Is the Porsche 911 M491 Turbo Look Option Worth $5,000?

From 1984 through 1989 Porsche offered the M491 Turbo Look Option that now commands an extra $5,000 plus at the retail market for Porsche Carrera 3.2 liter models.

1988 Porsche Carrera Wide Body M491 Option | Bring-a-Trailer

What is the M491 Option known as the Turbo Look or the Wide Body that was available on the Carrera 3.2 models? The option included:

• Wide Turbo body

• Turbo Whale Tail

• Turbo wrap-around chin spoiler

• Turbo Suspension

• Turbo Brakes

Basically you get all the elements of the Turbo without the complexity of the Turbo engine and instead you have the highly reliable 3.2-liter engine.

Is the M491 Turbo Look Option worth the price premium?

Yes, it is if you look at the rarity of the option and the increased desirability due to the attractive wide hips conveyed in the market.

According to the Turbo-Look Register 3,663 Porsches were sold with the M491 option. (source: https://www.turbo-look.com/facts/911-carrera-3-2/)

1984 Porsche Carrera 3.2 M491 Option – 423 Total

• 421 Coupes

• 2 Cabriolets

1985 Porsche Carrera 3.2 M491 Option – 633 Total

• 314 Coupes

• 79 Targas

• 240 Cabriolets

1986 Porsche Carrera 3.2 M491 Option – 926 Total

• 251 Coupes

• 193 Targas

• 482 Cabriolets

1987 Porsche Carrera 3.2 M491 Option – 711 Total

• 159 Coupes

• 100 Targas

• 452 Cabriolets

1988 Porsche Carrera 3.2 M491 Option – 485 Total

• 123 Coupes

• 80 Targas

• 282 Cabriolets

1989 Porsche Carrera 3.2 M491 Option – 485 Total

• 129 Coupes

• 107 Targas

• 249 Cabriolets

The Sports Car Market Price Guide lists the premium paid at market at $5,000 but Air Brigade believes it to be closer to $10,000. Plus, it is almost a guaranteed quick sale as the car is highly desired.

M491 Turbo Look Porsche Carrera 3.2’s for Sale

Here are two examples of the Porsche Carrera 3.2 Wide Body M491 Option cars for sale; one on Bring-a-Trailer (BAT) and one on PCarMarket. The BAT offering is a 1988 so it features the G-50 Transmission while the PCarMarket offering is a 1986 with the 915 Transmission.

Both models are Cabriolets with the spoiler delete option. The presentation of the BAT 1988 is stunning and is offered from a recognized M491 collector so the price quickly rose to $60,000 with five days left in the auction.

The 1986 model on PCarMarket is currently bid to $46,500 with one day and 7 hours to go. Both cars are offered in Black but the presentation of the 1988 model with the G-50 transmission, offered from a recognized collector is going to see probably a $20,000 premium over the 1986 model.

1986 Porsche Carrera 3.2 Turbo Look M491 Option

https://www.pcarmarket.com/auction/1986-porsche-911-m491/

Bid to $46,400 on PCarMarket with one day and seven hours left

1986 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Wide Body | PCarMarket

• Black over black partial leather interior

• Cabriolet

• Celebrity ownership history as car was owned by NFL Hall of Fame Legend Richard Dent of the Chicago Bears

• Turbo Look M491 Option

• Spoiler delete M470 package that deletes the front and rear spoiler

Numbers matching with recent engine-out service

1988 Porsche Carrera 3.2 Turbo Look M491 Option

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-porsche-911-carrera-82/

Bid to $60,000 on Bring-a-Trailer with five days left in auction

1988 Porsche Carrera 3.2 Turbo Look Cabriolet | Bring-a-Trailer

• Black over Champagne interior

• Cabriolet

• Current ownership by recognized Porsche M491 Collector

• Turbo Look M491 Option

• Spoiler delete M470 package that deletes the front and rear spoiler

• Numbers matching with COA

Air Brigade will continue to watch both of these auctions to see how the final sale price ends.

Turbo Flares on a 1988 Porsche Carrera giving it the Wide Body Turbo Look

Tags: Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo Look, Porsche 911 M491 Turbo Look Option, Porsche Carrera Wide Body M491