Porsche 911 (930) Turbo 1989

The 911 Turbo is one of history’s most recognizable sports cars. From raised round headlights to dramatically extended rear wheels and big rear spoiler, it’s distinctive personality attracts the opposite sex like a magnet and generates envy from every turning head.

The iconic rear styling, with muscular wheel arches, was largely the result of having a turbocharged rear engine. In non-turbo versions of the 911, the light weight of the air-cooled engine with magnesium crankcase tended to minimize the oversteer caused by a rear engine configuration. But the additional weight of the turbo convinced Porsche to dramatically widen the rear wheels for further compensation.

Between 1975 and 1989, the 911 Turbo was Porsche’s flagship model and Germany’s fastest production car. The larger displacement 3.3-liter engine with intercooler was introduced in 1978 to reduce the infamous turbo lag, and Porsche began offering Cabriolet and Targa versions in addition to the coupe version in 1986.

The beautiful 1989 model shown in the accompanying photo was the only 911 Turbo version ever equipped with a G50 5-speed transmission and goes from 0 to 60 in 4.9 seconds with a top speed of 260 km/h (162 mph). It also features phenomenal brakes with aluminum calipers and ventilated discs similar to those on the legendary 917 race car.

I’ll never forget watching a 911 Turbo race through a sleepy neighborhood in my youth. When it reached a T in the road, I was sure it would plow through the home ahead of it. But it took the left turn flawlessly as if the laws of physics temporarily lifted — leaving the police car behind it to swerve ungracefully through the turn at half speed. While 911 Turbos offer excellent traction, they are challenging to handle. So the driver I observed must have been skillful indeed.

Many 911 Turbo fans will assure you that older models are more joyful to drive than newer high-spec models. Unlike real estate, the stock market, gold and other commodities, all of the vintage air cooled 911s are doing nothing but increasing in value! But if you do decide to purchase a used 911 Turbo, find one with a good service history and give it a thorough inspection, because repairs can be costly.

We recommend shopping around internationally and are confident you’ll find the best deals right here in Japan. The 911 Turbo shown in these photos, a coveted 1989 model, was recently purchased through a used car auction in Tokyo at a very competitive price.

Our dedicated team can keep you informed of suitable vehicles on auction each week in Japan, arrange for professional third-party inspections, ensure all of your questions are answered, place bids on your behalf, inform you of every detail after successful bids, and arrange for the vehicle’s transportation to your nearest port. We are here for you every step of the way, and aim to make the entire process easy and enjoyable.