How Many Supersports?

[clipper]

Something I find puzzling is, I sometimes see numbers of Supersports made for the UK market - in this case an advert from Hexagon:

"In 1984, Porsche introduced the M491 option. Officially called the Supersport in the UK, it was commonly known as the "Turbo-look". It was a style that resembled the Porsche 930 Turbo with wide wheel arches and the distinctive "tea tray" tail. It featured the stiffer turbo suspension and the superior turbo braking system as well as the wider turbo wheels. Sales of the Supersport were particularly strong for its first two years in the United States because the desirable 930 was not available"


Only 75 Cars were produced for the UK market "" believed to be made up of 37 Convertible, 35 Coupe and 3 Targa.


Take the SS Targa - I think there is at least three of us with one on this forum, plus the car for sale above, and I have seen several more for sale in the last six months, so im a bit baffled by the numbers quoted.

 

[cdickinson]

Well I own one, a SS targa in red, so that's 66% of us...!

Like you, I'm not convinced it's that rare...

 

[Greg James]

I've got the other in white

 

[Greg James]

Porsche post did an article on this a few years back and they said 14 targa's

 

[royhope71]

One here too G3 NDH (1989 red with linen)

 

[Geoff_Fields]

The 75 cars mentioned in that advert is a guess. Usually sellers come up a with nice low number! As a previous owner of a black coupe, when I enquired about volume of cars produced with M491 option the reply was that Porsche had no records to support a definitive answer.

 

[macandsue]

We have one E 911 MAC in GP white It is a 1987/88 model .
A few more figures to ponder ;
Total number 74,026
Coupes 35,571
Cabs. 19,987
Targas 18,468

Working on chassis numbers the following was deduced that after the introduction of the "Turbo Look"in 1985 only 3 R.H.drive Targas were made. These had the 915 gear box. The box was replaced in 1986 with the G50 and again by some prolonged and deep analysis it was deduced that a further 14 were made . This was done over a good few years with the help of the Dreaded D.V.L.A. mainly by checking the other cars and eliminating rather than counting . This is a deduction , not a conclusion but it is probably close enough.


We have personally seen all three 915 box models in the metal and about six of the others and including our own of course seven . We say about because we had our doubts about how authentic of one of them was . It was in a classic car get together in a pub car park .

However don't take our word for it there could be a few more hidden away as investments ---but they don't count really ,do they?

Ours has done 91k plus a few and we have had it for 15 years . The value , as in Insurance , has gone up some and we are just negotiating a further increase with our insurers . Mileage and condition count for everything but rarity is a big factor also.

As some of you will know we run the Display Register and sure as eggs is eggs somewhere down the line soon someone in a magazine is going to want to do a feature on Supersports so if you join the register we will (a) be able to contact you quickly and get you on it and of course (b) be able to count a few , hopefully hitherto unseen .

Mac and Sue McLeod

 

[Greg James]

I also saw a fake super sport at a car show was really good spoke to the owner and he said it wasn't a real one.

 

[997Mike]

I have a SSE coupe (1989) and its supposed to be one of 21 RHD cars bought into the UK between 87 and 89

Mike

 

[clipper]

RichardD1 on this forum also has a Targa SSE.

Leicester Porsche won the prize for best restored Porsche recently with a Targa SSE and was on display at the NEC Classic.

http://www.sytner.co.uk/why-choose-sytner/about-sytner/news-and-events/sytner-news/porsche-centre-leicester-win-restoration-competition.aspx

Also saw a fab Targa SSE for sale in October at Speedwell in the New-forest.

 

[Hardy911]

It is very confusing especially as they didn't put the 491 option on all the labels .
There is at least 4 supersports in R7 but I think mine is only Targa 1986 Iris blue (the colour willams Crawfords had never seen before ???
Often when delears refer to numbers they really mean for that model and not for the duration .

How many Turbo Targas are in the register because they are rare .
It would be interesting to get all the production quotes together for the meetup I'm all for it

 

[clipper]

Presume you are familiar with the Turbo Look Register?

There are about 70 UK based Targa SSE's on it.

Thought I had put mine on but cant see it - think I will list it.

http://www.turbo-look.de/3-en.php?#

 

[Hardy911]

hi
Yes its on there no 3041 .
Quite fancy thiis get together .

 

[Greg James]

Cool lets kick about places and dates.

 

[macandsue]

Please see the other thread

 

[andywhyte]

Hi,

I can confirm the accuracy of Hardy911's statement "It is very confusing especially as they didn't put the 491 option on all the labels . "

I have a 1996 911 Coupe SE (with Sport Equipment) and when I received my Certificate of Authenticity from Porsche a number of years ago, I contacted them to clarify things. This is the response I received which sheds some light on the matter.


Email from Porsche Customer Assistance:

Good morning Mr Whyte

Thank you for your email. I can confirm this vehicle was ordered as a Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe (With Sport Equipment). The vehicle was converted at the factory by the Exclusive-department to a 911 Carrera Coupe
(With Sport Equipment). As Exclusive options are not recorded in the
usual way, owing to their exclusivity, no option M491 will not appear on the vehicle's VIN sticker.

Porsche 911 with the Sport Equipment (Option M491) were manufactured in a slightly different way to other production vehicles. When these vehicles were produced at the factory, they were essentially made as a standard 911 model and at one point of the production line the cars were taken to the Exclusive Department for modifications to be made to replace the standard equipment with Sport Equipment, Turbo front and rear spoilers with running
gear. Any record of these modifications are only viewable to the
Factory, or the selling dealer, as they are unique to the individual vehicle and the customer that ordered it.

There is the same degree of exclusivity around the option "Colour to Sample". This is essentially a custom colour that the original purchasing customer will have ordered as a special option. For example a paint colour or material colour that is not available in that years model ordering guide is matched. As this is completed by the Exclusive Department, the option is given a generic colour code in order to prevent it being used again, thus securing it's exclusivity.

I will amend the Model Name on your Certificate, and resend your Certificate.

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I thought readers may be interested.

Andy