1982 Porsche 930 Turbo Coupe

Description

Porsche’s original supercar burst onto on the motoring scene to critical acclaim in 1975, the 930 Turbo’s pumped-up bodywork hiding a multitude of engineering changes based on experience hard won on the racetrack.  Porsche pioneered forced induction technology, beginning with a turbocharged version of the 911 RSR campaigned in the 1974 World Sports Car Championship.  Hidden under the signature whale-tail sat the familiar flat-six boosted by an exhaust-driven KKK turbocharger with an oil cooler, Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection and a 6.5:1 compression ratio to give 260bhp, making the 930 Porsche’s most powerful road car yet.  With revised suspension and four-speed gearbox designed specifically for the new model (the existing five-speed from the 911 wasn’t capable of handling the 406 lb/ft of torque generated by the engine), the Turbo had electrifying performance.  Flared guards housed wider Fuchs alloy wheels shod with massive Pirelli P7 tyres while spoilers front and rear helped generate sufficient downforce to keep the Porsche glued to the road.  The 930 was very much Porsche’s flagship, competing with supercars like the Ferrari Boxer and Lamborghini Countach but with the added benefits of Teutonic reliability and a modicum of practicality.  By 1979, the model had undergone a host of improvements, including 16-inch forged alloy wheels, cross-drilled and vented disc brakes derived from the legendary 917 racing car.  The flat six was enlarged to 3299cc with a charge-air intercooler, boosting power output to 300bhp at 5500rpm.  The 3.3-litre Turbo remains a seriously quick motor car, capable of 0-100 km/h times in the low 5 second bracket and a top speed in excess of 260 km/h.  The 930 has enjoyed something of a renaissance in the classic car marketplace over the last ten years, with collectors recognising the significance of the model to the heritage of the Zuffenhausen marque, not to mention the rarity compared with lesser 911s.