Interesting...I wonder if there was a start date with the new manuals based on import date? I'm pretty sure my 5.78 manual is original to my 930.

 

I checked mine and it's the 5/78 vintage.

 

One more of the last 50, ’79 Porsche 930 chassis number 9309801190 in issue #10 of Gmünd magazine - black, black interior with 8,000 miles. In 1982, this 930 was for sale by Mr. Kahn at a 212 area code (New York City, Manhattan) for $65K.

Summary:

Chassis #, exterior color/interior color
11xx, black metallic/light red (1984 Robb Report)
1155, beige/brown
1156, PTS yellow/cork
1163, guards red/black
1164, silver metallic/two-tone light red/black
1166, silver metallic/black
1170, Talbot yellow/black
1172, black/tan
1173, anniversary color
1175, guards red/tan
1176, guards red/tan
1177, guards red/black
1185, black/black
1189, interior black
1190, black/black
1194, black/tan
1195, black metallic/black
1196, anthracite grey/black
1200, charcoal grey metallic/two-tone brown/tan

 

Dave-

Here’s the younger brother to your last ’79 930 - chassis number 9309801199 that was for sale in the November 1988 issue of Porsche Panorama. After only eight years, there was no mention that this car was one of the last 50 and it already had a few mods: U.S. car, 9,870 miles, black metallic, tan interior, boxed rockers, sunroof, air conditioning, ss headers, black headliner, lowered, and fully polished alloys for $42K in Aspen, Colorado.

 

Idart, interesting old classified.. I noticed two out of the four 930s listed were already modified to the point of no (original) return eg., Ruf 3.4, steel slope. I really like that '77, I wish I could go back in time.

 

I wonder how many of these cars have been modified to the point of no return?
I suppose it's all a question of $; in that at some point the value of a car can make it financially feasible to restore one back from the brink of junker-hood. The early 911's and 356's have been there for some time, I'm not sure the 930's are there yet. Maybe some day!

 

Many of the last 50 '79's did not receive any special consideration with respect to modifications. Here’s 1155, 1185 and 1195 – all with mods although 1155 looks pretty close to stock except for the full roll cage. 1185 and 1195 did not have their dash plaques.

 

From San Diego’s January 1980 Windblown Witness:

Porsche Turbo Retires Undefeated

The last 50 Porsche 930 Turbos for the United States will be delivered by Porsche + Audi Dealers this January.

Known as the fastest street-legal car sold in America with a demonstrated top speed of 165 mph, the already legendary model will no longer be available here after the last of the ‘79s arrive from Germany. Factory spokesman in West Germany have said that although the high-horsepower “flat-six” engine is capable of meeting current U.S. exhaust emission regulations, modifications to the emission control system and recertification required for the coming model year would be impractical for the limited-production sports car.

Introduced in 1976 as the Turbo Carrera and renamed simply “the Turbo” in 1978, U.S. production of the high-performance luxury Porsche has averaged about 600 cars a year, often with a waiting time of (?) months for delivery of the sought-after model.

Not to be confused with the turbo-charged version of the Porsche 924 which was introduced this past year, the Porsche 930 Turbo is a derivative of the classic 911.

Benefiting from the development of the 1,000-horsepower 917/30 which won Can-Am Championships in the early ‘70s, modified

911-based Turbos have captured the World Manufactures’ Championship, the International Motor Sports Association Road-Racing crown, and the coveted U.S. Trans-Am Championship. This May, the proven turbo-charged six will power Porsche’s first entry in the Indianapolis 500-mile Race.

Porsche engineers have perfected modern automotive turbo-charging, and the “street-Turbo” uses a system which many other manufacturers are now turning to in an effort to create more powerful and flexible small-displacement engines. With fuel economy far-surpassing other “exotics” in its class, the 3.3-litre fuel-injected engine produces 253 horsepower – and 0 to 60 mph times of less than five seconds.

To authenticate their purchase, the lucky people who get one of the last 50 Turbos also receive a dash plaque and a certificate signed by Dr. Porsche.

 

January 1980 Porsche+Audi Public Relations photo and press release for the last 50 1979 U.S. 930’s:

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. -- Known as the fastest street-legal car sold in America, the already legendary Porsche 930 Turbo will no longer be available after the last of the ‘79s arrive from Germany this month.

Not to be confused with the turbo-charged version of the Porsche 924 which was introduced this past year, the Porsche 930 Turbo is a derivative of the classic 911. Introduced in 1976 as the Turbo Carrera and renamed simply “the Turbo” in 1978, U.S. production of the high-performance luxury Porsche has averaged about 600 cars a year.

In addition to numerous road-racing championships garnered by 911-based Turbos, a variation of the proven turbo-charged six will power Porsche’s first entry in the Indianapolis 500 Race.

To authenticate their purchase, the lucky people who get one of the last 50 Turbos also receive a dash plaque and certificate signed by Dr. Porsche.

