Peter Wilson

Adelaide, Australia

@peterwilson_oz

As I write this, South Australia has been plunged back into a full lockdown and the Porsche remains in storage as I await my garage floor to be sealed. Thankfully this is the last stage of renovations and I will finally be able to start repatriating workbenches, tools, and of course the car! During this last couple of months of not driving or even seeing the car, ten years of ownership ticked by and it got me thinking about my time as custodian of this car and why I have no intention of selling it.

I am not a conventional car collector, but have owned many different makes and models and have typically sold cars when restoration is complete or I get a little bored. I prefer to own only one hobby car at a time as I have limited storage and only one pair of hands for fettling or driving one car at a time. In the past when I have tried juggling multiple projects, I found that when one car was getting some love, another was quietly flattening its battery or seizing a brake piston.

So why do I still have this fascination with the 930 after ten years? As I think back over the ownership experience and events, I guess it must be because the pros far outweigh the cons, so I decided to write down the key ones.

I absolutely love the styling of the car, with the flared rear haunches and teatray spoiler aggressively enhancing the timeless silhouette of “Butzi” Porsche’s original 911 design. If ever there was a car to make you look back over your shoulder every time you park it, the 930 is that machine!

Then there is the unique driving experience. With classic ’60s 911 handling overlaid with very non-classic levels of power and unpredictable delivery, every drive is an adventure and has you 100% focused. To drive it quickly you need to remain fully aware that you are only a wheel spin or lift-off away from joining the scenery. Plus there is that fantastic view through the windscreen and between the headlights, where the invisible bonnet gives the impression that you are flying above the road.

Next comes the engineering. As a mechanical engineer myself, I love elegant design such as the Mezger engine as well as clever improvisations made over the years to keep the 911 viable as a product. I loved doing the engine rebuild on the

930 as I could see the racing inspiration within each part. The 911 engine was never designed for low cost or mass production!

Finally, there is the Porsche brand and its racing pedigree. I was ignorant of this until I purchased the 930, but quickly became enthralled by the development and achievements of the Porsche brand, and especially the 917 and 934/935 Turbo 911 derivatives.

But there are downsides as well of course. The price of genuine Porsche parts is one of them, and I can only justify them over cheaper alternatives because I generally do all my own work and don’t pay for labour.

Then there are the silly design foibles such as pedal placement on RHD cars and losing most of the passenger legroom for the air conditioning – how did wellheeled buyers tolerate that when buying a luxury supercar?

Ironically however, the biggest downside of classic Porsche ownership comes back to the Porsche brand and its success. Because it has now been plastered over SUVS large and small and has become a fashion accessory ahead of a proud racing icon, I never mention that my hobby car is a Porsche 911 Turbo. To many people that would immediately conjure up the type of nouveau riche owner who purchased my car new in the ‘80s – definitely not me. Instead, I introduce it as an ‘old Porsche’ or a ‘930’. Those that are interested or know their Porsches will then take it from there, and for others it will just simply dissolve into the conversation.