Nineteen seventy-six heralded the first year that Porsche’s 911 Turbo was available in the U.S., and the car’s release created quite a fanfare. Porsche’s street cars were previously known more so for their handling and driving characteristics rather than their raw power output, but the 911 Turbo changed that. While Porsche had previously experimented with turbocharging on their racing cars; most notably with the fearsome and dominating 917/30 “Turbo Panzer” Penske/Donohue Can Am car, the 911 Turbo would be the first production Porsche to ever utilize turbocharging. Adding to its appeal was the cars truly incredible looks, characterized by its unique “whale tail” spoiler at the rear, which helped to keep the large rear tires planted to the ground at high speeds.

The 911 Turbo, which was internally dubbed the Type 930, boasted a top speed slightly over 155-mph and was one of the fastest automobiles of its day. Car & Driver magazine recorded a 0– to 60-mph time of 4.9 seconds in their December 1975 issue, calling the car “a Panzer among Porsches; a street racer that will guarantee you a place at the top of the pecking order in a way that not even a Ferrari or a Lamborghini can.”

However, like other high-horsepower cars, the 911 Turbo demanded 100-percent from its drivers due to the tendency to oversteer at the limit and the engines significant “turbo lag.” The Turbo quickly gained a reputation for being unforgiving in the hands of inexperienced drivers. Nevertheless, customers loved it, and the 911 Turbo proved to be a huge success in both the European and North American markets. As a result, turbocharged variants have been a staple of Porsche models, particularly 911s, ever since.

One of just 530 U.S.-specification Turbos produced in 1976, this example is finished in the rare and desirable color of Ice Green Metallic with an equally appealing saddle interior. This example remains in nice condition; the paint, which was done some time ago, still remains in nice condition and the interior was reupholstered and also presents very nicely. The Porsche is equipped with its original 2,993-cc. 234-hp horizontally-opposed (flat) six-cylinder engine with a single turbocharger and a four-speed manual transmission. Additional features include air conditioning, four-wheel power disc brakes, and power windows, Fuchs wheels, as well as foglights and upgraded CD player. The car comes complete with a Certificate of Authenticity, as well as a workshop manual, owner’s manual and tools.