Slant Nose Porsche 930 Turbo
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A Brief History of the Porsche 930 Flachbau, AKA the Slant Nose Porsche

The Porsche 930 slant noses were inspired by the automaker’s 935 race cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. German automotive engineer Norbert Singer incorporated a “Flachbau” flat front design for improved aerodynamics and to reduce drag. He eschewed the 911’s upright front fenders for a flatter design that sloped from the windshield to the nose of the vehicle, according to Total911.

After Porsches with the flat, a.k.a. slant noses, appeared on the racetrack, it was just a matter of time before the design made its way to the showroom floor. One particular Porsche enthusiast/racing sponsor allegedly asked the automaker’s special wishes department for a street 935 factory model, and the one-off 911 was so popular, others wanted them too. Requests were made through the “Sonderwunschen” or Special Order program, later known as Porsche’s Exclusive Program, according to the Beverly Hills Car Club.  

Between 1982 and 1989, Porsche produced three generations of the 911 Turbo S with slant nose bodywork. Only 948 of these cars were released, making them one of the automaker’s most unique models.

The slant nose Porsche was very distinct in its styling. The first generation (1982-83) included just 58 vehicles with a “hammerhead” front nose with the headlamps in the bumper area. Later generations featured flip-up headlights.

Wikimedia Commons

Demand was so high for these models, Porsche couldn’t handle all the requests to build them. The automaker then sold the parts to customers, and dealerships would install them.

The slant nose Porsche is synonymous with 1980s car culture. Its highly recognizable sloping style combined with a wide body and whale tail are indicative of the era. It possesses “even more quintessential a 1980s look than that of the Lamborghini Countach and Ferrari Testarossa. And it oozes real racing pedigree: a great car to look at, let alone to drive,” the Beverly Hills Car Club enthuses.

Porsche produced 204 second-generation slant nose models from 1983-1987. The third generation (686 cars) included options that were imported to the United States. According to records, 609 U.S.-spec cars came from Stuttgart, and 21 were likely built from factory-supplied kits, according to 911Flachblau.

Fitting the 930s with the slant nose was a pricey option, beginning at approximately $29,000, which added almost half to the standard Turbo’s price. That didn’t deter interested buyers. Porschephiles loved (and still love) the slant nose. It did not take long before tuners such as Kremer and Ekkehard Zimmerman made slant nose conversions out of stock 930 Turbos by replacing the front fenders with the sloping nose and pop-up headlights. They also featured cooling slats in homage to the 935 race car. If you see a slant nose model on the road today, there’s a good chance it’s a modified version and not original from the factory.  

A 1982 Porsche 911SC modified into a “Flachbau” by Camillo & Domenico Scaduto of Carrozzeria Italia at their restoration shop in Escondido, California. Wikimedia Commons

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