Words: Rory FH Smith
The ‘Flachbau’ or ‘Flatnnose,’ as we tend to call them over here in Blighty, caused quite a stir when it first appeared in 1976 at the Mugello race circuit in Italy.
Proving highly competitive in the hands of drivers like Jacky Ickx and Jochen Mass, the cars managed four victories in eight World Championship races, including success at Le Mans in each year. After the celebrations had died down, however, Porsche was concerned about alienating private customers who’d been investing in conventionally shaped competition 911s. As a result, Stuttgart restricted the use of the ‘Flatnose’ to only Le Mans in 1978.
But victory on the racetrack meant more sales in the dealership and the ‘Flatnose’ proved popular among the Porsche buyers in the mid to late 1980s, when it was possible to specify a 930 in this style to special order. The SE ‘Flatnose’ was a fully bespoke and hand-made option and twice as expensive as a standard 930 Turbo when new.
This particular car, made in 1985, was the first of just 50, right-hand drive factory models and spent the early part of its life as Porsche GB’s press car, featuring in the likes of Car Magazine in 1986.
Guide price: £150,000 – £170,000
This car will be offered for auction by Silverstone Auctions on Sunday 25th October. Click here for further details.
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