The Lesser Known Slantnose

"DasWauto" (DasWauto) 03/09/2014 at 09:11 • Filed to: Porsche, Slantnose, flat nose, Flachbau, 935, 964

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In 1981, Porsche introduced the 'flachbau' option, commonly known as the Slantnose, for the 930 911 Turbo. It featured a flat nose reminiscent of the 935 Group 5 racecars, most famous of which is likely the whale tail adorned 'Moby Dick'. Fewer than 1000 cars were ordered with the option.

In August 1993, just before to the introduction of the 993 911, Porsche's VRS department decided to give the 964 one last hoorah. Also known as the Exclusive division, it introduced the hand-built Flachbau (German for 'flat construction' or 'flat form'), known officially as the 1994 Turbo 3.6 S Flatnose.

Aside from the obvious flat nose with its 968 style pop-up headlamps, the Flachbau featured several other cosmetic and aerodynamic differences from earlier 964 Turbos. The flat-nose option included exclusive front and rear spoilers as well as different rear fender vents. Those air inlets feed cooling air to the engine and are asymmetrical; the right side being narrower due to the oil tank residing behind the quarter-panel.

The engine in the '94 Turbo 3.6 S is known as the M50/64S. It features specially modified heads, upgraded camshafts, and a different timing gearwheel and turbo. The engine's timing is also advanced slightly from the standard Turbo 3.6, resulting in a factory rated 385hp.

In typical Porsche fashion the Turbo S package commanded a $60,179 premium over the standard Turbo 3.6's base price of $99,000.

Total production for the 1994 Turbo 3.6S was 93 cars, of which 76 featured the flat-nose. The remaining 17 are known as 'package' cars, which carry all the Turbo S modifications apart from a set of regular fenders and headlamps. Amusingly, flat-nose 964s sold in Japan featured pop-up headlights carried over from the 930 slantnose - 10 of these cars exist.

For more in-depth technical knowledge and to learn more, visit !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , a site dedicated to documenting this rare car.

Other sources: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (Wiki, deal with with it) and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

jkm7680 > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 09:31

1

Those wheels look great. Rh makes some nice reps of those.

Tom McParland > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 10:04

3

Cool write-up...now I want one.

Josh McCullough > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 10:06

0

Say 'Flachbau' again, motherfucker. Say Flachbau one more goddamn time!

Rx_37 > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 10:07

1

Interesting read ;) Thanks!

GTJ > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 10:07

1

This has always been my favorite Porsche.

captain_spleen > Josh McCullough 03/09/2014 at 10:10

1

German, motherfucker, do you speak it?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 10:23

4

This was a great read; I'm ashamed to say I've never even seen this one before. This would be the only Flachbau I'd own Because the front end still has that "911" look compared to the 935s

ejd > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 10:23

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Look I know looks are subjective and all but I just want to know - am I the only person who thinks Porsches are extremely ugly cars? It freaks me out how I never hear people point out what seems like a very obvious fact to me.

Mojonaut > ejd 03/09/2014 at 10:31

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I happen to agree, unless we're talking about the original 911. It was "of it's time", and became such a design classic as to cause Porsche to continue using the same design, updated (ie, uglified) to present day, and even implement certain design elements on modern non-911 models, including fat Chelsea tractors and fat saloons. Modern 911s do nothing for me, or any other modern Porsche model. Apart from 918, which is gorgeous.

GLHNSLHT2 > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 10:34

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Why Is The wing In The Third Pic Standard 964 Turbo Fare When The Other 2 Wings Look Like 993 Turbo Wings

Hectic > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 10:56

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I've never been a big fan of the slant nose, they always remind me of those aftermarket Ferrari body kits people stuck on Fieros. But....this a good looking car. I really like the rear fender treatment, and the front has just enough curve to keep traditional 911 shape. I want one.

DasWauto > GLHNSLHT2 03/09/2014 at 11:06

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Looks like I screwed up with that one. I've fixed it now. Thanks for pointing it out.

Have Jeep, will travel. > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 11:11

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965 is a rare bird, I have seen and driven a couple. Same with the 930 and its slant nose. I knew Porsche offered a slant nose 965 but have never seen one outside of pictures. Any rare Porsche is worth big bucks.

The World of Vee > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 11:11

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Man 911s are so cool.

