Description
Offered for sale is an impeccable, extremely rare, low mileage, one owner 1986 Porsche 911 Carrera cabriolet with a factory M491 Turbo Look option. This is a real Turbo Look cabriolet, not a steel body conversion, and as enthusiasts are no doubt aware of, only 226 of these were produced for the US market. It is completely original – no accidents, no paint work, no modifications. In fact the only thing that didn’t come from the factory is an Alpine stereo installed by the dealer at the time of purchase. Having driven the car only 50,xxx miles, the original owner is a wealthy Southern California business man and the car has always remained garaged, dealer maintained and cared for, first in Beverly Hills and in its later days in Montecito, an affluent suburb of Santa Barbara.
The Meteor Gray Metallic paint (code L961) is in excellent condition throughout, marred only very few, exceedingly minor rock chips typical of any carefully driven, low mileage 911. It retains astonishing depth and luster and is one of Porsche’s rarer colors for the 1980’s, truly setting the car apart from the Guards Red, Black and Grand Prix White cars most often seen on the road. The body of the car is perfectly straight, with perfect fits and gaps all around. All of the rubber is in excellent original condition and the glass is free of pitting, chips or cracks. The car has polished, offset Fuchs wheels that are are absolutely stunning, flawless and wrapped in Dunlop tires with plenty of remaining tread.
The black leather interior is impeccable. The seats are as close to new as any car that’s ever left the showroom floor, the carpets and interior panels show no wear at all and the dash is flawless, with absolutely no cracking or warping. The top is original to the car and does exhibit some typical wear, but the rear plastic is crystal clear and it is certainly presentable (and water-tight, of course) as it is. The original tonneau cover is in great shape and has not shrunken at all, still easy to put on and off.
Despite the low mileage, over the 24 years since it left the factory the car has been driven regularly to keep the engine in excellent condition. It fires immediately with no smoke, idles seamlessly, and pulls strongly and smoothly through all of the gears. With its beefy rear tires and wide-body stance, the car handles amazingly, and it is a joy to drive, whether cruising down Pacific Coast Highway or carving through the the back canyons of the Santa Barbara foothills. It is truly one of the tightest Carreras we’ve ever come across.
The car has always been Porsche dealer maintained and it comes with a stamped service book to prove it, as well as additional books and manuals, an as new bra, tool kit and multiple keys.
In terms of exclusivity, the M491 optioned cars – especially the cabriolet – are at the top of the list when it comes to collectible models that are actually priced in a range that makes them enjoyable as weekend drivers or PCA tourers. As rare as 930 Turbo cabriolets, they also offer the still grin-inspiring, bullet-proof 3.2 liter engine that limits the headaches (and wallet-aches) that are generally associated with 930 ownership. Beyond that, because of their rarity and the fact that 1980s 911s are already considered iconic, M491 optioned cars are sure to appreciate over time. This is an excellent Turbo Look example in a desirable color combination that has a documented, cared-for single ownership history in Southern California. Finding another like it will prove difficult, if not impossible.
