www.QV500.com - Porsche 911 (1984 - 89) Part 5: 911 3.3 Turbo

 
Having arrived in early 1975 with all the subtlety of a bull in a china shop, Porsche’s 911 Turbo quickly garnered a reputation as a machine that demanded serious respect. With its infamous lift-off oversteer, the 930 (as it was commonly known) could punish the unwary in the blink of an eye. However, stories of high-speed destruction perversely did little to diminish the cars popularity and if anything they enhanced it. Between September 1979 and August 1985 though, the Turbo wasn’t available in the US market because of the high cost of producing a forced induction engine that could meet increasingly stringent US emissions legislation.
   

To coincide as closely as possible with the arrival of the 3.2 Carrera, we will cover the 3.3-litre 911 Turbo constructed for the 1983 model year (production of which began in October 1982) when a number of key developments were introduced. The brakes were the largest yet on a production 911 and came mounted on aluminium hubs with four-piston aluminium calipers and improved cooling. 1983 Turbo’s also got a revised engine designated Typ 930/66. Despite retaining the same 3299cc displacement as earlier incarations, the /66 motor offered a useful increase in torque thanks primarily to new Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection. Output and compression went unchanged – 300bhp at 5500rpm and 7.0:1 respectively. A new exhaust system featured twin outlet pipes for the first time and also incorporated an atmosphere-direct wastegate dump. Transmission was still via the same old four-speed gearbox, a top speed of 162mph and 0-60 in just 5.2 seconds allowing the 930 to punch well above its weight. With flared arches housing wider Fuchs alloys, a deep front spoiler and massive rear wing, the 930 resembled an inflated version of the standard narrow-bodied 911. Turbo scripting mounted on the engine lid identified a genuine 930 from those more humble Turbo-bodied normally aspirated versions. Inside, air-con and half-leather sports seats were standard, the Turbo also getting a smaller diameter three-spoke steering wheel and sundry instrument changes.

 
Going into production during late 1982 for the 1983 model year, the revised Turbo was warmly welcomed, particularly the increased torque which made it an even more justifiable proposition for everyday use. Further developments were brought in for the 1984 model year (production of which began October 1983), changes including a brake wear indicator on the dash, a three-speed heater and new interior upholstery with Porsche logos. Otherwise, the only additional upgrades were revised pressure-fed timing chain tensioners. 12 months later, the 1985 model year Turbo that went into production during October 1984 featured several more improvements.
   

There were bigger anti-roll bars, an enlarged 85-litre fuel tank and re-designed heated and electrically operated seats with higher head restraints. Central locking became standard and the radio antenna was merged into the windshield. Sports seats got added as a no-cost option whilst every 930 also received a short shift gear lever and four horizontal spoke steering wheel. Production of the 1986 MY 911’s was underway by September 1985, new Bosch Motronic engine management being introduced along with a subtly re-worked instrument binnacle, covered vanity mirrors and re-positioned front seats that were mounted a little lower to free up more interior headroom. It wasn’t until the arrival of these 1986 model year 911’s that the Turbo was re-introduced to North America and with it came a new emissions friendly Typ 930/68 engine for US-bound variants. Displacement was unchanged at 3299cc but a three-way catalytic converter and Lambda sensors restricted output from 300 to 282bhp at 5500rpm. For the 1987 model year (built from September 1986) the reflector strip located beneath the engine lid was altered to accommodate fog and reverse lights as well as Porsche scripting across the centre. Inside, the seats became fully electric whilst braking was improved by bevelled vents in the perforated discs. Then for the 1988 model year, Porsche began offering the Turbo with both Targa and Cabriolet body styles in addition to the long running Coupe.

 
Production began in September 1987, the only other developments seeing a passenger door mirror fitted as standard along with an eight-speaker stereo. The final year of production for the 911 Turbo began in September 1988 for the 1989 model year. In addition to an alarm and a smaller rear anti-roll bar (offset by more prominent torsion bars and stiffer shocks) the Turbo was equipped for its last few months with the G50 five-speed gearbox. Production lasted until September 1989 by which time just under 20,000 Turbo’s had been completed in total, 12,240 of which were produced between the 1984 and 1989 model years in addition to 1080 for 1983.