1979 Porsche 930 (...and 78's too!)

“Porsche turbo Stories”, published by the Porsche Museum (Stuttgart, 2009) has a photo of what appears to be an early 3.3 liter turbo outfitted with test equipment. This 930 is a non-optioned sunroof and right-side mirror and could be a 3.3 liter preproduction car.

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp269/carrlane/930museum2.jpg

There's also a photo of the 3.3 liter turbo brakes with caption: “Race-tested: the 911 turbo 3.3’s brakes came from the Porsche 917.”

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp269/carrlane/930museum1.jpg

 

’79 arrow blue on Anamera. U.S. California 930 that now resides in the UK. Nice example with only 40K original miles.

http://www.anamera.com/en/detail/car/200242/index.html?no_cache=1&ret=63

 

Very nice looking example that I thought I saw before. I knew for sure when I saw the Sloan Plate Frame.

Here it is on Sloan's site. Says it was sold. The pictures, descriptions and mileage remain eerily similar.

http://sloancars.com/883/1979-911-turbo-coupe-arrow-blue-with-blue-leather-40884-miles/

 

Very fun thread, I have had many early 911's and now I have this 1978 930 and enjoy it very much. I really like the history and the details of these cars. I also really enjoy the evolution of this design. The ultimate 'silk purse made out of a cow's ear" concept, I say this with much endearment.
Here is an example of the details I like, I was fixing the horn and noticed the VW steering wheel hub on my 1978 930.
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Fritz,
I see a couple of interesting items in the pictures.
1. Your Tach Red Lines at 62500 - normal for a 3.3 is 67500. Does it have a boost gauge?
2. I see the 90 mark at 11 o'clock on your Speedo - is it a 180 MPH?
It would be interesting to know your VIN and a little history.

As to the VW Hub, don't know if that's normal or not.
I can tell you that my Wife drives a VW Tiguan and the Brain Box under the passengers seat has Audi and the 5 Rings all over it. Porsche, VW, and Audi have been interchanging parts since the begining of time.

 

930, My car was purchased new in Germany and used for six years by the owners of 'Trouser King' till sold to a Ken in 1984 at that time ken purchased the car he went to Ruf and brought a trans, P&C's, exhaust, turbo, clutch, etc. Ken sold the car to Preston who I purchased the car from.
I saw this car for the first time in 1986 and was attracted to it for many reasons. It does not have a sun Roof or rear wiper. Leather dash and manual sport type seats.
As a rule I do not like modified cars but Ruf has parts made equal in quality to OEM and this car looks stock to the casual observer.
You noticed the Tack. It has been changed to one with out a boost gauge since there is now one in place of the of the clock. That is the kind of thoroughness I like in this car. There is a 5-speed shift knob with a dog leg first as the only external give away to the Ruf trans.
Another sign of a German car is no Vin seen from the out side, mine has been 'Federalized' so it has a home made vin plate on the dash.
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Fritz, nice Ruf mods. Is your ‘78 a factory rear wiper delete?

It would be interesting to know more about the early 3.3 liter U.S. ‘78 930’s. In “Porsche of Great Price”, (Feb 80, Car & Driver), Patrick Bedard mentions that three of the press-fleet turbos were stolen off the lots in Englewood Cliffs, NJ and Los Angeles (no mention if these were 3 or 3.3 liter 930's).

The minerva blue ’78 930 tested by Car and Driver is the only '78-79 930 I’ve seen that has an “Unleaded Fuel Only” decal installed on the gauge. I’ve seen a few of these decals on low mileage '78-79 911 SC’s but never a 930.

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp269/carrlane/78unlead1.jpg

The black ’78 930 in Road and Track has a dyno tape label attached to the tachometer to indicate: “Turbo Boost”. This may seem odd but remember none of the U.S. magazines test drove the ’77 (w/ 1.5 bar boost gauge) so this was a new feature and Porsche+Audi, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, may have added this for clarity. The intercooler on this car is also unusual in that the decal is on the right side and not the rear as was standard for '78-89 930's.

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp269/carrlane/78unlead2.jpg

We don't know the VIN of either of these test cars but they both have standard tachometers with 1 bar boost gauges that were in production from '78-89.

 

930,
I have no proof on the tachometer, but I know the clock was changed for a Porsche 2 bar VDO boost gauge in 1984 ( I have the receipt for the gauge with the other parts) and I believe the tack. was changed at that time by Ken to eliminate the redundancy of gauges.
I believe the rear wiper was removed in 1984 to make room for the larger IC.
My car is not that exotic, Just a nicely modded, sport seat, non-sunroof 930.
These cars are wonderful.

The information and pictures you and the others have added to this thread is enlightening and enjoyable!
On one of my receipts, I have a part number and the description of 'Steam Wheel' is that a adjustable boost knob?

 

Yes, interesting site for the VIN. US cars were on the insde driver's side "A Pillar".
Your serial number identifies your '78 as somewhere near mid-run for the year. Probably manufactured 2/78 give or take a month. Sounds like a nice car.
Early 930's are special. Enjoy the boost!

 

this one was flipped around several times (at leat 3) a couple years back and eneded up at sloans. the first time it was offered it was in the low 40s, the sloan had it in the low 60s if i recall.

 

not perfect but nice 78 popped up at sloan's

http://sloancars.com/3427/1978-930-copper-metallic-cork-25000-miles/

 

Man I have always wanted a 930 where do I start to educate myself?

I have seen many cars that claim to be 930's but how do you really know.

