Porsche 911 Turbo (930)
1975–1989 (3.3 from 1978) · Porsche 911 Turbo (930) — Sports Car, Flat-6 Turbo, designed by Anatole “Tony” Lapine.
The Story
The 930 is the original. When the 911 Turbo arrived in 1975 it brought Le Mans turbo technology (born of the 917/30 Can-Am cars) to the road, wrapped it in flared arches and the era-defining ‘whale tail,’ and created the template for the supercar-baiting 911 that survives to this day. The early 3.0-litre (260 PS) gave way in 1978 to the intercooled 3.3 (300 PS Euro) — savagely fast, with violent turbo lag that dumped all its boost in one mid-corner rush. That on-off power, on a short-wheelbase rear-engine car with no electronic aids, earned it the ‘Widowmaker’ nickname and a fearsome, thrilling reputation. It was the poster on every 1980s bedroom wall — and it forever changed what people expected a Porsche to be.
The Numbers
Benchmarked against its class
Each dial ranks this car within its Sports Car class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.
Signature Colors
The Designer
Anatole “Tony” Lapine
Lapine fled Riga as a child, apprenticed at Daimler-Benz, then built a US career at GM before leading Porsche design for nearly two decades. Under him Porsche launched its front-engine, water-cooled transaxle cars (924/928/944) alongside continued 911 development.
Studio Motors POV
The original turbocharged 911 and an absolute icon — the whale-tailed ‘Widowmaker’ that defined the genre. A genuine, documented 3.3 (a G50 if you can find one) is a cornerstone air-cooled collectible.
The Engine
Air-cooled flat-six
Lineage
Where it sits in the bloodline
Market & Value
Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.
What Reviewers Said About 911 Turbo (930)
Worth Knowing About the 911 Turbo (930)
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- 1) The 930's turbo tech was lifted straight from Porsche's 917/30 Can-Am program — racing knowledge made road-legal, under Ernst Fuhrmann. 2) The infamous turbo lag was the point AND the problem — boost arrived suddenly and late, which on a rear-engine chassis is exactly what made it the 'Widowmaker.' 3) For 1989, its final year, Porsche finally gave the 930 a five-speed G50 gearbox (earlier cars made do with a four-speed) — the most desirable 930s of all.
5 Fast Facts
- • In production 1975–1989 (~21,500 built). • 3.0L single-turbo (260 PS) then 3.3L intercooled (300 PS Euro) air-cooled flat-six. • The 'whale tail' rear spoiler — instant 1980s icon. • Earned the 'Widowmaker' name for snap-oversteer with no electronic aids. • The 1989 five-speed (G50) cars are the most sought-after.
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
FLAG: no single documented/citable celebrity owner verified here, though the 930 was the defining 1980s status-symbol supercar. (Excluded rather than guessed.)
Studio Buyer’s Brief
The intercooled 3.3 (1978-on), and especially the 1989 five-speed (G50) cars, are the ones to want. Rust, accident history and originality matter; factory Flachbau (slant-nose) cars command big premiums — verify authenticity, as many are conversions. A documented, unmolested 3.3 with history is the blue-chip; respect the lag, it bites.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- Porsche 911 Turbo (930)
- Class
- Sports Car
- Production years
- 1975–1989 (3.3 from 1978)
- Units built
- ~21,500 (3.0: ~2,819; 3.3: ~18,770)
- Variants
- 3.0 (1975), 3.3 (1978+); Coupe, Targa, Cabriolet; factory Flachbau/Slant-Nose (Turbo SE, MY1986)
- Engine layout
- Rear
- Engine
- Flat-6 Turbo
- Engine family
- Air-cooled flat-six
- Displacement
- 3.3L / 3299 cc
- Power
- 296 hp
- Torque
- 304 lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- 4.9 s
- Top speed
- 162 mph
- Power-to-weight
- 219 hp/tonne · 10.1 lb/hp
- Transmission
- 4-speed manual (Getrag G50 5-speed from 1989)
- Drivetrain
- RWD (rear-engine) · Petrol
- Curb weight
- 2976 lb
Questions
911 Turbo (930) FAQ
What engine does the Porsche 930 Turbo 3.3 use?
The 930 Turbo 3.3 (1978-1989) uses a 3.3-litre turbocharged air-cooled flat-six producing 296 hp and 304 lb-ft of torque, fitted with an air-to-air intercooler added in 1978 alongside the displacement increase from 3.0 litres. It drove the rear wheels through a 4-speed manual gearbox; the final 1989 examples received the Getrag G50 5-speed.
Why was the 930 Turbo considered dangerous to drive?
The 930 Turbo’s single KKK turbocharger produced a pronounced lag followed by a sudden surge of power — known as turbo lag — that caught drivers by surprise mid-corner, particularly in the wet. Combined with the 911’s rear-engine weight distribution and the era’s less sophisticated tyre technology, the car demanded precise throttle discipline. Porsche addressed the characteristics progressively but the 930’s handling reputation persisted throughout its production life.
What is a Porsche 930 Turbo worth today?
The 930 Turbo 3.3 coupe averages approximately $213,690 in 2025-2026 markets, with the range running from around $100,000 for high-mileage examples to $300,000 for pristine low-mileage cars. The rare factory Flachbau (slant-nose) Turbo SE commands a significant premium above standard cars. Hagerty tracks the 930 Turbo with condition-based valuations.
How does the 930 Turbo differ from the 964 Turbo that replaced it?
The 930 Turbo (1975-1989) evolved across the run: early 1975-1977 cars used a 3.0-litre turbocharged flat-six paired with a 4-speed gearbox; the enlarged 3.3-litre engine arrived from 1978, and the 1989 model year received the 5-speed G50 gearbox. The 964 Turbo (1991-1994) that replaced it introduced coil springs and modern suspension architecture.
Can I buy or finance a Porsche 930 Turbo through Studio Motors?
Yes. Specialist lenders can structure financing on these air-cooled classic Porsches.
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