Is there ever a car you wish you could pull the trigger on, even if it’s well outside your budget? For me, the Porsche 930 is solidly in that category, not so much because I want to own a vintage supercar but because it seems like a relative bargain on the air-cooled landscape. While low-mileage, time capsule examples will easily clear $100,000, 930s that are closer to driver-grade with average miles with some questionable modifications can be bought for a hair under that number under the right circumstances. This 1979 930 listed here on eBay is not going to be such an example, as it’s knocking against six figures with the reserve unmet.

The “widowmaker” claims are what most enthusiasts think of when the 930 is mentioned, owing to its whipsaw characteristics when in the hands of a driver unfamiliar with lift-off oversteer. Moving past that, the 930 is a mile marker in Porsche history when considering how significant turbocharging has been in turning its marquee sports car into a perennial contender as one of the best in the world. The flared fenders, whale tail rear wind, deep dish Fuchs wheels, and Recaro seats all combine to create a car that is often copied but never truly replicated. How many kit cars and fender conversion kits were born after the introduction of the 930?

Now, going back to my earlier point about buying a 930 for under $100,000: yes. they are rare, but they are out there (see here and here for some recent sales.) And while this is an older vehicle in every way, and gradually becoming more of an antique with each passing year, there’s also a blissful simplicity that comes with that. There are no electronic nannies, no excessive safety features, and certainly no gigantic screen mounted in the dash. This is still a quick car by today’s standards and one that demands the driver focus solely on the matter at hand. Thankfully, these haven’t been excessively restomodded, which speaks to its staying power.

Now, the other selling point for the 930 is its impressive reliability. The turbocharged flat-six is known to easily rack up over 100,000 miles without a significant overhaul. In fact, I would argue that most air-cooled Porsches that show a rebuild in the maintenance folder with under 100K on the clock is due to an owner scared of oil spots on the floor versus a car in need of a rebuild. The 930’s powerplant has long been called overbuilt, which is why it’s of little surprise (or concern) that this car has over 97,000 miles. If you’re looking for a special air-cooled 911 that doesn’t require 993 money, the 930 is a great place to park some cash.