For Sale at Auction: 1978 Porsche 911 Turbo in Costa Mesa, California

Chassis No. 9308800205
Engine No. 6881103

Porsche's iconic 911 Turbo model is perhaps the most recognizable of the marque, first introduced in 1975 as a small run of 500 road-going homologation versions of the Porsche 934 race car. As such, it made use of the factory racing program's turbocharging innovations, initially powered by an aluminum-cased 3.0-liter engine delivering 234-horsepower. The potent package represented Zuffenhausen's first supercar with performance to rival the Italian challengers of the day including the Lamborghini Countach and Ferrari 512 BB, all while offering greater reliability and practicality expected from Germany. The Turbo gained a substantial displacement increase for 1978 to 3.3 liters, along with an enlarged "whale tail" rear spoiler to accommodate the new air-to-air intercooler. Output now stood at an impressive 282 horsepower and remained the same until production ceased in 1989.

Offered from the first year of the 3.3-liter Turbo, 1978 Porsche 911 Turbo is one of the most visceral and coveted supercars of the 1970s, with examples as original as this harder to find by the day. Completed in January 1978 in Black with a Black leather interior, this Turbo was appointed from the factory with equipment for California, a limited slip differential, an electric sunroof, and Pirelli tires. Its Porsche-issued Certificate of Authenticity also notes that the engine is the original, matching-numbers unit. The original Warranty & Maintenance book on file records a first owner by the name of Mr. Michael Alex, resident of Upland, California, who took delivery of the Turbo through Columbus Porsche-Audi of Bakersfield. California registration cards in the history file confirm further California ownership in the 2000s, at that time in the hands of a Mr. Daniel Makowiecki of Burson. In recent years, service invoices and work logs indicate that the Turbo has been consistently cared for, including a full dry ice cleaning of the undercarriage in January 2025.

Infamously known by enthusiasts as the "Widowmaker," the 911 Turbo was Porsche's first out-and-out supercar which was as fast as it was demanding to drive. This matching-numbers example would be a worthwhile addition to any collection and deserving of the model's legendary supercar status. It is offered with 28,579 miles shown at the time of cataloging and is accompanied by its owner's manuals, tool roll, and space-saver spare.