964 TURBO 1990–1994
Newdog, but old tricks
It's the spring of 1990 and the first issue of 911 & Porsche World magazine has hit the news stand, as we used to call it. Conceived on a hunch, by motoring journalist, Clive Househam, it's been assembled like any other magazine of its time, that's to say in a hugely time-consuming and resolutely low tech fashion, involving typewriters, film, typesetters and even glue. It was in effect a one-off, to test the market. Sure, reference was made to a second issue, but had it not sold, then the whole notion would have been quietly forgotten. But sell it did, via the inexact science of simply 'getting it out there...'
And lead news story in that first issue? It was the launch of the 964 Turbo, which is where our journey begins. And if we're being charitable, a bit like 911&PW, the 964 very much reflected and utilised the tech of the day. To be not quite so charitable, the 964 Turbo was not much of an advance over the preceding 930 Turbo and was a shadow of the car that it should have been, which was a high tech, twin turbo, 185mph road rocket, codenamed 969 and based upon the lessons learned from the 959. A worldwide recession and Porsche's own financial woes and the reality is that it borrowed much from
the 930, including the engine, still in 3.3-litre spec, but with an extra 20bhp. Unlike the non turbo 964 it was available in rear-drive form only.
We got to drive the 964 Turbo in issue 4, in early 1991. Porsche's ex press supremo turned scribbler and 911&PW contributor for many years, Michael Cotton, got the launch ticket and described a sense of “deja vu” in the 964's 930-like spec. Obviously Porsche gave it the new model spin, but jumping between a 930 Turbo and a 964 Turbo and you would be hard pushed to tell much of a difference. The 964 Turbo was, then, one of Porsche's few stall moments in the 911 Turbo's development curve, which left it lagging behind its main rivals, like the Ferrari 348 and the Honda NSX, albeit not by much in the case of the Ferrari, which had its own issues, like terrifying handling traits and a gearbox that felt like it was full of rubble...
In today's classic Porsche climate, the 964 Turbo is viewed as the last of the old school rear drive turbos, with prices deep into three figures. Talking of money, the 964 Turbo was a not inconsiderable £74,000 when it finally went on sale in 1991, which in today's wonga, equals around £150,000, which is about the price of a new 991 Turbo, funnily enough... Back in the day, it was so comprehensively bettered by the 993 Turbo, when it arrived, that you could barely give 964 Turbos away, making it the bargain supercar of its time on the used market. That was then, this is now and right now the 964 Turbo up here on the North Yorkshire moors, freed from the shackles of its era, is a beguiling mix of old school 911 Turbo cliches, mixed with a pinch of ’90s modernity, mainly visual thanks to the 17in 'Cup' style wheels and the 964's front and rear makeover. Hey, it's even got a trip computer of sorts.
The 964 Turbo is a physical car to drive. The steering is meaty and full of kick back. It has to harassed and hustled into a corner, gear changes start from the shoulder and the clutch requires you fully lift your foot from the floor. And of course there's turbo lag, too, from the big, single KKK spinner, but when it kicks in, it does so with satisfying thrust and noise. At a steady cruise, the 964 Turbo is relaxing enough, but to really drive it is to go into battle, in a way that shouldn't perhaps have been necessary from a car built for the 1990s that could count the 959 as a predecessor.