Description
This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at the NEC Classic Motor Show 2024 - Cars on Saturday the 9th of November, NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT. First launched at the 1973 Paris Auto Show with production commencing in 1975, the Porsche 911 (930) Turbo was a genuine Supercar which defined both the 1970s and 1980s and was one of the fastest production cars available at that time. The basic engine underpinnings came from the Carrera 2. 7RS which was increased to 3-litres (eventually 3. 3-litres) and of course, turbocharged with technology gleaned from Porsche's 917/ 30 Can-Am programme. The brakes were also derived directly from the 917. The bodywork received special treatment resulting in one of the most aggressive looking Porsches ever made with its wide arches and impressive rear 'Tea-tray' spoiler.
In 1989, before production of the 911 (930) Turbo was discontinued, Porsche marked the occasion by creating a very special, right-hand drive, limited edition 930 LE - the ultimate Turbo, produced as the last hurrah to a turbo charged era. Starting out as a standard 3. 3-litre model, the cars were then sent to the exclusive team at Zuffenhausen who built each example by hand.
With just 53 of these cars produced, one for each UK dealership in 1989, a host of bespoke no-cost options were offered including colour-coded wheels, top-tinted windscreen, a choice of colours for interior and exterior, rear-quarter air intake ducts, electric sunroof, heated multi-adjust electric seats, electric sunroof and gold ‘Turbo’ lettering stitched behind the seat. They also came fitted with leather throughout, extending over the seats, dash, centre console and door trims. Topped-off with a 3-spoke steering wheel with a special Porsche crest badge in gold, a feature which is echoed on top of the gear knob, plus a gold plaque with '911 Turbo, 1975-1989 Limited Edition Model' engraving - as recognition of the LE's place in Porsche 911 history.
Further features include electrically adjustable Sports seats with heating, electric tilt and slide sunroof, climate control, Becker Mexico radio/ CD, rear wiper, and a 180mph speedometer. On the outside, the LE cars are visually very striking with the poster pin-up wide bodywork and big rear wing. The side intake strakes and deep front spoiler (with additional oil cooler) follow the styling of the low-build (Flachbau) SE model. Similarly, the LE utilises the 330bhp 3. 3-litre engine of the SE, hence a larger turbo charger, higher lift camshafts, higher boost pressure, larger intercooler and quad exhaust system and the transmission is the G50 5-speed manual gearbox with short shift and the optional M220 limited-slip diff.
At the time of production, Porsche had no plans to turbocharge the incoming 964, so it was believed that the LE would indeed be the final forced induction model to leave the Stuttgart factory. The price was an eye-watering £84, 500, a full 50% more than the average house price at the time!
The car presented here is one of those 53 examples, a 1989 Porsche 911 (930) LE which was delivered new via Porsche Centre JCT Brooklands, being first registered on 24th August 1989. Being such a ‘halo model’ for the marque, this car went one stage further and was specified with ‘Colour to Sample’ paintwork (in this case Gletscherblau Metallic) and interior which, according to Porsche, means ‘an exclusive option that opens up a virtually limitless palette of colours for your Porsche’
Being an LE, the car’s Optional Equipment list runs to over 20 items – Porsche literally gave an LE the 'works' (see the attached image of the Porsche COE for the full list), the highlights being: the now iconic LE rear intake ducts, an additional oil cooler, modified engine 930/ 66, limited-slip differential, and sports seats.
This exceptional Porsche has only covered 19, 992 miles from new, verified by the car’s accompanying original servicing booklet, routinely carried out (with corresponding stamps) up to 18, 537 miles and by numerous old MOT Certificates.
In 2012/ 13 the car (then with 19, 629 miles) was sold by Border Reivers, the UK’s largest supplier of classic Porsches and Scotland’s oldest independent classic Porsche dealer. It has since formed part of a significant Collection of very special cars, sharing a professional storage facility with the great and the good. A change of circumstances now mean that this highly rated Porsche is available once again. In preparation for sale, a comprehensive recommissioning service was lavished on the car, costing some £5, 600.
Iconic Auctioneers (formerly Silverstone Auctions) have been privileged to offer and sell a few 930 LE examples over the years - the last one, with 25, 000 miles, achieved £240, 000 - but you can see why – all the ingredients are there.
This rare Turbo LE was the culmination of the 930 Turbo's 14 years of production and as a result, is probably the best developed iteration of this model, making it highly collectible today. This is one of the best Turbo LEs we’ve had the pleasure of offering and we urge you to come and see the car in the metal.
