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After nearly two decades of ownership, this Porsche 911 Carrera in 934 attire has finally hit the streets with a set of number plates.
Yuki Matsumoto acquired the car in 2006 as a stock-standard 1986 930 3.2L Carrera featuring wide arches, a whale tail, and an aftermarket front bumper. Painted in a colour reminiscent of Porsche Viola Metallic, the Turbo-lookalike was a pristine, road compliant 911, boasting comfortable seats and clean carpets. But that state of perfection didn’t last long.
I caught up with Yuki-san for a drive with friends to see how far the car had come. Yamanouchi-san’s yellow RSR tribute – one of the first cars I featured in Japan – made me feel quite sentimental. Hidaka-san’s Pork A L’Orange looked as magnificent as ever.
The shop where Yuki-san bought the car also organised track days at Tsukuba Circuit, which provided a perfect opportunity for him to test his purchase. After a few laps, it was clear the car needed serious adjustments.
First, Yuki-san ditched the air-conditioning system, shedding about 15kg (33lb). This led to any other unnecessary interior components – like the rear seat and door cards – also being binned. Before Yuki-san could say ‘Ferdinand Porsche,’ the car was completely stripped and caged – Stage 1 complete.
From 2006 to 2018, the car served as a track day toy before undergoing its first major transformation: a fresh coat of white paint, the interior stripped bare, and new bumpers from Sunburst, complemented by a 935-style wing and 934 fender flares crafted by Matsumoto Shokai. Challenge Racing in Saitama handled all the bodywork, rounding out Stage 2.
After 15 years of Idlers Club events at Tsukuba, Yuki-san’s 930 wore its battle scars with pride. The front end was peppered with rock chips, the headlights were battered – one held together with gaffer tape – and the bumper was splattered with tyre rubber residue from years of chasing friends on the track. It was time for Stage 3.
Throughout this journey, Yuki-san had only enjoyed his 930 on the race track. That’s all good and well, but it meant he was only getting half the enjoyment out of the car.
In 2021, Yuki-san returned the car to Challenge Racing for its final transformation. He could have chosen a 935 slant nose in Martini livery or a tribute to the 1979 Le Mans-winning Kremer 935 to pay tribute to, however, a more achievable homage loomed closer to reality: the 934.
Based on the 930 Turbo and homologated for Group 4 GT racing, the 934 was on another level mechanically but shared enough bodywork similarities with Yuki-san’s car to make the decision an easy one.
The 934 was among the first Porsches to wear the iconic Jägermeister livery, as did its successor, the formidable 935. The 934 used a factory 930 wing rather than the 935-style wing on Yuki-san’s car, so it was never intended to be an exact replica.
For wheels, Yuki-san went with Work Meister M1s in 18×10.5-inch and 18×12-inch front to back with, respectively, 275/35ZR18 and 335/30ZR18 Hoosier A7s.
Lifting the enormous vented deck lid reveals a 3.6L Varioram engine paired with a 915 transmission from a 993. The car only weighs 930kg, which, with the updated engine, equates to 300hp per ton. Converting to a twin-turbo setup like the 934 would necessitate upgrading to a G50 transmission, which would mean modifying the chassis. It’s a step Yuki-san is hesitant to take for now. Perhaps there’ll be a Stage 4…
Transitioning from naturally aspirated to turbo also makes it more difficult to get the car road-legal in Japan. After almost two decades confined to the track, Yuki-san decided it was time to enjoy his creation both on and off the circuit. And who could blame him?
With friends like Yamanouchi-san and Hidaka-san, both of whom have incredible race-inspired builds with number plates, I can’t help but wonder if Yuki-san might have been feeling a bit left out.
Of course, running a track car on the road involves compromises. Some aspects of race cars would be hell to live with on public roads, and others would make the car impossible to register. Some might argue that a race car should sacrifice nothing for performance, but I believe the world is not black and white.
There are many ways to enjoy cars, not just at the extreme. After all, we’re not discussing a professional competition vehicle here; we’re celebrating the joy of creating something that suits your life and budget. Something you can enjoy with your mates on the track and also use for late-night city cruising.
If you can build something even a fraction as cool as Yuki-san’s 934-inspired Jägermeister homage and take it for a spin on the streets, then I commend you. This is what car culture is all about.
Toby Thyer
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