Rare 1988 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet with Slant Nose Styling Emerges for Sale
A truly exceptional 1988 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet, distinguished by its rare M505 'Slant Nose' styling, has come to market, presenting an extraordinary opportunity for automotive enthusiasts. This model, a unique blend of performance and exclusivity, combines an iconic design with a powerful air-cooled engine, making it a highly coveted collector's item. Its scarcity, particularly in a convertible configuration, underscores its significance in Porsche's storied history, offering a rare glimpse into a specialized era of the 911.
This particular 911 Turbo Cabriolet not only captures attention with its historical rarity but also with its meticulously preserved aesthetics and robust mechanical heart. The vehicle's striking Grand Prix White paintwork contrasts elegantly with a vibrant Lipstick Red leather interior, showcasing a blend of sophistication and sportiness. Powered by a potent turbocharged 3.3L flat-six engine, it delivers a thrilling driving experience, characteristic of the era's performance benchmarks. The combination of its distinctive design, luxurious appointments, and engineering prowess solidifies its status as a remarkable and sought-after classic.
The Unique Slant Nose Design and Rarity
This 1988 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet, known by its M505 designation, features the exceptionally rare 'Slant Nose' front end, a design cue inspired by Porsche's racing lineage. With only a handful of these factory-built convertibles ever produced, its appearance at auction marks a significant event for collectors. The car's Grand Prix White paintwork, complemented by black accents, highlights its unique aerodynamic profile, distinguishing it from standard 911 models of its generation.
The M505 'Slant Nose' configuration sets this 911 apart, deriving its aggressive, low-slung front end directly from the Porsche 934 and 935 race cars. This distinctive styling eliminates the traditional upright fenders of the standard 911 930, creating a sleek, aerodynamic silhouette. Historical records from Porsche indicate that only 686 of these special M505 models were produced, with a mere 204 being second-generation units, and an even smaller, unspecified number configured as convertibles. This extreme rarity makes each surviving example a treasure, with their infrequent appearances at public sales underscoring their highly collectible nature. The car is further enhanced by its 16-inch Fuchs alloy wheels, painted in matching white, shod with a mix of Dunlop and Continental tires, and equipped with cross-drilled and ventilated disc brakes on all four corners, emphasizing its performance heritage and readiness for spirited driving.
Interior Luxury and Driving Dynamics
Inside, the 1988 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet presents a luxurious and performance-oriented cabin, dominated by a vibrant Lipstick Red leather interior. This striking color adorns the power-adjustable bucket seats, door panels, and center console, creating an intimate and engaging cockpit environment. The interior's meticulous detailing, combined with a powerful turbocharged engine and precise handling, ensures an unforgettable driving experience.
The interior of this special 911 is a bold statement with its 'Lipstick Red' leather, which covers the two power-adjustable bucket seats, door panels, and central console, all set against a slightly more orange-red carpeting. This color scheme imbues the cabin with a sense of passionate performance and bespoke luxury. The quad-spoked steering wheel, entirely red, features two parallel bars and a padded rectangular center, proudly displaying an off-center yellow-and-red Porsche shield logo. The driver is greeted by a comprehensive black VDO instrument cluster with crisp white markings and red needles, including a centrally mounted tachometer redlining at 6,700 rpm and a speedometer reaching 170 mph. Smaller gauges provide essential readings for oil pressure and temperature, fuel level, and turbocharger pressure. Additional features like a Kenwood radio, an analog clock, and climate control enhance comfort. Mechanically, this collectible 911 is powered by a turbocharged 3.3L (201 cubic inch) flat-six boxer engine, generating 282 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. This power is channeled to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transaxle, an integrated unit combining the transmission, rear axle, and limited-slip differential, a design optimized by the 911's rear-engine layout. With all four wheels equipped with disc brakes, and an odometer showing 39,000 miles (though actual mileage is unconfirmed), this vehicle promises a boosted and exhilarating driving experience.