Dayton Daily News

Scott Tolliver contacted Wheels, concerned that sports cars weren't getting enough coverage. "I like all kinds of cars, but I thought there should be a few sports cars included. I have a '76 Porsche 930 Turbo and an '84 Ferrari 308 GTSI," he said.

We took him up on the offer to highlight both cars, which we'll do this week and next. Today we feature the Porsche 930 Turbo Carrera, the first true production car to offer a turbocharger.

"It's a story you hear all the time, but it's true: I found this car in a barn, abandoned by its owner four years ago. He bought a Cobra, and just lost interest in the Porsche, so I bought it," Tolliver said.

The Springboro resident has turned his love of cars into a career: He's the general manager of Voss Village Cadillac in Centerville.

The car required some cleaning, a good buffing on the paint, touch-up on a couple of spots in the interior and fixing a small oil leak.

"I couldn't fix the oil leak, so I called Tony at Specialty Motorwerkes, and he had to pull the engine and go through it. It's real strong, and doesn't leak anymore," Tolliver said.

Strong is a very appropriate term for this 3-liter flat six, which puts out about 300 horsepower to a close-

ration 4-speed manual transmission. The 930 is based on the famous 911 body style, but in addition to the performance and handling improvements, the body is what made this car stand out from the crowd in 1976. Flared fenders over wide tires and the signature "whale tail" spoiler on the rear deck told everyone that this car is fast.

Presented in a vivid yellow with black trim and interior, Tolliver's 930 also has chromed wheels.

"I doubt that they were stock, but when I got it, they were rough, so I re-chromed them," he said.

After shooting the photos, Tolliver suggested we go for a ride so I could experience the feeling of a 930.

"It'll slam you back in the seat. And when you hit 3000 rpm and the turbo kicks in, you better have both hands on the wheel and have it pointed straight," Tolliver noted.

The 930 featured a much stiffer suspension than the previous 911's, but with the immense power band of the engine, it also was known to be "tail happy."

"The rear end can come around on you real quick. I know, I've felt it," Tolliver added.

After a short spin, Tolliver put me behind the wheel. The thick bolstered seats wrap around you, and only the tops of the fenders are visible as you take off. With a throaty exhaust note provided by the B&B exhaust, and the steady lump of the high-performance cam, you know this is a beast. On a back road in Warren County, I stabbed the throttle in second, and Tolliver was right — hang on tight. You slam back in the seat, and suddenly feel like you're driving a 300-hp go-kart. Steering is precise, the handling is solid, and the telephone poles can go by very fast.

The 930 had a short life in the U.S. Strict emissions regulations caused Porsche to stop importing the car from Germany in 1979, but over 21,000 cars were built during the worldwide life of the car.

Next week we go to the other extreme, what Tolliver calls the "European luxury car," the Ferrari 308 GTSi.

To nominate your special vehicle for Wheels of the Week, contact us at: Wheels, Marketing Publications Department, Dayton Daily News, 1611 S. Main St., Dayton OH 45409

or e-mail arollins@coxohio.com.