Porsche 911 Turbo 930 3.3
For 1978, Porsche addressed the original 930's shortcomings by enlarging the flat-six to 3,299cc and adding an air-to-air intercooler mounted beneath a revised rear spoiler. The result was 300 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 412 Nm of torque — a meaningful increase that also came with improved drivability thanks to a broader power band.
The 3.3-liter engine benefited from lower compression (7.0:1 versus the 3.0's 6.5:1), a larger KKK turbocharger, and the critical intercooler that reduced intake charge temperatures by up to 50 degrees Celsius. The result was not just more power but better thermal efficiency and improved reliability. Turbo lag remained part of the experience, but the enlarged engine produced more off-boost torque, making the car more tractable in everyday driving.
Breaking duties were upgraded to cross-drilled ventilated discs with four-piston calipers borrowed from the Porsche 917 racing program — the same brakes used on a car that won Le Mans. This gave the 930 3.3 exceptional stopping power that matched its straight-line performance. The four-speed gearbox remained, with ratios revised to better suit the increased torque.
The 3.3-liter 930 continued in production, with periodic updates, until 1989 — an extraordinarily long run that testified to both the car's fundamental rightness and the difficulty of improving upon it. Late-production examples received a five-speed gearbox, revised suspension, and updated interior appointments.
The 930 3.3 became an icon of 1980s excess — it was the car that defined automotive aspiration for a generation. Whether finished in Guards Red, Black, or one of the special-order colors, the wide-body 911 Turbo with its whale tail was the poster car in countless bedrooms and the dream machine of an era.
Today, the 3.3-liter 930 remains one of the most recognizable and desirable Porsches. Clean, low-mileage examples command strong prices, particularly cars from the earlier production years before emissions equipment dulled the driving experience.
All 930 concerns apply: check turbo system, oil consumption, and engine bay heat damage. Later five-speed cars are easier to drive but less 'authentic.' Euro-spec cars are more powerful than US-spec due to emissions equipment. Check for proper 917-derived brake calipers — some have been replaced with lesser units. Rust in battery box, front trunk, and beneath the rear fender flares.
Produced at Zuffenhausen from 1978 through 1989, with a brief hiatus. The 3.3-liter 930 was the longest-running turbocharged 911 variant. Total production across all markets was approximately 18,770 units.