chassis and suspension.

Conclusion

This is an exceptional opportunity to acquire a low-mileage, original paint, G50 transmission 930 in fantastic condition. A no stories car that could be shown following relatively straightforward preparation, it also runs and drives well. It is complete with books set (including maintenance book), tool roll with tools, jack, and spare tire changing gloves.