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BB Porsche 911-30 Turbo Targa
Established in 1973 and based initially at an ex-BMW workshop in Frankfurt, BB’s custom body, paint and interior programmes saw the firm quickly establish itself as the number one name for customised Porsche. Founded by brothers Rainer and Dieter Buchmann, it was three years later that they came to international prominence.
The
turbocharged 930 Coupe had been launched in
February 1975, however, Porsche did not intend to manufacture a targa version, partly because they believed demand for the Turbo Coupe would not greatly exceed the number required for homologation. As it happened, the 930 was an unexpected money-spinner and in late 1976, BB launched their own derivative, the 911-30 Turbo Targa conversion being available for execution on brand new and existing 911 Targa’s.
Enhancing BB’s pioneering reputation were the state of the art equipment options and degree of personalisation afforded to customers, all of which could end up more than doubling the list price of a standard 930. This bespoke tailoring of premium brand sports cars took the slack left after the demise of many traditional coachbuilders in the early 1960’s when production techniques became more mechanised.
The Turbo Targa programme cost DM68,000 and essentially saw the donor Targa completely remanufactured with genuine factory parts. It comprised Turbo fenders, front and rear spoilers, suspension, the braking system, fuel system and electrics. The floorpan and roof were strengthened, a new Turbo engine and transmission installed and finally, new 16-inch Fuchs wheels and Pirelli P7 tyres fitted.
Specifications could be further enhanced with a selection of options including a car-telephone mounted in discreetly in the dash (DM18,000), Scheel sport seats (DM1000), Electric Windows (DM1800) and seats trimmed in Velvet (DM3000). Combination Hi-Fi’s were another way to upgrade, a typical BB combination using a Blaupunkt Berlin radio receiver, a Uher cassette player and Pioneer speakers and amplifier (DM4400).
Fully equipped, the list price for a BB Turbo Targa conversion was in excess of DM100,000, that on top of the DM36,000 it would have cost for a brand new entry level 911 Targa donor vehicle. Weight was 1335kg compared to 1210kg for the 930 Coupe, performance only being marginally affected with 0-60 requiring just 5.5 seconds and a 153mph top speed.
By the end of 1976, several Turbo Targa’s had been manufactured, one of which was the famous ‘Polaroid’ press car built to act as a rolling showcase for BB’s talents and incorporating nearly all the equipment available. Production continued throughout 1977 with more options coming on stream regularly.
These included US bumpers and a normally aspirated Super Carrera Targa derivative incorporating Turbo-style bodywork but without the forced induction engine, both of which were available from March. By June ’77, BB had completed a de-spoilered Turbo Targa and in 1978 they were offering the new 3.3-litre Turbo engine along with BBS rims. May 1978 saw a flat nose version introduced featuring a Porsche 928 headlight conversion and dubbed the 911-30-28, it signalled a reduction in demand for the original Turbo Targa. Precisely how many Turbo Targa’s and Super Carrera Targa’s were manufactured remains unknown, the bulk of production being split between European and Middle Eastern customers.
