The other day, a Porsche 911 of a certain desirable spec sold for over $1 million on a popular auction site. The buyer was all too happy to share that it will be joining a private collection where it will be used for Instagram photo shoots and other glamorous social media exploits. It’s so tiring to see vehicles used solely for this purpose that it makes cars like this 1982 Porsche 930, a 911 Turbo by any other name, particularly refreshing. It’s actually been driven and not treated to a multi-year restoration for the sin of being used as intended. It’s now listed here on eBay with one bid to $99,000 and the reserve unmet.
The one aspect of the Porsche world that has changed dramatically in recent years is the transition from owners being the sort to track the living daylights out of their cars to ones who rarely drive them. The 930 was always a bit of a beast on the track or on the road, rightfully earning the nickname the “Widowmaker.” But if you knew how to drive it at the limits, it was a marvel, as most 911s are when driven with gusto. And there was a time when seeing road scars and general wear-and-tear in an air-cooled 911 was hardly cause for alarm; it was almost expected. The seller acknowledges that the pretty Pacific Blue Metallic paint does have imperfections; after all, it was driven regularly for the last 40 years.
The driver’s seat actually shows some wear – amazing! I was half expecting to see a freshly recovered seat stuffed with goose feathers and featuring Gucci-inspired stitching down the sides. Just to prove I’m not exaggerating, Singer – the company that creates million dollar restomods out of 911s – recently announced a collaboration with fashion designer Louis Vuitton, with the finished cars featuring all sorts of ridiculous touches that completely defeat the purpose of owning a 911. It must be a trend, since very Singer build appears for sale with next to no miles on it. This 930 has been religiously maintained by the current owner, who performs all of his own work.
This is a European-spec 930, so it makes a bit more power than the U.S. car. 300 b.h.p. and 304 lb.-ft. of torque makes this car one of the more powerful sports models of its era, and it will still prove highly entertaining today. The seller notes that it has been fairly reliable, not needing extensive service while in his possession. This, actually, matches my experience with the 911s I have owned: they have generally been very reliable, and leak very little if you actually drive them. Contrary to popular opinion, they do not all need engine reseals at 25,000 miles – but perhaps if you never fire it up, the engines will leak more than a car that’s actually driven with vigor once a week. This 930 looks like a gem for anyone seeking a Porsche you’re not afraid to drive.
If I was in the financial class that could afford a 930, this is probably it. I’ve driven a couple, sometimes at “immoderate” speeds (when no one was watching) and found them a joy. Others disagree, but once one learns to follow the car’s lead and mind the turbo lag, they’re not all that difficult. They are exceptionally nice daily drivers, too.
Porsches in general and 911s specifically are not inexpensive to maintain. Granted, they are, as Jeff says, very reliable, but they are also somewhat complex and there isn’t enough space in the back for both engine and mechanics’ hands and tools when it comes to some required services. It’s the price owners pay for all the good times in between shop visits.
I suspect the seller’s reserve is well into five figures, which is both a lot of money and not out of live for 930s these days.
Is there a downside? The statement that the car has a “U.S. title” tells me it is registered in a state more forgiving than California. Pretty sure it would take a hefty amount of gold to make it acceptable to the Golden State, even if the rest of the car falls under the 25-year rule.
But I’m not in California, so the only thing that keeps me out of this beauty is a small matter of disposable cash….
Until the Eaton Fire in Altadena, I owned a normally aspirated version (911SC), same year as this 930. I had it for 11 years and put about 20,000 miles on it (135,000 on the original engine when I bought it). I can’t speak for the experience of others, but I found it fairly straightforward to work on, at least for service items; brakes, worn suspension items, valve adjusts, tune ups, etc., etc. I also had a very good independent mechanic in Pasadena who was willing to work with me, i.e., “you can handle that, I need to do this.” Honestly, he didn’t have to do much on my 911. I’m sure the turbo adds some complexity, but I’m willing to bet it’s not that much different.
I’m sure you’re right RayT, this car is probably not register-able in California, unless you “know someone who knows someone”, and even those sort of arrangements are getting harder to make.
Having said all that, I would love to own this Porsche. It was a “Grail car” when I was a lad. The color is unique and it’s a real driver, not a garage queen. I would recover those seats and happily drive the snot out of it.