www.QV500.com - Porsche 911 (1984 - 89) Part 6: 911 3.3 Turbo Flachtbau

 
The most expensive option a customer could order for their 911 Turbo was the Flachtbau or Flat Nose conversion. The factory had begun offering these 935-inspired conversions back in 1981 although it wasn’t until the 1987 model year (production of which began in September 1986) that the Flat Nose became an officially recognised option. By this time, some 236 911’s had already received the Flachtbau treatment through Porsche’s Sonderwunsch (Special Wish) department. Customers who specified the official Flachtbau conversion got a lot more than just redesigned front bodywork, these ultra desirable variants also receiving special Typ 930/68 engines.
   

Although displacement went unchanged at 3299cc, thanks to high lift camshafts, a free-flow exhaust and an increase in turbo pressure from 0.8 to 1.0 bar, output was up by 10% to 330bhp at 5500rpm. More special features could be found inside where fully electrically adjustable Recaro sports seats were trimmed in full leather. There was also a more rectangular leather-covered instrument binnacle and a colour-coded steering wheel whilst air-conditioning was fitted as standard. The most obvious modifications were made to the exterior though, the traditional front wings that had for so long defined the 911’s appearance being discarded. They were replaced by sloping wings that lay flush with the front lid, new retractable headlights being adopted behind which seven louvres were carved out to allow high-pressure air to escape from within the wheelarches. Other exterior alterations included fitting body colour coded Fuchs five spoke alloys, deeper side sills, a unique front spoiler and cooling ducts carved out from each rear wheelarch. At first the Flachtbau was only available in Coupe form, but when the standard 911 Turbo was offered in Targa and Cabriolet body styles for the 1988 model year (production of which began in September 1987), these new configurations could also be specified for the Flat Nose. The last year of production for the 911 Turbo began in September 1988 for the 1989 model year. Equipped for the first time with the G50 five-speed gearbox, these last-of-the-line variants were the best of the bunch and remain the most sought after today.