Summary
- The Porsche 930 Slantnose, with its pop-up headlights, was a standout car in the otherwise lackluster automotive world of the 1980s.
- Only 948 of these exclusive cars were ever built, making the Porsche 930 Slantnose a rare and sought-after classic.
- The car’s value has skyrocketed over the years, with some models now selling for over $360,000 at auction, making it a highly desirable collector’s item.
The 1980s is a decade mired by terrible cars, the gas crisis, and unimaginative automotive design. Still, this dark decade of the automotive world brought us the wonder of pop-up headlights, which led to the Porsche 930 Slantnose. This amazing car is actually called flachbau, which translates to slantnose, and it covered three generations of the Porsche 911, the final being the 930 generation.
In addition to being a decade of terrible regular cars, the 1980s was a decade of excess and high-end style in the automotive world. It seems the center of the design spectrum was left out of the mix. The Porsche 930 Slantnose came from the side of the spectrum where excellence in engineering, styling, and precision were found.
The three generations of the Slantnose were built across the 1980s. Generation 1 was built for two years; 1982-1983; Generation 2 spanned four years from 1984-1987, while Generation 3 models were built from 1988-1989. All three generations are called Porsche 930 Slantnose, which is the car we want to discuss. Only 948 of these cars were ever built, putting this special Porsche into the history books with some exclusivity.
Before The Reveal, Prototype Porsche 930 Slantnose Models Were Built
Like any other car, a handful of prototype models predate the production run of the Porsche 930 Slantnose models. One of these first cars was built in 1980 for a special Porsche customer, Gerhard Siegfried Amann. This model wore the same garb as the Generation 1 version of the Slantnose, featuring a hammerhead-style front bumper. This first model was expensive and eventually came back to the factory in 1985 when the Special Wishes Program was launched.
What Special Wishes Upgrades Were Added?
The Porsche Special Wishes program brought a new paint scheme to this early car, which was originally painted silver. With the program additions, the car was repainted in black. This car also received an engine upgrade, adding the 330 horsepower engine to give it more power and performance. Eventually, a DP Motorsport 935-style front valance was added to the mix, replacing the original bumper and headlight cluster.
Specifications
|
Model |
Porsche 911 Turbo 3.3 SE ‘Flachbau’ |
|
Model Years |
1981 – 1989 |
|
Production |
948 units |
|
Power |
330 horsepower |
|
Torque |
318 pound-feet |
|
0-60 MPH |
4.6 seconds |
|
Top Speed |
173 MPH |
This first of many Porsche 930 Slantnose models received special recognition for being a groundbreaking model. In recognition of its status, Porsche added a brass plaque on the glovebox lid with the Porsche crest and a code that showed it belonged to Mr. Amann.
The First Generation Produced the Smallest Number Of Porsche 930 Slantnose Cars
The Porsche 911 has always been a top-notch sports car with signature styling. During the 1980s, Porsche toyed with this styling by placing headlights in the bumper area under the angled nose. This first generation of the Porsche 930 Slantnose did not have the signature pop-up lamps of man cars from the 1980s. The first flachbau conversion for the 911 features a smooth, flat-faced look with a small bumper where the headlights are located. This look, with the headlights on each side of the bumpers, gives this car a look similar to a hammerhead shark, which is what this styling was called.
How did Sonderwunsch Impact This First Porsche 930 Slantnose?
The Special Wishes program, sonderwunsch in German, is nothing more than a program created by Porsche for all customers to add special items to their sports cars. Porsche began the sonderwunsch program in the 1970s and continues to offer it today.
The first generation of the Porsche 930 Slantnose was offered with special sill or rocker covers. Only 58 models of this generation were made, and all of them were produced in the Restoration and Repair Department in the Werks 1 building. It’s likely Porsche was unsure how popular this program could be and wasn’t ready to invest heavily in it during the early generation.
Pop-Up Headlights Appeared In Second-Generation Porsche 930 Slantnose Models
The Porsche 930 Slantnose wasn’t a full model of the Porsche 911 lineup until the final generation. During the second generation, this model was still an option under the Sonderwunsch Program and was only offered as a special order version of the car. Because of the special order nature, only 204 cars were offered during this generation, despite it being the longest-running generation of the three 930 Slantnose models.
What Upgrades Were Part Of This Generation?
The styling offered in this model was updated with a more elegant front air dam with driving lights and a centrally-mounted oil cooler. The headlights were moved up out of the bumper to be pop-up models in the front wings of the car.
A set of optional air-intake vents were cut into the hood area above the pop-up headlights, which is similar to the 935 race cars. Most of these second-gen models featured boxed sill covers, rear air-intake vents, and a custom interior. During this generation, the 330-horsepower powertrain was offered, providing a full slate of special features for this impressive sports car. During this second generation, the cars were still produced at the Restoration and Repair Department.
The Final Generation Featured The Greatest Numbers
Although the final generation of the Porsche 930 Slantnose only lasted two years, it featured the most cars, with 630 of the 686 models heading to the United States. All 930 Slantnose models were produced with pressed front wings/fenders with air-intakes located above the pop-up headlights.
These cars were made on the main production line in Zuffenhausen, but all 930 Slantnose cars were sent to the Restoration and Repair Department in Werks 1 for finishing, ensuring these cars carried on the legacy begun by the previous generations.
Two Versions Of The Final Slantnose Went To Different Markets
The U.S. models of the Porsche 930 Slantnose were the M505 versions which featured a standard 3.3-liter turbocharged engine with a catalytic converter. The oil coolers on these models were mounted in the right rear wheel arch behind the air-intake vents. Versions sent to the U.K. were the M506 models, which featured a centrally positioned oil cooler, which wasn’t permitted in the United States.
Slantnose Porsche Sports Cars Rake In The Dough
During production, adding the Porsche 930 Slantnose package to a car via the Special Wishes program often added a hefty sum to the price of a car. This package could cost as much as half the original car price, which meant it was an expensive kit to add, especially during the second generation when the engine was part of the offered upgrades. The exclusivity of the Porsche 930 Slantnose has enabled this car to gain incredible value figures since the 1980s when the car was in production.
How Much Does A Porsche 930 Slantnose Cost Today?
As with any car, condition, rarity, and desirability contribute to the value of any classic car. Every Porsche 930 Slantnose is a classic car, but only the third-generation models were shipped to the United States in large numbers. These cars are valued at over $200,000 today, with some models going for as much as $360,000 at auction.
Although the 1980s is often thought of as one of the worst decades for car design and power, the Porsche 930 Slantnose is one of the few bright spots of this decade. These versions of the Porsche 911 took the smooth design offered with pop-up headlights to a new level offering impressive design qualities and gorgeous styling that was offered in small numbers.
Source
https://www.topspeed.com/real-story-behind-porsche-930-slantnose/
