1978 Porsche 930 3.4 Turbo Coupe 'RUF BTR'

1978 Porsche 930 3.4 Turbo Coupe 'RUF BTR'

Much of the Porsche 911's development had resulted from the factory's racing program. It was the period Group 4 homologation rules, which required 400 road cars to be built, that spurred the development of 'Project 930': the legendary 911 Turbo. In production from April 1975, the Turbo married a KKK turbocharger to the 3.0-liter Carrera RSR engine in road trim, a combination that delivered 260bhp for a top speed of 155mph. But the Turbo wasn't just about top speed, it was also the best-equipped 911 and amazingly flexible - only four speeds in the gearbox. It was capable of racing from a standstill to 100mph in 14 seconds.

Although the Turbo's characteristic flared wheel-arches and 'tea tray' rear spoiler had already been seen on the Carrera model, the car's interior was the most luxurious yet seen in a 911, featuring leather upholstery, air conditioning and electric windows. For 1978 the Turbo's engine was enlarged to 3.3 liters, gaining an inter-cooler in the process. Power increased to 300bhp and the top speed of what was the fastest-accelerating road car of its day went up to 160mph. Sadly, US Porsche customers were only able to enjoy the newly enlarged Turbo for a couple of years before increasingly tough emissions legislation forced its withdrawal from the North American market. More refined than hitherto yet retaining its high performance edge, the Porsche 911 Turbo sold in the thousands, becoming the definitive sports car of its age.

Descriptions & pictures by bonhams & wikipedia