Porsche 911 Turbo 3.0 Coupe
In the year of the first oil crisis, visitors of the Frankfurt International Motor Show in September 1973 were able to view a silver 911 Coupé. The 'Turbo' logo, resplendent on the rear wing, revealed that this was the prototype of a planned turbocharged version of the 911. And yet, another year would pass before series production began. Even within the company there were doubts as to whether a range-topping model like this made sense in view of the oil crisis. Enthusiastic customers, on the other hand, did not hesitate for a second. The driving dynamics of the high-performance sports car, derived from motorsport technology and enriched with an exceptionally comfortable and luxurious interior, were simply too alluring.
Porsche originally planned the 911 Turbo as a prestigious limited-run series, but the sales figures exceeded all expectations. In the first three years of production, Porsche produced 2,850 units of the 911 Turbo 3.0 - the model which was known internally as the 930 and which was the first of its kind with a boost pressure-controlled turbocharger. The 191 kW (260 PS) sports car took many details from racing car construction to the road, including the rigid wheel hubs from the 917, and the kinematics of the front and rear axles from the 911 Carrera RSR. In 1974, the driving performance of the first Turbo was at the limit of what was conceivable at the time. It could sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds. At over 250 km/h, the top speed was also practically unimaginable.
Given the explosive power delivery of the turbocharged engine, a little extra concentration didn't do any harm. The 911 Turbo of the first generation quickly earned the reputation of being a sports car for 'real men'.
