What Fast Feels Like
1989 Porsche 930 Turbo Cabriolet
Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I’m a car guy. Always have been. That’s why, when I saw this gem for sale, I absolutely had to have it. It’s a 1989 Porsche 930 Turbo Cabriolet 5-Speed with – and this was the clincher for me – only 12,000 miles on the engine. In other words, just broken in.
Originally, a “cabriolet” was a light two-wheeled carriage with a hood, drawn by one horse. However, this “cabriolet” packs the power of 300 horses. At the time of its introduction, it was the fastest production car available in Germany, and one of the quickest sports cars available in the U.S. This car is a rare and striking modern classic that takes us back to 1980s Los Angeles.
The Gearhead Stuff
The final production year of the legendary 930 Turbo was 1989, and these desirable end-of-the-line cars were fitted with the prized Getrag G50 five-speed transaxle, ensuring few cars would compete with the 930's recognized authority on both street and racetrack.
The car is powered by a turbocharged 3.3L flat-six mated to a five-speed G50 manual transaxle, exclusive to the 1989 model, and features an optional limited-slip differential. Braking for the 930 was provided by finned calipers and cross-drilled rotors all around.
The turbocharged 3.3-liter flat-six produced 282 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 289-lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm.
The Sexy Stuff
Finished in white over black leather, features include a black convertible soft top, a rear spoiler, 16″ Fuchs wheels, power-adjustable front seats, air conditioning, an aftermarket Alpine CD stereo with power windows, mirrors, and locks. It also came with a convertible-top boot cover, a car cover, a spoiler cover, carpeted floor mats, and a tool roll.
The body is finished in Grand Prix White, and equipment includes headlight washers, fog lights, a “tea-tray” rear spoiler, black stone guards, and rear bumperettes.
A four-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel with a raised hub frames a central 7k-rpm tachometer, a 170-mph speedometer, an analog clock, and gauges for fuel level, oil level, oil temperature, oil pressure, and boost pressure. My heart is racing just writing about it all!
The Fun Stuff
Much of the Porsche 911's development was a result of the factory's racing program, which spurred the development of 'Project 930' - the legendary 911/930 Turbo. The Turbo married a turbocharger to the 3.0-liter Carrera RSR engine, in road trim a combination that produced a top speed of 160mph (though the speedometer tops out at a breezy 170mph). But the Turbo wasn't just about top speed; it was also the best-equipped 911 and amazingly flexible, being capable of going from a standstill to 100mph in 14 seconds.
What set the 930 Turbo apart from its peers was the relaxed way this incredible performance was delivered. One of my favorite statements about this amazing vehicle came from Motor's Roger Bell, who said that what made the Porsche so different was that it "hurls you forward with similar velocity but in an uncannily quiet and effortless way. To be shoved so hard in the back that you need high-back seats to keep your head on, yet neither to feel nor hear anything more than a muffled hum, is a very odd sensation indeed in a car."
“It (the Porsche 911 Turbo) offers the finest blend of ultimate performance and refinement I have ever come across.”