Help me buy my first Porsche, 930 Flatnose from 19

[willyexner]

Hi Renntech members,

I am an old bones automotive project engineer, newbie to this forum, live in Europe and have owned in my life many exotic sport cars, mostly Italians, never a Porsche.

I am contemplating the idea of buying

a 1985 PORSCHE 911 Turbo WPO ZZZ 93 ZFS 00 3XX which you may see in detail by clicking this link taking you to a pictures gallery.

History:

I have been shown by the seller, the third owner from 2003, a Porsche Certificate stating that the frame number is was originally a 911 Turbo built in 1985.

The second owner is said of having bought the car at a justice auction after a legal seizure lasting ten years. The car history previous is wholly unknown. The car having been stored in unsuitable conditions I am told that the body needed repainting, that the seized engine (said to be stamped 930/66 S, kit 330 bhp, front radiator, larger intercooler, K27 turbine) had new gaskets, new valves and new turbine.

The car is now said to be in fair running order, missing a fuse cover, the intercooler top gasket and to have a (said to be a common defect of 911 turbo) a drop of oil between engine block and gearbox.

On pictures the slantnose conversion looks rather professional.

Is there any way to tell if it was one made by the Factory special service department that was making these conversions?

For reasons of distance I have not inspected the car yet.

Being inexperienced on the specific make/model, I will be thankful for any advice from Porsche gurus as to what and where to look for weak spots, corrosion and any other hidden bug I may fail to notice.

Thanks and cheers!

Willy

[Loren]

A factory slant nose for RoW cars should be option 506 (US cars was 505). See if the original option codes include option 506.

[willyexner]

A factory slant nose for RoW cars should be option 506 (US cars was 505). See if the original option codes include option 506.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Loren,

Your suggestion seems very valuable.

I haven't yet inspected the car but, knowing that the mods were definitely period and German, may I humbly ask you where should I look for the reference 506?

And (at the cost of confessing my ignorance) RoW is the acronym of what?

Thanks!

Willy

[Loren]

If the owners have the original documentation there should be an option list with many number codes. If they do not have it Porsche should be able tell you what options the car shipped with from the VIN - for a fee.

RoW stands for "rest of the world". Porsche broke their major build categories into two groups (in the late 70's or early 80's as I recall). There are cars built for the US and Canada that have certain emissions, lighting, ride height specifications, etc. And, then their are RoW cars which have a different set of specifications. Also, some models were not sold in the US/Canada.