Rare Turbo Look: 1985 Porsche 911

In some car circles, having the most powerful model isn’t an automatic indication of owning the most collectible example. We all know of those special vehicles that are undoubtedly collector quality despite not being the most powerful version of a particular model. Oftentimes, I think of the original Ford Mustang California Special as one of those cars that will always be sought after despite not being the same caliber performance-wise as a real-deal Shelby. The Porsche 911 shown here sports the rarely seen M491 “Turbo Look” package that gives it the wide haunches of the turbocharged model with a naturally-aspirated engine. Find it here on eBay with bids to $45,100 and the reserve unmet.

I share the next anecdote not to show off but to share a realization I had when I bought a very inexpensive 2001 Porsche 911 Turbo. The wider fenders of the turbocharged 911 really do wonders for the appearance. The 996 chassis is not a car I ever got very excited about, but the Turbo changes all of that. I won’t get into how wonderful the engine is, but I will share that I am fully indoctrinated regarding the virtues of the extra-wide stance. The same can be said for this air-cooled 911 with an expensive option package that few buyers opted for in the late 80s. You get all of the looks and none of the additional maintenance costs of the Turbo.

Now, plenty of us would happily live with the bills that come with maintaining a borderline exotic if it meant a few extra horsepower. But if you find the current asking price for a 930 to be out of reach, the Turbo-look is an ideal alternative. It’s still highly collectible, and given it was factory-installed, it has none of the shame that’s associated with the aftermarket conversions. The seller, which is a dealer known to specialize in survivor-grade Porsches, points out that this is a 1-owner example that has always been garaged and has resided in California since new. The interior looks brand new, but the seller does not specify the current mileage.

The 3.2L flat-six produces 207 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. The engine compartment looks as tidy as the rest of the car, with factory stickers and other labels still affixed to plastic parts and the engine cowling. The M491 option makes this 911 highly sought-after, and while some air-cooled enthusiasts may wish to save their pennies for the real-deal Turbo, this is the next best thing given the prices those top-banana models are going for. Do you think the M491 package is worth the premium, or would you stick with a standard body to save even more money?