Elite Dealer

1988 Porsche 911

$149,995

Vehicle Details

Make

Porsche

Model

911

Year

1988

Mileage

136,700 miles

VIN

WP0EB0911JS160986

Body Type

Coupe

Transmission

Manual

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Engine

3.2L FLAT 6 CYLINDER

Description

1988 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa M491 Turbo Look For Sale
* One Owner * Rare M491 Turbo Look * One of Only 18 Known 1988 Targas * Engine Rebuilt *
Offered for sale is an exceptionally rare 1988 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa M491 Turbo Look, a true collector-grade example that has remained with one owner since new. Equipped with the highly desirable M491 Turbo Look package, this Carrera combines the iconic widebody styling and suspension of the legendary 930 Turbo with the naturally aspirated reliability of the Carrera. According to Porsche production records, this is one of only 18 known M491 Turbo Look Targa models produced for the 1988 model year, making it one of the rarest G-body 911s ever built.

Finished with the unmistakable widebody stance, this Carrera features the factory Turbo flares, wider track, upgraded brakes, and suspension that made the M491 package one of Porsche's most sought-after factory options. The result is the aggressive appearance of a Turbo without the added complexity of turbocharging. Showing 220,000 kilometers (approximately 136,700 miles), the majority of the mileage was accumulated on the highway.

The engine has been professionally rebuilt and is reported to run like new, making this an exceptionally well-sorted Porsche that is ready to be driven and enjoyed. Performance is further enhanced by a Stedbro exhaust system, providing improved sound and breathing while maintaining the classic flat-six character enthusiasts love. Additional highlights include:
One-owner vehicle since new
Rare factory M491 Turbo Look package
One of only 18 known 1988 M491 Targa models
Engine professionally rebuilt
Stedbro performance exhaust system
Rear tires are brand new
Front tires have approximately 75% tread remaining
220,000 kilometers (136,700 miles)
Well-maintained and road-ready
The M491 option package is widely regarded as one of the most desirable factory options available on the air-cooled 911.

Featuring the Turbo's brakes, suspension, wheels, and iconic widebody bodywork, these cars have become increasingly collectible and continue to appreciate among Porsche enthusiasts worldwide. Whether you're looking to add a rare air-cooled Porsche to your collection or searching for an exceptional driver's car that can be enjoyed on winding roads and long-distance tours alike, this 1988 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa M491 Turbo Look represents an outstanding opportunity. Rare, documented, beautifully maintained, and ready to be driven anywhere, this is the kind of Porsche that seldom becomes available.

Located in Ottowa, Ontario, Canada
Price is in US Dollars
*Easy Shipping to the US is Available Upon Request*
Trim: Carrera Targa M491 For Sale
Options: Premium Sound System, Leather Interior Surface

Classic Porsche 911 Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Sarah Whitfield

Pre-War Classics

1965–1989

~5 min read

Updated Apr 2026

Definitive buyer's guide for classic Porsche 911 1965-1989. Long-hood and G-body generations, structural rust hotspots, engine number authentication, and Porsche Certificate of Authenticity essentials.

This guide covers

✓ 10-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 5 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full 911 Buyer's Guide

Porsche 911 Market Overview

Based on 31 Porsche 911 listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$89,789

Avg. Asking Price

1967–1999

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site — Average Range

This car: $149,995

Low: $23,995 High: $159,995

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 10%

Manual 81% ◄

Condition Distribution

Excellent 3%

Good 3%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 31 listings →

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What is this car worth?

Check sold prices for the 1988 Porsche 911

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Classic Porsche 911 Buyer's Guide

The Porsche 911 has been in continuous production since 1964 — sixty years across eight platform generations — but the air-cooled era (1965-1998) defines the classic 911 market. From the long-hood early cars (1965-1973) through the impact-bumper G-body (1974-1989) and the 964 (1989-1994) and 993 (1995-1998) generations, each platform has its own engineering character, its own pitfalls, and its own collector trajectory. The Porsche marque is exacting in its documentation requirements, and buyers entering this market should understand exactly what separates a documented original car from a clone, a re-skin, or an outright fraud.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Order Porsche Certificate of Authenticity ($254) — Available from Porsche Cars North America via chassis number. Confirms original engine, gearbox, color, options, delivery.

✓

Verify engine number stamping against COA — Stamped on flat pad on engine case (passenger side, near fan housing). Mismatch = 15-50% value reduction.

✓

Verify gearbox number against COA — Stamped on gearbox case. Original gearbox preferred; replacement gearboxes acceptable but reduce value.

✓

Inspect kidney bowls (pre-1976 cars) — Visible from inside footwells with carpet lifted. Critical structural rust point on non-galvanized bodies.

✓

Inspect longitudinal sills under doors — From underneath car with strong flashlight. Perforation = $8,000-$25,000 structural repair.

✓

Check battery box and front trunk floor — Battery acid leaks plus rust = perforation. Front trunk floor commonly rotten on neglected cars.

✓

Compression and leakdown test by specialist — Should read 145-175 PSI with <10% leakdown. SC and Carrera 3.2 head-stud failures are known issues.

✓

Inspect heat exchangers from underneath — Long-hood and G-body cars use exhaust heat exchangers for cabin heat. Rusted units = $3,000-$6,000 per side.

✓

Verify chassis number on body and dashboard — Multiple stamping locations should agree in style and patina. Mismatched = re-shell or body swap.

