Porsche 911 (930) Turbo 3.3 Targa

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The first 911 3.0 Turbo appeared back in 1975 in what was intended to be a run of just 500 cars – little did Porsche know that nearly 40 years on they would still be making turbocharged versions of the model!

Using an RS derived 3.0-litre flat-six air-cooled engine with a KKK turbo, a then-mind-blowing 260bhp and 253lb/ft torque was on tap, but only when the engine felt that it had spooled the turbo to sufficient revs to deliver. The effect was legendary, as was the turbo lag, giving the pilots of early cars near heroic status if they weren’t constantly picking bits of hedge out of the impressive over-size rear spoiler. Internally coded 930/30, they were cars of enormous character if limited brakes, those coming from the much less rapid 911S.

From 1978 a stretching of the bore and stroke raised the power output to 300bhp and 320lb/ft torque for the new 3.3 Turbo, the extra torque making the car much more usable, the turbo lag now moving into the realms of thrilling rather than intimidating, along with new brakes derived from the immortal 917 race car which meant that slowing down caused no concerns whatsoever.

1984 saw the arrival of the 930/66 Turbo, basically the same car fitted with Bosch KE Jetronic fuel injection and revised valve timing which delivered a 15% reduction in fuel consumption. Updated further in 1986 with Motronic electronic ignition, the car finally reached maturity in 1989 with 16” wheels and a 5-speed gearbox based on the excellent G50 box with stronger cases and special ratios to cope with the extra torque. Much rarer than the Coupe model, only 320 Turbo Targas were made in total for the European market between 1987 and 1989.

This particular Turbo Targa was first registered in May 1989 and has had just four owners from new, being originally supplied by Parker & Parker of Kendal, Cumbria, to first owner Charles Carter of C&A Carter Ltd for the sum of £58,000. Carter had clearly ordered the car some time previously and, this being the crazy days of the late 80s classic car boom, just 18 days later he sold it to dealer William Loughran Ltd for £100,000 and a mere three hours later it was sold to International Sports Cars Ltd for £110,000 (supporting documentation on file).

The car has covered some 116,300 miles with a comprehensive service history comprising 21 stamps to date, the last only 2,000 miles ago in June 2012. The first eight stamps are by main agents North Hants Porsche, the next 10 by 911 specialists Two Plus Two of Brierley Hill and the next two by PCT Porsche of Coventry. There are also many invoices for routine maintenance including a complete new clutch kit at 106,994 miles.

According to a document in the history file, this is one of only 25 such cars made in right-hand drive with the G50 5-speed gearbox, a fact which we have not been able to verify but is certainly plausible. The current owner acquired the car from Listers of Worcester in 1997 and has used it regularly all year round. The ninth 911 that he has owned, he reports that it drives beautifully and has always proved totally reliable during his 17 years’ ownership with superb performance from the 3.3-litre engine which he rates as an exceptionally strong unit.

In highly original condition throughout, it has the odd cosmetic blemish that you would expect on a car of this age but appears to be a fundamentally sound example that could be easily restored to tip-top condition if desired. The Targa roof is said to fit well and to be totally weatherproof. Always garaged when not in use, it comes with a fitted Porsche car cover that it has had from new plus all its original handbooks in the original wallet. Currently taxed and with an MOT until June 2015, it is ready for immediate use.