1981 Porsche 911 (930) Turbo Coupe

Multiple platitudes have been written about the iconic 930 Turbo and we at Silverstone Auctions have sold more examples than most other auction houses in recent years. It is, therefore, our intention to concentrate on the multiple award-winning restoration of this car, completed by a Porsche main dealer. As Auctioneers, our Legal Department is wary of the terms "as new, like new or better than new" but this situation makes it difficult to describe our 930 Turbo featured here, which would certainly qualify for "Better than new" if only we were allowed to say it...

This ambitious project was completed in just six months by the team at the 'Porsche Classic Restoration Centre' to an exceptional standard resulting in two major accolades at the awards ceremony. The first was the winner of "Porsche Cars GB Employee's Choice" and the second win was for "Best Mechanical Restoration". A thorough account of the full restoration is chronicled in a dedicated seven-page feature in the April 2015 issue of Classic Cars magazine and a book produced by the Porsche Centre Leeds. The basis for this restoration was an original UK right-hand drive 1981 930 Turbo which had been discovered in a garage north of Leeds after having been laid up for more than fifteen years. Complete, but down on its luck in terms of condition, it required a full nut and bolt restoration.

With just six months to go before the car was to be judged, by 1970 Le Mans 24 Hour winner Richard Attwood, against the efforts of every Porsche Centre in the land, that mid-October deadline at Brands Hatch seemed ambitious. To beat the competition it was clear that attention to detail and a sympathetic nod to originality would be necessary to make this truly 'best of breed'. Andrew Harrison who was responsible for the bodywork and paint recalls "I didn't realise how bad the car was until it was chemically stripped and bead blasted with tiny plastic balls...The inner wings, door panels, doors and spring hangers were the worst areas". With originality being paramount, a flat paint finish would have been out of character in some areas of the car so an orange-peel effect needed to be created on the insides of wings and sill bottoms. This was achieved by using a 68-line paint thickener in Guards Red, normal paint being 23-line.

Jack Clarke was responsible for the running gear and brakes. He remembers the moment he saw the project and realised he was in for some late nights to get it all done. "The calipers were seized, the pistons jammed, the handbrake cable stuck and the wheels were scraping on the inside of the wheel arches". These observations weren't too daunting until the brief arrived suggesting that as many parts as possible were required to be retained by sandblasting and zinc plating rather than replacing, and have it all finished in just a few months. Just removing and stripping the brakes took an entire day due to corrosion, split calipers, locked handbrake and perished seals, however, shot blasting, zinc-coating and, no doubt a lot of swearing got it to tip-top standard. Finally, refinished wheels and fresh tyres completed this section.

On to the mechanicals, the section for which their major accolade was received. Despite starting and running upon delivery to the JCT600 workshops, it was feared that any extensive engine tests may cause unnecessary harm and since a full mechanical strip, repair and rebuild were scheduled anyway, this started in earnest. Andrew Wrexham, the Porsche Centre Leeds engine shop manager, identified rusty tin-ware, inhibited fins and baffle plates, corroded aluminium parts, nut fittings and pipework as well as more oil on the outside than the inside. As with the bodywork, attention to originality was key so it was imperative that despite being a 33-year-old engine, as many original parts as possible were to be retained. As such, the engine retains its original aluminium crankcases and rocker covers which were vapour-blasted which is the only technique that won't pockmark delicate surfaces. Despite all their heroic efforts, a new wastegate and new turbocharger were ordered and fitted. The gearbox, though thoroughly inspected required little work. It didn't need new synchromesh so was cleaned, reassembled and performs well. The end result is a real credit to the restorers.

Finally, the interior and electrics. The domain of Andrew Smith who was hampered by inaccessible fuse boxes and 1980s wiring with no block connectors meaning a very involved process with connections that required being individually screwed in. The seats responded well to re-stuffing and reconditioning, and notwithstanding some difficulty finding a replacement carpet set or period correct headlining, they were of course correctly sourced and expertly fitted. It must be said that the restoration is simply incredible and worthy of the accolades it has received.

Sold by us in October 2015 to a long-standing client, the 930 Turbo joined his stable of 'supercars' that included a Jaguar XJ220, a Porsche 993 Turbo S and a Porsche 2.7RS. Although in great order when sold, our vendor decided to spend an additional £10,000 with Tech 9 Motorsport, the internationally renowned Porsche specialists. Having covered some 200 miles since then the car is now in absolutely top order, and this is a Porsche which demands serious consideration today. The incredible history file includes features in several Porsche and classic motoring magazines, a book produced by JCT600 about the restoration, a pen-drive with photographs of the restoration process, nearly £30,000 worth of invoices for Porsche parts alone, and its most recent MOT Certificate valid until January 2018.