Like a nice looking 83 euro version I saw on ebay is it really a 930?

any help is appreciated!

johnny

 

I would by one of the many fantastic books written about these cars.
'The used 911' is a good one for instance or ' The original 911'
A lot of these books list the vin. Nunbers and where to find them. I do not know the cut off date but the early 930 vin. Started with "930" which makes it easy on the early cars to know it is a 930.
Enjoy the research!

 

This is part of the mystique of the early 930's.

Through 1979 any Porsche chassis that started with a 930 VIN could have identified either a 930. 934, or 935 product. The 930 chassis lead the way to the last overall production based car win by any manufacturer at Le Mans in 1979. Early 930's traveled the assembly line in Stuttgart disguised as 911's until the front and rear fenders were cut off to have the massive extended fender "wing and joining plates" welded and molded onto the body.

A couple of books I found very helpful were;
- Michael Cotton's, Porsche 911 Turbo 3 and 3.3 litre; Project no. 930
- Bruce Anderson's, Porsche 911 Performance Handbook 1963-1998

Welcome to the 930 ride!

 

I think they changed in MY1981 as auto makers switched over to the 17 digit VIN.

 

the books are a good resource for learning. stay on this forum, but also go to the Pelican Parts turbo forum as that is more technical. Some folks on this forum also post on Pelican.

 

yep got some books on the way to me now, Just might take a week or more to get here.

The one car I saw on Ebay that I really like and I'm not sure why is this one

Vin # WP0ZZZ93ZDS000933

its not perfect but it is a Euro and I guess its that color I like anything but red and that is not the norm!

 

Additionally, 1980 was a one-off year for ROW 930 VINs (prior to the 1981, 17 digit VIN)

Type (93 for 930), A = 1980, 0 - manufacturing plant, 0 (930) – Type Supplement, 7 – Engine Version, 930, 3.3l ROW, 0001 – consecutive number.

 

Motor’s May 16, 1979 test of an extremely rare (for 3.3 liter) tartan dress interior 930.

Caption:

“Breathtaking acceleration, astonishing roadholding, superb braking – the epitome of the old adage ‘racing improves the breed’, Porsche’s 3.3 Turbo is the best example of precision engineering on four wheels at any price.”

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp269/carrlane/motor1.jpg

Pages 20 has a list of several dealers featuring both 3 liter and 3.3 liter 930’s. On Page 21, there’s a seldom seen Porsche ‘78/79 3.3 liter advertisement (930 behind the 928) – caption: "Dr. Porsche would like you to examine his latest range of cars. Moving on to the right foot: should you apply it to the accelerator of Dr. Porsche’s new 3.3 Turbo, you’ll find performance to send tingles up your spine.”

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp269/carrlane/motor2.jpg

 

Photo of a white 930 with Martini decals from Chris Harvey’s, “The Porsche 911” book. Appears to be either a ’78 or ’79 ROW 930 based on the single tip exhaust and may have been equipped with the Dr. Fuhrmann seats.

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp269/carrlane/930martinia.jpg

Some visual keys to distinguish earlier 3.3 cars are the lack of a rear fog light and side light turn markers that were installed in the 1981 model year. The 1981 Porsche Service-information booklet mentions that the installation of the side turn markers necessitated a change in routing of the oil pipes to the front oil cooler and location of the electric antenna. Additionally, 1981 ROW 930’s had new switch symbols that also included the tail fog light.

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp269/carrlane/930martinib.jpg

 

U.S. ’78, 9308800213 sold for salvage in an Oct 12 eBay auction ($10.5K). No doubt an alarming number of ‘78/79 930’s have met a similar fate. Amazing when you consider just how expensive these cars were in the 1970s.

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp269/carrlane/78salv1.jpg

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp269/carrlane/78salv2.jpg

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp269/carrlane/78salv3.jpg

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsche-930-salvage-title-930-turbo-selling-cheap-/300799856019?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item4609118d93

 

didn't see this one. there are some parts there i like.

 

The white 930 with test equipment in “Porsche turbo Stories” also appeared in the ’79 928 and 924 Porsche brochures (same S-DC 9580 plate number). The brochure photo is small (enlarged at link below) but it looks like this car has the early ’75-77 Turbo badge. This may be preproduction ROW 3.3 930. I hope it is a survivor and was not parted for salvage.

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp269/carrlane/78pre9.jpg

 

Does anyone have a lead on a Project car out there??

I'm a fully licensed Auto body, painter as well as a Licensed Aircraft mechanic I love wrenching on cars.

waiting on my books!

 

Here’s a website that has the second production ’78 930 for sale, 9308700012.

http://www.art-restoration.eu/en/voitures-select-developpe.php?id=6

From the paperwork depicted on the website, this 930 was delivered on June 7, 1977. Unfortunately, it’s missing the turbo badge and I doubt it was turbo badge delete (holes filled in with a repaint? was it originally equippied with the smaller turbo badge?). The website mentions that this is one of the 5 cars built for factory use (0011 to 0015).

The car has a standard 3.3 liter tachometer but the Oil Temperature/Pressure gauge differs from standard 3.3 liter production. Notice that the labels for "Temp" and "Druck" are vertical (vs. horizontal that were standard on 3.3 liter 930’s).

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp269/carrlane/78pre10.jpg

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp269/carrlane/78pre11.jpg

The Brembo brake calipers are also visible through the wheels so this car is not equipped with ATE calipers (at least not now).

I have no affiliation with this car but it seems like 39,000 Euro is a pretty good deal if this is actually a factory-use preproduction car.