1985 Porsche 911 M491 Turbo Look

05-04-2012, 09:59 PM

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mjordan68

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1985 Porsche 911 M491 Turbo Look

Year: 1985
Make: Porsche
Model: 911
Cont. Porsche Models: 911
Mileage (numbers only please): 126789
Options (Please check ALL which apply): Foglamps, Leather Seats, Power Brakes, Power Door Locks, Power Windows, Sunroof
Color: Black
VIN: WPOAB0910FS120677
Price (no $ sign please): $18900
Private or Dealer Listing: Private Listing
Location (Region): SoCAl
Body Style: Coupe
Transmission Type: Manual - 5 speed
2 or 4 Wheel Drive?: 2 Wheel Drive
Engine Type: Fuel Injection
Stereo System: AM-FM Stereo

This 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 M491 is one of the well-known “Turbo Look” cars sold by Porsche in the U.S. between 1984 and 1989, one of 491 such cars brought to America in 1985.

Purchased by Edmunds.com in April 2011 for its vehicle test program, the story of the “Black Plague” can be read at www.insideline.com. Now that the car has reached the end of its one-year testing term, it is presented for sale.

It has 126,789 original miles. It is equipped with its original, authentic M491 “Turbo Look” equipment package, which includes all the premium equipment included with the 911 Turbo, an option group that represented a price premium of $11,490 in 1985. These pieces include: fender flares, front spoiler, rear wing (not displayed here but included with car), stiffer antiroll bars, upgraded brakes (including 917-style calipers, cross-drilled rotors and larger master cylinder), upgraded rear hubs, high-bolstered sports seats, and central door locking. Powder-coated, Porsche 944 Cup, authentic Fuchs wheels meet the M491’s original specification, 7.0 x 16–in front and 9.0 x 16-in rear, and they carry new (2,000 miles), Bridgestone-built Fuzion ZRi tires in the original specification, 205/55ZR-16 front, 245/45ZR-16 rear. (Rear tires with a street-friendly tread and compound in this size are now very, very rare.)

This car has a rebuilt and relatively fresh 3.2-liter engine and (Type 915) gearbox. It has been serviced by Lee Rice at Rice’s Performance Turbos in Garden Grove, California, and Aase Motors in Fullerton, California. An alignment to street-friendly settings for ride height, caster, camber and toe plus corner weights has been recently performed by the well-known Steve Alarcon at Johnson’s Alignment in Torrance, California. The air-conditioning system has been removed from the car but is included with sale. Approximately $4,000 has been spent on service and improvements, including maintenance, sorting of the electrical system and instruments (everything works, even the clock), freshening of shift linkage, replacement of clutch pedal bushings, new clutch cable, a new steering wheel, and even a new H5 lens for the original-specification headlights. The previous owner installed some maroon interior trim; the original black pieces are included with sale.

Cosmetically the car shows wear, especially in the interior, where new front seat upholstery, a headliner and weather-stripping (notably the sunroof) are clearly warranted. While clearly worn, the exterior paint has been detailed carefully several times for photo shoots and presents well. The wheel wells are clean and the engine is dry.

This car carries a salvage title issued in February 1998. It suffered some left front damage and the insurance company clearly took the easy way out. Meanwhile a 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera M491 is valued by Porsche Excellence at $21,800 at the low end of the scale, down from $23,600 in 2009. Sports Car Market values the M491 at $21,000 for the low end of the scale with the M491 package carrying a $5,000 premium. Fewer such cars seem to be coming to market these days if the PCA Panorama is any guide.

This 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 M491 is offered at $18,900 OBO. Located in Santa Monica, California. For further information and to see the car, contact: mjordan@edmunds.com.

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