Turbo 3.0 - Porsche's First Turbocharged Supercar (Limited Edition)

The mid-1970s were dark times for the automotive industry, and darker still for those passionate about high-performance cars. Manufacturers worldwide, struggling to comply with new emissions and safety regulations, were finding it difficult to produce cars capable of delivering a satisfying driving experience. With one or two exceptions - very expensive models built in minute quantities - none did. The cars produced in these years were at best compromised; most were simply dreadful. The OPEC oil embargo had just turned everything upside down while safety and emissions standards were strangling performance and stifling innovation from manufacturers. It was an atmosphere of complete and utter despair, as though all had been lost. Then - out of nowhere - Porsche dropped a bombshell, announcing a turbocharged series production supercar that not only met regulatory requirements but also delivered blistering performance. The 3.0-liter Turbo was an instant sensation, inspiring enthusiasts from every corner of the world and offered hope that perhaps there was still a future for performance cars. While other manufacturers made attempts to build a turbocharged series production car, none were produced in significant numbers or were commercially viable, other than BMW with the briefly available 2002 Turbo. Porsche's 3.0-liter Turbo was that and more ... becoming the first successful turbocharged production car that not only exhibited bulletproof reliability and satisfied regulators, but also ran like a bat out of hell. Porsche's Turbo became THE car of the 1970s and 80s, forever cementing enthusiasm for the Porsche marque among those who came of age during that era. Having entered the popular lexicon, merely mentioning the word "turbo" in the decades that followed brought only one thought to mind: Porsche. The 3.0-liter Turbo is unquestionably the car that raised public perception and established Porsche as a top-tier manufacturer.

This book dives deep into the development, production and mystique behind the three years of Porsche's 3.0-liter Turbo produced from 1975 to 1977. The book continues the theme of being carefully researched using the Porsche factory archives, private collections, period documentation and intensive study. In an attempt to cover everything an owner, restorer, historian or enthusiast would want to know about the dawn of Porsche’s turbocharged supercar, it includes a considerable amount of material never before published. For example: comprehensive discussions of original options, close-up photos of key details, scenes from factory production, coverage of special one-off models and period motorsports. This exhaustive volume not only covers the privateer racing exploits of the 3.0-liter Turbo, but also the development of production-based turbocharged race cars by examining the Carrera RSR Turbo 2.14 and Turbo RSR 934/934.5. Additionally, it includes interviews with factory engineers, development drivers and racing pilots involved with the development of Porsche's original Turbo. This is the definitive book about the immortal 3.0-liter Turbo and it is essential reading for anyone who has ever owned, driven or simply lusted after Porsche's first supercar.

Contents:

• Turbocharging Roots
  Evolution of forced induction
  Engineering development
  How turbochargers work
• Porsche Turbo Arrives
  Turbo 3.0 unveiling
  Performance data Production numbers
• Drivetrain
  Engine development
  Turbocharger system
  Transmission
• Rolling Chassis
  Suspension development
  Brakes
  Wheels and tires
  Body
  Production process
  Flares, tails and equipment
  Paint colors
• Interior
  Seats, belts and trim
  Upholstery development and materials
  Driver controls and accessories
• Special Models
  Prototypes
  Motor Show introductions
  Style Porsche Studio specials
• Racing
  Carrera RSR Turbo 2.14
  Privateer Turbo 3.0 racing
  934/934.5 development
  Homologation paperwork
• Accessories
  Delivery items
  Tool kits
  Luggage
• Literature
  Owner’s manuals
  Technical/service publications
  Marketing material
• Production Data
  Production records
  Assembly line changes
• Appendices
  Equipment
  Bibliography
  Acknowledgements
  Photo Credits