The over-hammer of the seventies - Porsche Turbo

Premium

The over-hammer of the seventies - Porsche Turbo

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on February 9, 2012

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

2

Bruno von Rotz

14

Balz Schreier

13

Archiv

25

54 2

Porsche Turbo (1976) - this was the perspective from which most contemporaries saw the Turbo

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - the Turbo was not only wider, but also considerably heavier than its narrow-chested brother, the 911

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - typical 911: the silhouette

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - 0 to 100 km/h in just over 5 seconds

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - brute acceleration: no one was faster from 0 to 100 km/h back then

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - no one could hold a candle to the Turbo, especially in the lower speed range up to 140 km/h

Bild von Partner Porsche AMAG Mai Foto-Galerie 2026

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - still a pleasure to drive today

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - the Turbo was relatively liberal with fuel

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - almost twice as expensive as the simplest 911

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - the wide fenders set the Turbo apart from the 'normal' 911

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - almost 1.8 meters wide

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - the rear is characterized by the widening and the rear wing

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - the rear of the super sports car

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - the large wheels fill the fenders well

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - the big rear wing

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - this wing also found its way onto some 'normal' non-turbo Porsches

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - this is where the air flowed into the engine compartment

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - you can see very little of the engine

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - the turbine sits under the engine

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - the sunroof was subject to an extra charge

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - unmistakably Porsche

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - with headlight cleaning as standard

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - fuel filler flap on the left front fender

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - Speedometer with 300 kmh

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - above the waistline there were no differences to the normal 911

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - the lettering was soon to be found not only on the really fast 911s

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - View over the front from the passenger's perspective

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche 911 turbo 3.3 (1986) - visually hardly changed compared to the original turbo, but with more power and displacement

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche 911 turbo 3.3 (1986) - the wing had also grown further

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1973) - prototype still with 2.7-liter engine, shown at the IAA 1973

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1973) - Prototype, shown for the first time at the IAA 1973, still with 2.7 liters displacement and 280 hp

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1973) - still a one-off, with impressive rear spoiler and 280 hp at 6,500 rpm - production not yet planned - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1973

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1975) - wide cheeks and rear wing

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1974) - the production model as it went into production

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1974) - the finished production model, early photo

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1974) - a bird's eye view

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1975) - clearly a 911, but what a 911

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1975) - the rear wing and the fender extensions identify the Turbo model

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1975) - Power and torque compared to the Carrera

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1975) - Engine with turbocharger

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - the most powerful 911 from the side - illustration from a sales brochure

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - many horses between many horses - Illustration from a sales brochure

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - Rear wing of the three-liter turbo - Illustration from a sales brochure

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - the proximity to the racing car is made clear here - illustration from a sales brochure

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - Dashboard of the Turbo - Illustration from a sales brochure

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - Silhouette of the fast sports car

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - Turbo-specific technical parts

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1976) - together with the Carrera Targa and the normal 911 of 1976

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1978) - rear spoiler of the Turbo underwent changes with the introduction of the 3.3-liter engine

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1978) - Engine with 3.3 liter displacement and intercooler

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche Turbo (1978) - together with the other Porsche models of 1978

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche 911 Turbo 3.3 (1980) - together with a 911 SC built in 1980

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche 911 Turbo 3.3 (1980) - between the Porsche models of 1980

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche 911 Turbo 3.3 (1981) - 1981 model with the 3.3-liter turbo engine

You have only

6 out of 54

images seen in high resolution

Porsche Turbo (1976) - typisch 911: die Silhouette

Porsche Turbo (1976) - 0 bis 100 km/h in gut 5 Sekunden

Porsche Turbo (1976) - brachiale Beschleunigung: schneller war damals keiner von 0 bis 100 kmh

Porsche Turbo (1976) - vor allem in unteren Geschwindigkeitsbereich bis 140 km/h konnte dem Turbo keiner das Wasser reichen

Porsche Turbo (1976) - auch heute noch angenehm zu fahren

Porsche Turbo (1976) - mit Treibstoff ging der Turbo relativ freizügig um

Summary

With the Porsche Turbo, the Stuttgart-based sports car manufacturer raised the bar for super sports cars in 1974. At that time, nobody accelerated more brutally. The Zuffenhausen-based company managed to skillfully combine sportiness and comfort. The difference to the normal 911 had become so great as a result of many conversion measures that the new model was called the 930. By 1989, over 20,000 of the 930 had been built and contributed significantly to the growth of the German sports car manufacturer. Continuous model upgrades kept the 930 young. This report goes back over the history of the Turbo, shows various vehicles in pictures and is supplemented with early sales brochures, color charts and price lists. There is even a sound sample.

This article contains the following chapters

Turbocharging as an age-old concept
From racing to the road
Preliminary stage shown at the IAA 1973
The final Porsche Turbo as the antithesis to the energy crisis
Impressive acceleration performance
Great emphasis on suitability for everyday use
A good 35 years later
Definitely not a Beetle equivalent in terms of maintenance and purchase
Further information on the Porsche Turbo

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Test and driving reports in the seventies were full of superlatives and impressive descriptions of the Porsche Turbo's brute acceleration capabilities. Critics, on the other hand, saw the rear-engined 911 as nothing more than a souped-up Beetle, despite the turbocharging. The Porsche Turbo left no one cold and its performance put all super sports cars of the time in the shade, from the Lamborghini Countach to the Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer, at least in the speed range below 140 km/h. Against all expectations, it was a sales success despite its high price. When it went on sale, the Porsche Turbo was in fact the only production turbo from a major manufacturer; almost 40 years later, turbocharging with a turbine driven by exhaust gas pressure is ubiquitous.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

Continue reading this article for free?

Images of this article

Porsche Turbo (1976) - typisch 911: die Silhouette

Porsche Turbo (1976) - 0 bis 100 km/h in gut 5 Sekunden

Porsche Turbo (1976) - brachiale Beschleunigung: schneller war damals keiner von 0 bis 100 kmh

Porsche Turbo (1976) - vor allem in unteren Geschwindigkeitsbereich bis 140 km/h konnte dem Turbo keiner das Wasser reichen

Porsche Turbo (1976) - auch heute noch angenehm zu fahren

Porsche Turbo (1976) - mit Treibstoff ging der Turbo relativ freizügig um

Source: