1987 Porsche 911 Turbo 'Flat-Nose' Cabriolet
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$200,000 - $250,000 USD | Not Sold
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- One of just three Turbo Cabriolet examples produced with the more powerful 930.66 engine and M505 North American Flat-Nose package
- Finished in Black over Lipstick Red special leather with black cloth top
- Delivered new to Ontario, Canada; imported to the United States in 2011
- Porsche Certificate of Authenticity confirming numbers-matching engine and transmission
- Showing 34,505 kilometers (21,441 miles) at time of cataloguing
In 1982, Porsche racing sponsors requested that the German automaker’s Exclusive Manufaktur—sometimes called “Sunderwunsch” or “Special Wishes”—program create a unique road car that looked like the world-beating Type 935 racer. The resulting bodywork indeed bore a close resemblance to the aerodynamic 935, with louvered steel front fenders made flush with the hood and fitted with retractable headlamps. The rocker panels were boxed and extended to meet the widened rear quarter panels, which contained new brake-cooling vents with side strakes and an electric fan for additional oil cooling. Wider wheels and tires were fitted at both ends. Within months, Porsche was overcome with customer requests for the 935-inspired “Flat-Nose” treatment. Unsurprisingly, these cars were typically optioned by only the wealthiest clientele, and with many additional factory upgrades. In 1987, Porsche finally added the North American Flat-Nose package, known as M505, to the factory catalog, and 200 examples were produced for the model year.
This particular 1987 911 Turbo “Flat-Nose” Cabriolet is exceedingly rare. According to production figures listed in the book titled Porsche 911 Turbo Air-Cooled Years 1975-1998, it is one of just three Turbo Cabriolet chassis equipped with M505 bodywork and powered by the more desirable 930.66 engine typically found in European and “rest of world” cars. The M505/930.66 configuration was only available during the 1987 model year and exclusively to Canadian buyers, according to the Porsche 911 Turbo compendium. All told, just seven M505/930.66 Turbos are believed to have been produced; three cabriolets and four coupes. The 930.66 engine was rated to produce 296 horsepower and 319 pound-feet of torque, a significant improvement over the performance capabilities of the 930.68 engine in the other 193 M505 Turbo examples produced for the 1987 model year.
This Turbo “Flat-Nose” Cabriolet left the Zuffenhausen factory line on 1 July 1987 and was delivered new to Helmrath’s Porsche in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada on 24 August. An accompanying Porsche Certificate of Authenticity verifies the car’s numbers-matching powertrain and factory specifications, which include heated electric sport seats, a power top, limited slip differential, alarm system, and Lipstick Red special leather interior. It is believed that the original owner retained the car until 2011, at which time it appears to have been imported to the United States from Canada.
Invoices on file show regular maintenance by Porsche specialists and authorized dealers. In 2020, Fiorano Motorsports of Doral Florida and other shops undertook nearly $20,000 US in reconditioning, including paint correction and the fitment of a new convertible top and interior carpets. Work to the engine included a new distributor, accumulator, spark plugs, filters, fuel pumps, and cleaning of the injectors. In January 2021, the previous Blaupunkt radio was replaced with a new Porsche Classic head unit with GPS navigation.
Showing 34,505 kilometers (21,441 miles) on the odometer at time of cataloguing, this Turbo “Flat-Nose” Cabriolet is accompanied by a jack, spare, tool kit, service invoices, Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, warranty booklet, air compressor, and manuals.