Car collectors are often interested in finding the cars with the lowest mileage. Virtually unused vehicles sometimes fetch many times their original MSRP at auction. An old acquaintance named Dennis Berger goes the opposite way with his Porsche 930 Turbo 3.3 built in 1981. His 911 Turbo now has a crazy amount of mileage on the clock. Dennis told me what makes the Porsche 930 Turbo 3.3 so special to him and why he sees periodic maintenance as an act of respect.
Dear Dennis, welcome! You’re a repeat offender, so to speak. And since your declaration of love for your Tribute Car, a new love has even been added?!
Hi Richard, thank you very much for inviting me again. You know, as a boy from Weissach, I was kind of pre-programmed from an early age. And with the 550 Spyder RS Tribute, you can only enjoy your Porsche passion in good weather. That’s why I had to fulfill my dream of owning a Porsche 930 Turbo when the opportunity arose.
Dennis Berger fulfilled his absolute childhood dream with a Guards red Porsche 930 Turbo 3.3.
When did you start dreaming of a Porsche 930 Turbo?
It started at a very young age. The 930 really started my Porsche enthusiasm. Like many other children, I had a poster of a Porsche 930 Turbo hanging in my childhood bedroom. And it was a Guards red 3.3-liter Turbo with wide fenders and the impressive intercooler spoiler. For me, it was more than just a poster on the wall. It was a window to a world of dreams.
For me, it was more than just a poster on the wall. It was a window to a world of dreams.
Even as a child, the Porsche 930 Turbo was an icon for me, elevated above all other models. For me, it embodied the epitome of the 911 and its unmistakable silhouette was literally etched in my memory. When I close my eyes and think of a 911, it is precisely this silhouette of the Porsche 930 Turbo 3.3 that appears in front of my inner eye.
The poster in my childhood bedroom sparked my passion for the Turbo. It marked the beginning of a journey that continues to this day. At that moment, I decided that one day a Porsche 930 Turbo would enrich my life. This car is not just a machine to me. It is an adventure on four wheels, a true super sports car icon! My passion for the Porsche 930 Turbo has remained undiminished over the years.
How did you get your dream 911?
My Porsche 930 Turbo’s story began with a tip from a good friend. He told me about an extraordinary Porsche in Stuttgart, the hometown of the 911. The opportunity to acquire this vehicle almost two and a half years ago was a stroke of luck. It was a Guards red 3.3 liter Turbo with intercooler – just like the poster from my childhood.
The Turbo’s history is also very interesting. Its first owner was a clothing entrepreneur from Stuttgart. He bought it new and used it for long-distance journeys from Stuttgart to Italy for over 30 years. Shortly before that, he had bought a blue 930, but it was stolen on his first trip south. He bought this Guards red one as a replacement. Afterwards, he drove it countless times on the roads from Stuttgart to the picturesque routes of Italy. This gave him an impressive mileage of over 380,000 kilometers!
This fascinated me and I immediately made my move. From that moment on, I wasn’t just the owner of a Porsche 930 Turbo – I became its guardian, its driver and a passionate lover. The adventures of my Porsche 930 Turbo continue, with every drive, every bend and every kilometer we experience together. And there have already been over 35,000 of them. The odometer now shows more than 416,000 kilometers.
While many other Porsche fans would be put off by such a high mileage, for you it was apparently even an argument in favor of the car.
A Porsche 930 Turbo is more than just a car – it is a challenge, a passion and an adventure. It was driven by its previous owner in the proper way and I do the same. I drive the car the way a super sports car should be driven. Other people are amazed or even put off by the high mileage. But it makes me confident that the car still has many adventures ahead of it. An important part of my Porsche 930 Turbo’s history is also the annual service ceremony. Regular maintenance is more than just a duty. It is an act of respect for this extraordinary vehicle that gives me so much pleasure.
Fortunately, I get to experience these service appointments up close. A close friend, a Porsche specialist, allows me to work on my vehicle myself under his guidance. That’s why it becomes a ceremony for me that goes far beyond changing the oil and filters. It’s an opportunity to inspect the inside and outside of my 930 and make sure everything is working properly. It’s also a moment of reflection where I think about how far we’ve come and what adventures still lie ahead.
High mileage need not be a cause for concern. It can be proof of quality and longevity and is ultimately a declaration of love for Porsche quality.
Dennis Berger
Why is it so important to you, to work on the car by yourself?
The opportunity to do the work myself creates a unique connection to my car. It gives me a deep understanding of its mechanics and strengthens the bond between me and my Porsche. From the 1981 model year onwards, the 930 bodies were hot-dip galvanized – so rust is not an issue with my Turbo! In general, when you work on a car, you learn how durable they are constructed.
Even little things like the light in the key still work. Apart from the hood and a spot on the spoiler, the car is still completely in its original paintwork. Apart from the steering wheel, the car is also still original inside. This story should also encourage future buyers. Because high mileage need not be a cause for concern. It can be proof of quality and longevity and is ultimately a declaration of love for Porsche quality.
What makes the driving experience in the Porsche 930 Turbo 3.3 so special for you?
This car’s true magic unfolds on country roads. The Porsche 930 Turbo is no ordinary sports car. It is a brute performance monster. Because of its extreme significance for the brand, Porsche’s first super sports car was also given its own number and was not just presented as another version of the 911. This is already a real statement in itself.
You can’t tell that this Turbo 3.3 has over 416,000 kilometers on the clock.
Today, its torque is still comparable to that of a Porsche 991 Carrera. This is not only impressive, but also a challenge. Its turbo lag, this sudden surge of power, is indescribable and gives driving an incomparable intensity. The 930 Turbo is much more demanding to drive than a normal Carrera, but that’s exactly what makes it so special.
How would you classify it historically?
For me, the Porsche 930 Turbo is the wildest 911 ever built. Driving it requires more than skill. You have to be alert at all times and have a practiced hand to handle this power and this boost. The thrill of accepting the challenge and becoming one with the vehicle is emotional and exciting every time.
The adventures of my Porsche 930 Turbo 3.3 continue, and I can’t wait to see what new stories we will experience.
What makes this Porsche 930 Turbo even more special is the lack of a sunroof. This has advantages: better weight distribution and more headroom for driving with a helmet on the racetrack. There are no worries about rust or damage to the sunroof. And visually I find a slick-top car more attractive. It is said that only about ten percent of all 930 Turbos were built without a sunroof. And this particular Porsche came to me just as I was looking for it – a twist of fate.
A nice closing. Dennis, thank you for sharing your story with us. Let’s hope it motivates others to experience as many adventures with their vehicles as possible.
If you would like to accompany Dennis on his journey with his Porsche 930 Turbo 3.3, you can find him on Instagram at @porsche930_turbo & @550.spyder.
Richard Lindhorst is our chief-editor and lives in Northern Germany. He thinks about cars and bikes almost 24/7. If you’ve got a story for him, or just want to get in touch, feel free to contact him on his Instagram (@rchrdlndhrst).
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