Many of you know by now that I love a good story. The more intriguing a car’s history is, the more likely I am to buy it. The seller of this 1977 Porsche 911 Turbo (930) was apparently claimed via a government auction in Columbia, which – I mean, c’mon, the jokes practically write themselves regarding automatic weapons and private jets – and the wonkiness of some of the registration documents suggests a previous owner wanted to present it as a far less desirable specimen. The seller contends it is actually a 1982-1984 Turbo model, and that the features and small details help establish its true identity. Find it here on eBay for $139,000 or best offer.
Now, first of all, I am not going to play internet detective and attempt to give or take away credence to the seller’s story. There are people who are far more experienced with this era of air-cooled Porsche products to assess its validity. To my amateur eyes, however, it looks like a real-deal Turbo with the flares in the right places and staggered Fuchs wheels, along with the chunky front spoiler. However, we all know how many cars were converted to Turbo status via bodykits (some of them with proper steel flares) and other cosmetic touches, so any prospective owners will want to track down an official COA to confirm its production configuration.
The seller notes the Columbian registration documents show it listed as a 1977 Targa model. He chalks this up to administrative errors, which still happens today with modern Carfax reports, so it’s certainly not far-fetched to imagine a government office that was likely easily influenced in 1970s-1980s Columbia would change this to a lower tier model to reduce the tax burden on its owner. All of that is hearsay, so it’s up to the future owners to perform their own due diligence before plunking down the cash. The chocolate brown interior is in spectacular condition, and the seller points to extensive restoration work as essential in bringing it back to top form.
The seller reports that it was originally red but was refinished to white at a later date, adding to the intrigue – especially since mileage is low, at just 41,048 kilometers. Incredibly, the seller reports that they did not touch the engine in the restoration process, simply replacing the starter motor and that the rest of the engine ran as designed. I am certainly one who believes many 911 engines are needlessly torn down due to ambitious restoration shops and uninformed owners who don’t like seeing a drop of oil on the ground, but a leak-down test would still make good sense here. This 911 Turbo sounds like a fascinating find, and if the owner is open to a lower off, a fantastic deal as well.
Well! Imagine the fun one day, when you hit an odd combination of buttons and levers and all of a sudden, a secret panel pops open and you find…[ insert here ].
Almost free with special snow in hidden body panels that will blow your mind.
Its the gov so this one should have been donated to friends and family 🤪😉😗
Seriously.. hope it finds a good home!
That would be “Colombia”.
Was the original owner in the business of “agricultural exports?”
Check under the back seat and behind the door panels for bags of “stuff”. A friend of mine sold a 5.0 Rustang that was built by some “characters” from Arizona. The guy he sold it to found that stuff when he went to change the interior. Whatever it was got flushed down the drain, not wanting to explain the whole thing to law enforcement.
Pull the other leg, that one has bells on it.
I think that searching a car by local “leos” leaves alot to be desired. Border patrol guys do it right. We had a GMC Yukon stolen off our lot and it was recovered a day or two later in town. We got it back all covered on finger print dust. Resulting in “no usable prints. We gave it to the detail department to clean up. I got in to give it a once over and found the perp’s wallet on the seat under the fold down armrest. The address on the license was accross the street from where the Yukon was discovered. That was “great detective work by the loleos”
They do a great job trying to make a hinky story sound interesting, i will give them that. But originally red with a Targa VIN? I don’t know about this one. it sounds like it may have been in Charlie Sheen’s shop in “No Man’s Land” at one point!
How’s the “provenance”, seller?
Given the car has Florida tags, are you referring to Columbia County in Florida? Or the country of Colombia. Note the difference in the spelling.
Now if you can somehow connect it to Pablo Escobar you’ll could be talking more bucks.
A good looking Porsche regardless of the story. No way will this car ever fly as “original”. A fun story, but it just boils down to a story. A Porsche freak could verify all the parts. And that could be a story all its own. Does it go and handle like a Porsche should. Then good enough!
It has a third brake light in back above the rear wing/spoiler, so it must be at least an 1986 model (unless it was a non-factory addition.).
The 1977 Turbo had a 3.0-liter engine. A 3.3 (and the intercooler) corresponds with a 1982-1984 model. Further research would help. Regardless, this car’s story will stay with it, and Porsche buyers don’t like cars with stories. If you’re not concerned with the documents, want the car, and don’t plan to sell it, this might be a bargain. The buyer has a 100% rating but no other cars on Ebay.
There is no legitimate reason that a 911 Turbo coupe would have a Targa factory VIN.
isnt Targa just a roof option ?
and a white car in a hot country that specialized in ‘white’ seems sensible to me; id choose white over red. Its the condition and options that make it, and a good looking year for these; $140k for government auction car ?!, lacking paperwork !? wow, see if it sticks to the wall i guess.
As for Colombia, cocaine is everywhere, easily obtained, as ganga is in most states here; excluding stuck in the mud states like KS and IN where genetically engineered / modified corn and soy are grown everywhere covered in round-up and other highly toxic to all living things, contaminating soil and ground water are welcome even subsidized.
However, ganga in Colombia is very illegal, hidden, hushed in discussion; the ironies abound.
As history proves, time and time again; if we care to see, hear and share.. the corruption is nearing ‘red line’
🙈🙉🙊
For us Germans its always funny when you guys add a “German” licence plate to your cars, that are so wrong in many ways, that everyone here is just laughing about it…
It’s for added “authenticity”
ya, to us were acknowledging and giving credit to the fine German engineering.. also a highway with no speed limit :)