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Turbo Beater: 1981 Porsche 930

This 1981 Porsche 930 was discovered in a state of condition that’s unusual for one of the more collectible air-cooled Porsches made in the last few decades. It’s clearly been used, and likely someone’s forgotten track toy, based on the accessories seen installed throughout. The 930 does startup, and the listing notes it has been with the same caretaker for over 30 years, freshly removed from storage. The roll cage, body kit, custom intercooler, and adjustable boost controller are just a few of the clues that this 930 was likely a screamer on the track at one point in time. Find it here on eBay with a $59,500 Buy-It-Now and the option to submit a best offer.

The 930 has some of the classic signs of enthusiast ownership, from the Porsche Club of America sticker out back to the colors and logos of famous Porsche tuning company, bb, underneath the whale-tail spoiler and across the hood. The listing describes the car in small snapshots as to the different levels of tuning tweaks made by the longtime owner, from a Fichtel & Sachs heavy-duty clutch and pressure plate to a quick-ratio steering box. The paint is a bit tired in these places, but overall, that seems to capture the way the prior owner treated this 930: a brutal track car first, with cosmetics falling to a distant second place. The nose has plenty of road rash presumably from track use.

The interior retains familiar features of a 930 model, from the leather sport seats to the three-spoke steering wheel and leather dash. The roll cage is obviously a later addition that would help this 930 meet safety requirements for track days, but the seller doesn’t mention any details about its construction or current compliance with modern track requirements. The photos of the interior also show a custom gauge cluster in the shifter console, mounting bracket for a fire extinguisher, and an Andial adjustable boost controller in the backseat. 930s were popular cars for competitive use, the sort of vehicle you could drive to the track and home again at the end of the day, provided it didn’t live up to its moniker as the widow maker. 

The engine benefits from several upgrades, including a Clay Dopke custom-built large intercooler, 100mm Mahle pistons and cylinders with Ni-Resist anti-flame rings, and an SC cam grind, a popular upgrade that typically yields more power across the map when the cams are sent out to be re-ground to SC specs. The 930 was likely a screamer back in the day, and a formidable track weapon when put into the right hands. The 930 has been a collector car for years, but I like the idea of keeping this one in its tatty, tuned-up appearance as a reminder that not every air-cooled needs to be restored back to better than factory condition. The 930 is located in Orange, California if you want to take a closer look.

Comments

  1. Avatar bobhess Member

    Don’t have my Porsche books any more but I believe that’s the factory center console with the AC controls and extra instruments in it. Not going to go racing with the present roll cage but it would get you into most track days. Only problem with a rough looking race car is the Tech inspectors look twice as hard at it. Still, as much as I don’t like grunge paint this car is probably a blast on the track. Been there, done that.

    Like 6
  2. Avatar e63911

    Fender-mounted turn signal indicators (behind front wheels) and narrow rear bumperettes suggests that it was a grey market import. Quite common in the early-80’s; they were cheaper to buy than US authorized cars, but Porsche dealers would not service them. They were federalized by small US entrepreneurs. For those reasons, at the time, used gray market cars in the US generally sold at a discount relative to their factory US spec counterparts – which could be why the car was a beater track car… (I have wondered if that discount has diminished.)

    Like 2
  3. Avatar KEVIN L HARPER

    A Bauchman brothers porsche? I don’t know how much this car has from the original German tuner but back in the late 70’s and early 80’s they were a big deal. Particularly to young guys with no money and older guys with no taste.
    This car actually looks like a fun track dog. Driving a car like this is not for the faint of heart. It is truly exhilarating when you get it right, but it will not suffer fools and will rip your head off if you do something stupid.

    Like 6
  4. Avatar martinsane

    Nice to see a car that is used or at least appears to be used as intended and not a museum piece. As mentioned looks like a blast to drive and im glad someone did just that with it.

    Like 4
  5. Avatar Jcs

    Wait, what??

    Like 0
  6. Avatar PRA4SNW

    SOLD for $59,500.

    Like 0

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