One of the undisputed supercars of the baby boomer generation was the Porsche 911 Turbo. First introduced in 1975, it was nothing short of sensational, a trailblazing high performance car capable of giving a contemporary Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer or Lamborghini Countach a run for the money. More curvaceous than Jayne Mansfield, it was pure auto porn, prominently displayed on posters in young men's rooms around the globe.
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Driving on the passing lane of the Autobahn and seeing a flared and winged, black Turbo approaching in the rear view mirror, had the same effect as seeing Darth Vader menacingly raising his light saber in attack mode.
Panic!
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A surprise to many Porsche enthusiasts, beginning in 1984, the 911 Turbo was available right from the factory in full battle guise, called the 930 performance body and chassis option. This option consisted of all of the 930 body and chassis features including large front and rear spoilers, wider 16" wheels, 917-type brake calipers and cross-drilled rotors, yet remained equipped with the normally aspirated 3.2-Liter Carrera engine. Still a 150mph car, this reduced the maintenance cost by over 50% while still being able to accelerate faster than almost all other cars on the road.
The factory M-code for this option was 491, referred to as the WTL, which in turn stands for Works Turbo Look.
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Is this a rare car? You bet! Click on the image to the left for an XXL-sized view |
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The 1984 WTL presented here, VIN *WP0AB0914ES121989*, is one of these super rare birds. It had just three owners in the past 30 years, the most recent being the proprietor of the country's foremost purveyor of Porsche upholstery, Autos International of Escondido, Calif.
The car comes with books and records, as well as a clean history report. It was always driven sparingly, less than 4,750 miles annually, on average, to be exact.
Maintenance receipts add up to just about $10,000.00 and list a new clutch and much A/C work, including the desirable R134A conversion, among other items.
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Let's now inspect this amazing Porsche in more detail, starting up front, under the bonnet.
All dressed in charcoal velours, the trunk carpeting is clean like a whistle and absolutely spotless throughout.
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Stripped of its clothing, we find nothing but factory-original finishes here. Factory paint label "Schwarz" is still attached to the right inner fender.
Inflatable spare is date coded and the factory jack rests in its correct place up front.
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Battery is near new and -- unlike in many Porsches -- there is no corrosion here. Since the front suspension is mounted to the "nose" section, its condition is of paramount importance for safetey.
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A life-long Southwestern car, the WTL has remained corrosion-free. There's no accident damage anywhere, either. Remnants of the factory-applied Cosmoline protective wax can still be found here and there. Click on the image to the left for an XXL-sized view |
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Above photos show the undercarriage in more detail. Make sure you enlarge them to their full size by clicking on them.
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Porsche's voluptuous body looks fantastic in its factory black livery. The finish is exceptionally nice, and there are no dings, dents, scrapes, chips, or other blemishes that would cause even the most picky collector sleepless nights. It's virtually perfect!
The big 7 & 9 inch FUCHS alloys wear near new Bridgestone Potenza high-performance radials of the correct size 205/55-16 and 245/45-16, respectively.
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Naturally, having been owned by a well-known Porsche interior specialist, the M 491's cockpit presents itself sensationally clean. The finest materials were used to subtly individualize the space and inject an extra dose of sportiness.
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Looking up, there's the immaculate, charcoal headliner made from genuine Alcantara.
Note factory electric sunroof and working interior lights.
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Dash looks bone stock. The sensitive dash top has remained free of hairline splits. The prior owner preferred the look of the classic 911SC steering wheel over the Carrera's with the square horn push, so he installed one. The new owner will have the option of a Carrera wheel instead, should he so desire.
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Iconic Porsche 911 instruments, looking like new. Only the lack of a boost gauge reveals that there's no turbo under the bonnet.
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Classic Porsche throne seats have just recently been recovered in aromatic, black leather.
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Rear seat delete. Luxurious charcoal velours carpeting with light gray piping and "turbo" embroidery looks beauteous.
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Ready for a test drive?
So are we, but before we leave, let's have a look at the heart of the M 491.
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Inside the toothbrush-clean engine bay rests the matching numbers flat-six. The 3.2-liter power plant has gained a deserved reputation of being bullet proof and produces 200 teutonic horses. There are no oil leaks to bemoan, no smoke, no untoward noises. The engine is as healthy as the proverbial ox, runs like a Singer sewing machine, and it's fair to assume that it will need nothing for many years to come, except for routine maintenance.
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Monday, October 20, turned out to be a lovely autumn day on our beloved mission town of San Buenaventura. We were looking forward to a brisk jaunt in our WTL -- and the car did not disappoint.
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This aggressive-looking Porsche runs, drives, steers, brakes,and handles every bit as good as it looks. Equipped with a Turbo-style exhaust system, it rumbles, growls and screams just like a 930 would do. Acceleration is -- to paraphrase Rolls Royce -- more than sufficient, and there's no way to get even close to exploring its limits on public roads. Even in turn 9 of Willow Springs Raceway in the California desert, triple-digit speeds are needed to break those meaty rear tires loose. It's driving in its purest form!
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It wasn't exactly cheap to own one of these cars, back then, as checking the M 491 option box added another $10,000.00 to the already hefty MSRP of the new-for-1984 Carrera. It was worth it, though, as the WTL surely got all the attention the "real thing" attracted, something that has not changed to this day.
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Returning home, we're truly in love with this Porsche. Its performance is far above what can be safely experienced on public roads, its presence mesmerizing. Yes, there is a difference between a simple SC or Carrera and a Turbo-bodied car. It possesses a cachet that brings it closer to its contemporaries from Italy, the league of genuine, undisputed supercars.
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If you've been dreaming of owning a Turbo, yet are -- like most of us -- afraid that the cost of maintenance would be too much to handle, the M 491 Carrera is the perfect car for you. It's a genuine Turbo, with the huge 917-style brakes, and if you put the pedal to the metal, you'll pass pretty much anything on the road. Yet, since it's lacking the plumbing and intercooler of its blown sibling, servicing this car is straightforward and quite affordable.
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Rarely, if ever, will an opportunity like this present itself. Black-on-black M 491 cars in this condition are far and few between. Why not acquire yours now? This stellar example sure looks like a bona fide keeper to us!
You are most welcome to inspect this fine automobile at our location in Ventura, by appointment, or have someone inspect it for you.
Please, direct all inquiries to bill@californiaclassix.com or call us at 805-653-5551.
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