Rare and exotic are two words that come to mind when one thinks of the Porsche 911 with the factory Flachbau (or Flat Nose) option. Bowing to customer demands, Porsche’s in-house “Special Wishes” office, known as “Porsche Exclusive,” began offering in the mid-1980s a limited number of 935-look-alike conversions to European and Asian clients who desired – and were willing to pay for – wide-bodied 911 SCs and Turbos fitted with shaved and louvered front fenders, with the headlamps moved to the front fascia.

U.S. lighting regulations precluded any of these intriguing cars from being imported, but by 1987, Porsche had submitted a new design with retracting headlamps mounted at standard height that satisfied legal requirements. Along with the new front end, these factory conversions incorporated extended and boxed rocker panels leading to broadened rear quarter panels that could accommodate larger wheels and tires, and a much larger rear wing that accommodated a large intercooler. Interior comfort was also increased, with almost every imaginable luxury option included. This design became a factory option, albeit a very expensive one, since these conversions were essentially fabricated by hand. In many cases, the MSRP added almost half the cost of the base car, which stood alone as the flagship of Porsche’s 911 line. Thus, production numbers were relatively small, just 145 U.S.-specification Turbo coupes for 1988.

This lovely example was completed on 9 December 1987 and delivered new through Pray Porsche-Audi in Greenwich, Connecticut, to Thomas Haythe, who retained the car through 2000. The car subsequently passed through owners in the New York City area, and then was sold in May 2006 to Steven Hutchins of Torrance, California. The odometer then read 23,447 miles. Hutchins carefully maintained the car through 2011, when it was sold to collector Nate Murphy of The Woodlands, Texas, with the odometer then reading 28,435 miles. A CARFAX report shows the car returning to California in 2015, where it reportedly underwent some 200 hours of detailing to bring it up to show standards. Later that year it was acquired by the current consignor, a private collector in Texas.

Presented today in its stunning special-order original color of Granite Green Metallic with color-matched wheel centers, this Flat Nose Turbo coupe features a full leather interior in its original and very complimentary shade of Gray Green. Both driver and passenger seats are power-adjustable with lumbar support, and there are also an electric sunroof, heated and electrically adjustable mirrors, air conditioning, an alarm system, and a Blaupunkt stereo cassette player. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is accented by a hand-painted Porsche crest, matching those on the center caps of the Fuchs alloy wheels. The velour-lined trunk contains its correct spare wheel, jack, and tool roll. Included is a folio containing extensive documentation, including a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity.

Without question, this is one of the most attractive factory-built flachbau coupes to reach these shores. Ready to show or enjoy on the highway, it would make a great addition to any collection of rare and notable high-performance Porsches.