Porsche 930

Top of the 911 Tree

Rumours were abound in the motoring press that Porsche was going to release something big at the 1974 Paris Motorshow. Wild guesses were thrown everywhere - and included everything, from a Formula One project, to a new racing car, via a completely new model and suggestions that even a change of ownership was on the cards.

However, very few came near the truth - the 1974 Paris Motorshow was the release of the 930 Turbo - to many the personification of the 911 model.

Homologation Special

Originally intended as a homologation special to allow the 911-bodyshape to go racing, the 930 was destined to be a limited-run model. To homologate the 911 for Group 4 'Silhouette' racing, Porsche had to build 400 930s by 1976. But demand was much stronger than expected, and Porsche had sold 400 cars by mid-1975.

The car was obviously popular, and Porsche had already decided that it would continue with the model. But internal conflict was rife over the form it should take - Ferry Porsche decreeing that the 930 should be a stripped-out RS-alike, and company CEO arguing that a luxurious, GT specification was what was needed. The board member sided with the CEO, and the 930 continued as the ultimate 911 - supercar performance provided by the 3.0 litre flat six, developed from the RSR racer, allied to a luxurious leather interior - featuring all the mod-cons available at the time. Particular options of interest were the 'Dr. Furmann seats' - curious bubble-padded perches designed to eliminate shoulder and back pain on long distance driving - and the Blaupunkt 'Portable' stereo - in reality, a giant black box weighing several kilograms.

The model pioneered high-performance turbocharging, utilising a single KKK-unit to give 260BHP. Other innovations included ventilated disk brakes, developed from the legendary 'Pink Pig' 917 Le Mans racer, and the harnessing of aerodynamics on a road car, in the shape of the synonomous 'Tea Tray' rear wing.