The World of Vee > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 11:13

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I've always been fascinated by the steep drop off in greenhouse at the windshield. It's almost comical how such a design decision has a) stood the test of time and b) worked so efficiently. Where other cars get continuously more and more raked windshields, the 911 has consistently had that almost vertical windshield. It gives the car character and distinction.

oldirtybootz > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 11:13

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Does any one have any wants? My allotment for the day has been spent on this. Awesome writeup, I hadn't known about these cars but I've loved the 930 since I was young.

Übel > The World of Vee 03/09/2014 at 11:28

4

Actually, I think the 993 was the last 911 to be like that. Take a gander at this 996 GT3:

ocbrad1 used to be iamhoff but is now just wandering around > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 12:21

3

Always had a soft spot for the 935-style (first one I ever remember seeing was done by Gemballa,

cocaine white for the 80s, everything inside done up in oyster leather, it was so 80s epic!), but like so many others I never knew this existed. Those wheels are tasty and I've always loved the 928/968 type lights. Excellent read!

The Biebster's got a P71 (Formerly not Justin Bieber) > The World of Vee 03/09/2014 at 12:36

4

It'd definitely not near-vertical but it is steeper than most cars of it's type. Here's a vertical windshield.

Earthbound And Down > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 13:11

1

The package car is such a weird bird. It's one of those rare models where a lack of something (in this case, the flachbau body work) actually increased the car's value. I had the privilege of driving in a Guards Red package car last year. It's a brilliant one.

zzoldan > oldirtybootz 03/09/2014 at 13:18

2

Something about the Porsche's pop-up headlight housing reminds me of the first gen Miata...but in a really good way. I want one.

Half-Caulked Jack > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 13:28

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Love the way these older 911s look, especially the slantnose- It looks like the aerodynamic forces are bending the ends of the car toward the ground, like it's moving at high speed even when standing still. 996's look almost boring in comparison..

rlfletch > The World of Vee 03/09/2014 at 13:34

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This why I'm not a huge fan of the latest 911. They have squashed it to the point of losing this feature that made the original car such an excellent race car: Upright seating with an expansive view forward. Much easier to place your car on the track when you can easily see it. It was unique amongst sports cars. Sadly, no more.

Edward S > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 13:47

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One resides in MA

The World of Vee > Übel 03/09/2014 at 13:49

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Very true. Still much steeper than most cars out there

DETROIT > Tom McParland 03/09/2014 at 14:05

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Yeah me too! This is probably the most ultimate badass 911 - RWD, air-cooled. Personally I prefer the Turbo 3.6 with regular headlights but this car is pretty cool. Trading north of $200k I think.

HiwattScott > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 14:07

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So what I took from this article is that if anything breaks on this car, you're SOL.

Maxaxle > oldirtybootz 03/09/2014 at 14:07

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Headlights go up, headlights go down.
Headlights go up, headlights go down.
Headlights go up! Headlights go down!
Up! Down! Up! Down! Again, again, again!

DETROIT > The World of Vee 03/09/2014 at 14:11

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It really benefits packaging and visibility. Pretty much anyone can fit in it and it's very easy to see out of - what a great solution! Aerodynamically it's pretty good too - far more issues to deal with on the tail than the windshield.

John Mckeon > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 14:38

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One of my favorites! My friend was going to buy one in red just like this from Manhattan Motorcars for $180k about 2 years ago. Sadly, he did not get it. My other favorite would be a Ferrari 288 GTO.

ThatbastardKurtis > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 14:49

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I always liked this version of the slantnose...I call the 964 slantnose "the one with the Anaconda eyes" as the eyes sit up top, like an anaconda's ...
To me, the 964 is like a remix, it blends the old 930 with the new 90s. I guess it is the transition to the 993s.

Gavin Pouquette > Maxaxle 03/09/2014 at 15:19

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Oh Regular Car Reviews.... You so silly.

jmitch356 > Edward S 03/09/2014 at 16:37

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Although doubtful I hope it comes to my dealership! We have a standard 993 Turbo S that comes in! Sadly it just got T boned last summer right in the rear fender. As far as I know it has been fixed since.

Arch > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 16:40

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Not a big fan of the more common slantnose's face, but I think these are beautiful.

The World of Vee > DETROIT 03/09/2014 at 16:42

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I love 911s

I've been on the look out for a reasonable 964 for years (under 20k but not falling apart. pipe dream I know)

ejd > Mojonaut 03/09/2014 at 17:03

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Yeah the 918 is gorgeous. Those exhausts are so cool.

