The special racecar-inspired 911 from the 1980s that has become a Porsche icon
The story of the rare 930 Turbo Slantnose – inspired by the 935 racecar and crafted by engineers from Porsche – that’s now highly sought after
Few cars look quite like the Porsche 930 Turbo Slantnose. It’s what makes it one of the rarest and most sought after of all 911 sportscars. First made officially available to Porsche customers via the Sonderwunsch programme (or special requests programme) as an option for the 930 Turbo, it was known in German as the Flachbau – translated as Slantnose, or Flatnose as the car is also known, in English. Viewed from the side, you can see why this special 930 Turbo option was named Slantnose or Flatnose (Flachbau in German) Photo: PorscheVisually inspired – particularly its front end – by the dramatic Porsche 935 racecar, it cost customers a significant premium on the price of the 930 Turbo, a sportscar that itself broke new ground as the first production Porsche sportscar featuring a Turbo engine. The additional cost of the Slantnose resulted in improved aerodynamics and performance. But, more than anything, it gave customers the chance to own something special that would go down in Porsche history – as we’re about to find out.The flattened nose of the Porsche 930 Turbo Slantnose was inspired by the 935 racecar Photo: PorscheWhen was the 930 Turbo Slantnose launched?The story of the 930 Turbo Slantnose really goes back to 1976 and the introduction of the 935 racecar, which was in turn based on the 930 Turbo. The development of the 935 was overseen by legendary racecar engineer Norbert Singer, and had many similarities with the 930 Turbo and its racecar predecessor, the 934. However, a big difference came in its visual appeal – and in particular its slanted or flat nose.Such was its impact that Porsche customers began dreaming about exporting the striking, individual looks of the 935 to the 911 Turbo. One of the most famous examples was requested by Mansour Ojjeh, the owner of TAG, whose company had developed a new racecar engine with Porsche for McLaren’s Formula 1 cars. He had a vision for a “935 racing car for the street – but with all the luxuries”. He certainly got that with his Candy Apple one-off, called the 935 Street, with its highly tuned 3.3-litre turbocharged engine, head-turning flared wheelarches and huge rear wing.The famous one-off 935 Street ordered by owner of TAG, Mansour Ojjeh, that helped inspire Porsche to make the 930 Turbo Slantnose a special request option for its customers Photo: PorscheWhat made the 930 Turbo Slantnose so different?At the heart of the 930 Turbo Slantnose was the 930 Turbo itself to which the craftspeople at Porsche added a slanting, steel front nose. Later models would incorporate what would become its trademark pop-up lights, but the headlights on the first generation were instead incorporated in the front bumper. Additionally, within that remodelled bumper, the 930 Turbo Slantnose featured cooling slats that were a nod to the 935 racecar. Wider rear wings and distinctive louvred air vents in front of the rear wheels also made the 930 Turbo Slantnose stand out. And it would prove to be the fastest of all 930 Turbo models with a top speed of 275km/h (171mph).With less than a thousand examples of the Porsche 930 Turbo Slantnose built, it’s a highly competitive market for those looking to buy one Photo: PorscheHow many Porsche 930 Turbo Slantnose were made?It’s believed that 948 versions of this rare classic Porsche were built. Just 58 first generation cars were constructed, making them the rarest version, with 204 built for the second generation (the first to feature those pop-up headlights). On the latter, further upgrades included optional air-intake vents cut into the bonnet above the pop-up headlights, similar to the 935 race cars. There were a total of 686 versions of the 930 Turbo Slantnose built for the third generation, the majority of which ended up in the USA.How much does the Porsche 930 Turbo Slantnose cost today?With less than a thousand made, opportunities to buy a Porsche 930 Turbo Slantnose at auction or privately are few and far between, but such is their attraction to enthusiasts and collectors several do come up for sale every year. Some versions, like the Targa and Cabriolet versions are particularly rare, however. Recent examples of 930 Turbo Slantnose sportscars sold include a 1987 example in Indian Red from a Swiss collection with 26,433 recorded miles (42,540km) that went for CHF158,125 (US $177,495/€165,166/£139,067) at a Bonhams auction in June 2024.
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