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FROM: Fred Heyler
Porsche +Audi Public Relations
Englewood Cliffs, N.J. 07632

 

I never heard of the last 50 before finding this thread yesterday. It is always cool to have some interesting fact about the cars. anyone ever tried VW USA for more info/clarification? Independently of which cars VW sold as part of the last 50 group, Dave's car is certainly a unique example with an importance of its own, been confirmed by Porsche as the last one. That's cool!!
anyway, I would definitely pay a premium for one of this cars.
So far I understand that it is not possible to be sure that all the cars between 1151 and 1200 were part of the "last 50" group...but they were the last fifty chassis. Correct?
Also, how this could be an effort from VW USA alone if Ferry signed the certificates? And as Idart930 observed, the signatures are different... Maybe Ferry didn't sign them... Who did ?

 

Dave’s letters from Porsche AG (9309801200) actually refer to Volkswagen of America but that previous relationship with Porsche + Audi dealerships no longer exists so I’m not sure who you could contact today besides PCNA.

Chassis numbers 9309801151 - 9309801200 were the last 50, 1979 chassis numbers but that does not necessarily mean they rolled off the production line in that order (probably true for any vintage Porsche).

When I referred to Ferry’s signature being different on each of the certificates, I was only implying that they were not generated by an autopen but were actually signed by Ferry Porsche (no two signed original documents are ever the same, autopen signatures are the same). To my knowledge, these 50 certificates were the only time that Ferry actually signed certificates for a Porsche car.

Volkswagen of America had a lot of clout back in the 1970’s and in addition to promoting the last 50 1979 930’s with signed certificates, for the ’76-77 930’s, VOA influenced the style of the 930 turbo badge (different script and smaller) and added Carrera to badge 930's “Turbo Carreras” for the American market.

 

1979 930, chassis number 9309801180, red with cork interior in the January 1995 issue of Panorama magazine. Guard red is a close second to black as the most popular color for the last fifty ‘79’s.

Summary:
Chassis #, exterior color/interior color
11xx, black metallic/light red (1984 Robb Report)
1155, beige/brown
1156, PTS yellow/cork
1163, guards red/black
1164, silver metallic/two-tone light red/black
1166, silver metallic/black
1170, Talbot yellow/black
1172, black/tan
1173, anniversary color
1175, guards red/tan
1176, guards red/tan
1177, guards red/black
1180, guards red/cork
1185, black/black
1189, interior black
1190, black/black
1194, black/tan
1195, black metallic/black
1196, anthracite grey/black
1200, charcoal grey metallic/two-tone brown/tan

 

9309801166, silver with black interior for sale in the November 2004 Panorama Magazine for $27,500. Remained unsold and last appeared in the July 2005 Panorama for $24,000.

 

kas930 - in addition to a 1980 Porsche poster, there’s also a 911SC in the same color as your PTS 930 in a 1979 Porsche European delivery folder. On the reverse, there’s also a white 1979 930 Turbo with snorkel headlight washers. All of the 911's and the Turbo have U.S. sugar scoop headlight bezels. Also note the cool American couple modeling in the photo

 

I think I have finally unraveled the mystery for my 1979 930 Turbo interior. The key lies in the U.S. dealer option books for 1979 and 1980.

Some background…a ”Light Red” interior could be ordered for U.S. Turbos from 1977 to 1979. What is odd is that my ’79 930 has a light red interior (code 95) but also has a black dash/window sills/door tops/rear shelf with no mention of this fact on my original window sticker or PCNA COA. According to the U.S. dealer option book for 1979, Turbo interiors were equipped with a dashboard, window sills, and rear shelf, color coordinated with the trim except for the interior colors of yellow (code 96) and white (code 97) that required black trim. In 1979, a light red interior was a unique U.S. delivery (in addition to white and yellow) and was not listed for RoW Turbo interior colors. The U.S. interior code 95 required a light red color-matched dash/window sills/door tops/rear shelf.

So why does my interior have a two-tone red/black interior with no mention on the window sticker or COA? The answer lies in the 1980 U.S. dealer option book. Even though my 930 was a 1979 model year, it was delivered in Porsche’s 1980 model year (85 MPH speedometer, flush headlight washers, etc.). Of course, the 1980 U.S. Porsche + Audi option book does not list Turbos but it does list 911 SC’s where light red was added to the leather interior colors of white and yellow that required a black dash/window sills/door tops/rear shelf. For 1980 U.S. 911 SC’s, interior codes 95, 96, and 97 all required a two-tone interiors with black perhaps due to safety issues with glare. When Porsche built ‘79 #1164, they must have fitted the interior with U.S. 1980 911 SC leather interior specifications.

I’ve previously posted images of 1984 Robb report black 930 with red interior (last photo below) that should also have a two-tone red/black interior since it was delivered in Porsche’s 1980 model year. I hope this car is a survivor so I can confirm it has the same two-tone interior as my car.