Bob,
You are correct.
Porsche Cars GB was also responsible for several other ‘specials’ that became limited production. Most notable (in my mind) was the ‘911 Turbo SE’ (Sports Equipment) complete with the 330 hp engine ‘Sportkit’.
Sorry, my typo above and I got excited to find a ‘new’ engine type.
There are many out there that we don’t know about and Porsche has forgotten (and lost the information).
I think it is up to
US to chase these things down when a ‘Carrera ST’ shows up.
The dealers always feel that Porsche says: “This is the way it is, take it or leave it.”
However, the relationship between the Factory and the Importers & Dealers is not a one-way-street.
It is all about marketing and what Porsche can profitably build, what the Importer can legally import in a particular market and what the Dealers can shove out the door at a profit.
The ‘80s were a particularly turbulent period for Porsche A.G. A transition had to be made from Fuhrmann (first non-Porsche/Piëch to run Porsche K.G/A.G.). American Peter Schutz was it.
By ’83, Peter Schutz’s policy of reviving the 911 was in full swing. Everyone noticed the plethora of new models, cabriolets, slant-nose, specials, racers, Indy, aero-engines and more.
All this probably got more intense in ’84 when Peter had to ‘kiss-and-make-up’ with the dealers after the abortive attempt to create “Porsche Centers”.
Sure, there were lots of ‘Dealer Specials’, ‘Importer Specials' and others but they were ALL
Porsche Specials.
I think it useful to document the ‘less-well-known’ specials also.
I like to think
every Porsche is special.
Best,
Grady