.By the middle of 1979, US-based Porsche customers were undoubtedly envious of their fellow European enthusiasts. The reason? Tightening emissions standards and internal politics forced Porsche to stop selling the 911 Turbo Stateside, one of the few bright spots in an otherwise bleak era for automotive performance. The resulting effect was a run on these Turbos at the end of the year, resulting in allocations, wait lists, dealer markups, and a limited production run to close out the series in the US. Sound familiar? While the 911 Turbo would return to the US-market in 1986 there has always been a special affinity for 1979 model year 911 Turbos and those remembering the frenzy surrounding them.
The carpeting, door panels, optional front sport seats and rear seats are covered in Beige leather while the dashboard, knee pads, and door tops are covered in a darker shade of brown. The Porsche Production Specifications (PPS) sheet confirms the optional and highly desirable leather sport seats, along with an electric sliding sunroof, passenger side mirror, and limited-slip differential. Furthermore, the PPS sheet confirms that this Type 930 retains its original, matching numbers turbocharged engine and four-speed transmission.
An advertisement for this very car appeared in the March 2011 edition of Tobacco Roads, the newsletter for PCA’s Carolinas Region. The ad states that the car has been, “Well maintained, always garaged” noting it is sold with 49,411 miles on the odometer and long-term ownership of 24 years since 1987. Today, it features an indicated 51,033 miles, approximately 1,600 miles of which were driven in the past dozen years, and appears to remain in much the same condition as it left the factory in the late 1970s. Light modifications of note include replacement of the rear Koni shock absorbers, heat exchangers, cassette stereo head unit, center console, and Momo shift knob. Still an impressive sight on today’s roads, the first four years of Type 930 production are in a collectible group unto themselves, especially a matching numbers, well-optioned example like this from 1979.