F1NY > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 17:38

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Some kits did away with the pop ups and put big lights down low like the Kremer Bros did on the track:

DasWauto > F1NY 03/09/2014 at 17:51

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Neat. That appears to be a 930 though, isn't it?

desertdog5051 > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 19:11

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A fascinating look at the history. I love the look. Thanks for the post.

F1NY > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 22:13

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Yes but the conversation kinda turned towards all slant noses for a bit...

DasWauto > F1NY 03/09/2014 at 22:18

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Fair enough.

Reckoning Day > DasWauto 03/09/2014 at 23:06

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What an ugly car...

Milky > ocbrad1 used to be iamhoff but is now just wandering around 03/10/2014 at 01:41

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I can't even imagine the amount of blow done in that car.

rs510 > F1NY 03/10/2014 at 07:24

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It looks awesome, but I can't imagine very good for night driving if using it on the road.

John Coctostan > ocbrad1 used to be iamhoff but is now just wandering around 03/10/2014 at 07:51

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The only slant-nose I have driven looked very very close to this and I inquired about the interior, it was ostrich leather. The Ohio valley has some twisties in coal country.

webmonkees > DasWauto 03/10/2014 at 09:41

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The lesserer known.

I'm sure they'd cut a deal for 3 or four at a time..

Pinky, you imbecile. That's a 411.

Oh Look A T-Rex > DasWauto 03/10/2014 at 10:38

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Oh my god, I would trade my soul for one of those Japanese slant-nose 964's.

Edward S > jmitch356 03/10/2014 at 11:27

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Which dealership? He is a customer of Herb Chambers Porsche, but now I think the takes his older cars to Paul Russell's shop or Aston Martin of New England

maureyrd2111111 > DasWauto 03/10/2014 at 15:41

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Wow, you think you should give some credit to www.germancarsforsaleblog.com ? Seeing as how it posted a blog on the same car not two days before your post? If I'm wrong, that's a hell of a coincidence.

http://germancarsforsaleblog.com/1994-porsche-9…

DasWauto > maureyrd2111111 03/10/2014 at 15:50

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I don't think I need so give that site any credit, no, seeing as I'd never been on it before clicking the links you provided.

My post is not even about a specific car, just about the model. It's possible that the pictures are of the same car but I wouldn't count on it (the wheels in the germancarsforsaleblog are chromed or polished whereas those in the first two pictures in this post are painted).

The pictures are almost eerily similar though, I'll give you that.

jmitch356 > Edward S 03/10/2014 at 18:04

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I'm at the Prime dealership in Westwood. Its getting to the point a lot of the older cars aren't coming through the dealers anymore. I don't blame them either since we don't have a ton of support anymore and the techs that had the knowledge on the older cars are disappearing. Id say we might see a dozen older air cooled cars a few 944s and 928s and one customer just bought a 356C from Cali sight unseen. Turns out the thing needed a gear box rebuild and he way over paid for it.

Coty > webmonkees 03/10/2014 at 20:15

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We do this every few months, but I need that 411

webmonkees > Coty 03/10/2014 at 22:48

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Seriously? Contact Norris Foreign Auto, Elizabethon Tennessee. Bring large trailer. Buy in bulk. Save the 411's! I want to make this happen.

SWITAWI > John Mckeon 03/12/2014 at 09:16

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And how! x2 on the 930 and the 288GTO.

A friend of mine actually owned a re-engined 930 for a while and I got to drive it on track. Such a memorable experience. Right up until the oil return line popped loose and I dumped hot oil all down the straightaway... Fortunately I saw the next corner worker waving me off frantically, but by then I was on the boost and had already traveled twice the distance on track that I normally would have in my lowly GTI. Right as I was pulling off I saw the oil pressure take a dive and I shut it down. My friend and I were both rather freaked out as I'm sure you can imagine. And then everyone went for lunch while I spent 2hrs sweeping oil-dry over the mess. We left the 930 sitting for the afternoon driving sessions, and went back 4hrs later with a gallon of Simple Green, a case of oil, and our fingers crossed. Took +10qts just to reach the dipstick, more than 11qts to fill it. Then she started right up and purred like a kitten until she started smoking like crazy from residual oil still in all the nooks and crannies underneath. We didn't have a trailer and fortunately she didn't catch fire before it all burned off. Turned out there was oil on top of the exhaust where we couldn't see/reach from underneath.

Loved that car and the noise it made.

~original

VAGfan > Edward S 03/12/2014 at 16:35

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I saw one at KTR Motorsport in Ayer years ago.

Edward S > VAGfan 03/13/2014 at 11:08

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What color was it? He also had a pearl white one but sold it.