MOTOR CARS | 69
Combining the turbocharged engine with open coachwork modified in
competition style, the 911 Turbo SE Åat nose cabriolet is one of the
rarest and most desirable of modern Porches. Group 4 homologation
rules, which required 400 road cars to be built, had spurred the
development of 'Project 930' - the original 911 Turbo. In production
from April 1975, the Turbo married a KKK turbocharger to the 3.0-litre
RSR engine, in road trim a combination that delivered 260bhp for a
top speed of 153mph. The Turbos characteristic Åared wheelarches
and 'tea tray' rear spoiler had already been seen on the Carrera model,
while the interior was the most luxurious yet seen in a 911, featuring
leather upholstery, air conditioning and electric windows. The engine
was enlarged to 3.3 litres for 197, gaining an inter-cooler in the
process; power increased to 300bhp and the top speed of what was
the fastest-accelerating road car of its day went up to 160mph.
The 911 Turbo's raison d'être - the racing 935 - had pioneered what
would come to be known as the slant or Åat nose, and this new
look was soon in demand from 911 customers. Kremer Racing offered
a conversion and this service as later taken up by the factory's own
Customer Department to special order (Sunderwunschen) from 191,
becoming an official option only in 19.
The front wings were steel, incorporating cooling vents and pop-up
headlamps (early examples had them in the air dam) while the rears had
extra cooling intakes. There were different sills and along with the body
modifications came an even more luxurious interior.
An ultra-rare variant of an already exclusive model, this right-hand drive,
911 Turbo SE Åat nose cabriolet had covered only 500 miles when it
was acquired by the immediately preceding owner, its third from new.
The current vendor purchased the Porsche at Bonhams' sale at the
RAF Museum, Hendon in April 2014 (Lot 326), since when it has seen
little use.
Original and accident free, the car comes with full service history,
there being 16 stamps in the service booklet from main agents and
independent specialists, the most recent dated 14th August 2012 at
32,403 miles (the current odometer reading is circa 33,200 miles).
Finished in White Pearl with matching leather interior, this ultimate 911
soft-top is presented in generally very good condition and offered with
current MoT and a V5C registration document.
£100,000 - 130,000
€120,000 - 150,000