Concours of Elegance to Display Original 1973 Porsche 911 Turbo Prototype
The rare car helped usher in the G-body design & was later used for racing...
The Concours of Elegance announces that its 2024 event will feature the original 1973 911 Turbo “Prototype.” This special car represents the genesis of an icon; it was the first road-going 911 to wear the “Turbo” badge.
Chassis 9113300157 was the machine that starred on the Porsche stand at the 1973 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show, putting the concept of a turbocharged 911 on the map. The Prototype will be on display from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1 at the Hampton Court Palace in Mosley, England.
The Turbo concept was created to give an indication of what a “super” 911 would look like, combining performance with grand touring luxury. Finished in a one-off silver, with hand-painted “Turbo” script, this show car sold the dream of a 911 with turbocharged performance, previewing the production 930 Turbo that would appear two years later.
Taking a standard 911S as its base, the concept was built up in Porsche’s design studio Style Porsche. When it made its debut in Frankfurt, the car didn’t actually feature the turbo 2.7 liter flat-six motor. Porsche instead modified a conventional naturally aspirated motor, with additional components including the Turbo itself mocked up in wood and painted to look real.
Despite imitation mechanicals, the concept was more than enough to convince and capture the imagination of the show’s crowds.
The concept was in fact, three concepts in one; in addition to debuting the Turbo name, it featured styling elements that would go into the G-Model 911, while also previewing the RSR racer and ultra-rare 3.0 RS road car.
After the first appearance in Frankfurt, the concept toured the world, appearing at motor shows in Paris, Tokyo and Melbourne, before returning home to Stuttgart.
In 1975, Alan Hamilton – racing driver and Porsche importer for Australia – was on a visit to the Porsche factory, when he spotted the concept languishing in a corner. A deal was done and the car exported to Australia.
The car made a handful of competitive outings in the hands of Hamilton, before being traded amongst the Australian Porsche cognoscenti over the coming decades. It was later exported to the United States in 2010, making a rare public appearance at the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance later that year.
After a six-year sojourn in the states, the Turbo concept was purchased by the current owner, who brought it home to Europe. Now presenting in stunning original condition now with a genuine turbo motor – it is ready to delight at Hampton Court Palace.
The iconic 911 will star alongside 60 other concours cars during the event Outside of the main Concours display there will be a number of special features, including the Levitt Concours dedicated to the most passionate female owners, the 30UNDER30, which celebrates enthusiastic owners under 30 years of age and the Club Trophy, which gathers the very best examples of models from the nation’s best car clubs.
Away from the automotive displays, Concours of Elegance 2024 will again be a luxurious occasion, with a collection of art, jewelry and fashion displays.
To learn more about the Concours of Elegance, click here.