✓

Test all electrical and CIS fuel injection — Mechanical CIS (1973+) works well when serviced but fails expensively. Verify pressure regulator and warm-up regulator.

Common Issues

Air-cooled 911 rust is the structural killer for cars from any climate where road salt is used. The kidney bowls (the curved structural elements behind the front wheels), the longitudinal sills under the doors, the front trunk floor, the battery box, the suspension pan ahead of the front wheels, and the rear suspension mounting points are all critical structural rust zones. Long-hood cars (1965-1973) are particularly vulnerable because Porsche did not begin galvanizing the 911 body until 1976. Mechanically, the air-cooled flat-six is exceptionally durable when serviced correctly but unforgiving when neglected. Top-end rebuilds are required at 100,000-150,000 mile intervals due to head-stud failure (a known weakness on 1978-1983 3.0L SC and 3.2L Carrera engines), valve seat recession, and worn timing chain tensioners. The 1965-1973 Mezger-era engines are the most robust but also the rarest. Heat exchanger rust on long-hood cars is universal — a properly restored heat exchanger system is $3,000-$6,000 per side. Electrical issues vary by era. Pre-1972 cars used Bosch fuel injection (mechanical) on the 911S and 911E variants; 1973 brought the introduction of CIS (continuous injection system) which works well when serviced but fails expensively. Original wiring harnesses on long-hood cars are 50+ years old and prone to chafing in the engine bay where heat and vibration converge.

What to Look For

The Porsche Certificate of Authenticity ($254 from Porsche Cars North America) is the gold-standard documentation for any classic 911. The certificate confirms the original equipment of the car: engine number, gearbox number, color, interior, options, and delivery destination. For any 911 priced over $60,000, the certificate is mandatory. Engine and gearbox numbers are the second-tier verification. The engine number is stamped on a flat pad on the engine case (passenger side, near the fan housing). The gearbox number is stamped on the gearbox case. Cross-reference both against the certificate. Mismatched engine and gearbox numbers (versus the certificate) reduce value by 15-30% on driver-quality cars and by 30-50% on premium cars. Structural rust inspection is the first non-negotiable for any pre-1976 911. Lift the carpet at the driver and passenger footwells and look at the kidney bowls (visible from inside the car, behind the foot pedals). Inspect the longitudinal sills under the doors with a strong flashlight from underneath the car. Look at the battery box (front trunk, driver side on left-hand-drive cars). Look at the suspension pan ahead of the front wheels. Perforation in any of these areas is structural and expensive to repair — $8,000-$25,000 minimum for proper professional work. Car matching numbers (the chassis number stamped on the body in multiple locations) is the third-tier verification. The chassis number appears on the dashboard plate (visible through the windshield), on the front trunk hinge area, and stamped into the body in the front and rear suspension mounting areas. Mismatched stamping styles or different patina between locations indicates a re-shell, a body swap, or a fabricated car.

Price Guide

Long-hood 911s (1965-1973) are the blue-chip end of the market. Driver-quality 1969-1973 911T (the base model) cars run $65,000-$110,000. Documented 911S (the high-performance variant) cars run $140,000-$280,000. The 1973 Carrera RS 2.7 is the holy grail — $700,000-$1.5M+ for documented Touring (M472) cars and $1.2M-$3M+ for Lightweight (M471) cars. G-body 911s (1974-1989) are the bargain entry into air-cooled ownership. Driver-quality 1978-1983 911 SC (3.0L) cars run $45,000-$75,000. 1984-1989 Carrera 3.2 cars run $55,000-$95,000. Documented Turbo (930) cars from this era run $80,000-$180,000 depending on year and condition. The 1989 Speedster and 1989 Carrera Speedster are special cases — $120,000-$220,000 for documented examples. 964 generation (1989-1994) was the bridge between the air-cooled classic era and the modern 993. Driver-quality 964 Carrera 2/4 cars run $45,000-$80,000. 964 Turbo: $140,000-$280,000. 964 RS America: $95,000-$180,000. Project cars (running but rough) start around $25,000 for G-body cars and $50,000-$80,000 for long-hood cars. Stripped roller candidates can be had for $15,000-$35,000, but rust restoration on a long-hood 911 typically runs $50,000-$120,000 in body and structural repair alone. Buy finished cars from competent specialists — restoration economics rarely work on 911s.

Did You Know?

The 911 was originally going to be called the 901, but Peugeot held the trademark on three-digit model designations with a zero in the middle (Peugeot 304, 504, etc.) and threatened legal action. Porsche changed the name to 911 in October 1964, just before public launch — only 82 of the original 901 cars had been built and badged before the name change. Surviving 901-badged cars are now among the most valuable production 911s, with documented examples trading for over $1 million. The 1973 Carrera RS 2.7 was originally homologated for FIA Group 4 racing and required Porsche to build 500 road-going examples to qualify. The car was so popular that Porsche eventually built 1,580 — exceeding the homologation requirement by more than three times. The RS Lightweight (M471) variant weighed 200 kg less than a standard 911S thanks to thin-gauge sheet metal, fiberglass bumpers, and stripped interior. The air-cooled flat-six produced its final road-going version in the 1998 993 — and the engine architecture traces directly back to the 1948 Volkswagen Beetle flat-four via Ferdinand Porsche's design philosophy. The 1998 993 represented the end of fifty years of horizontally-opposed air-cooled engineering at Porsche.

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Elite Dealer

$149,995

1988 Porsche 911

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