GOLD IN KUWAIT

Gold in Kuwait

Going to Kuwait to meet the owner of a one-of-seven Talbot Yellow 930 Turbo.

There’s a famous photo you might have seen of a 930 Turbo parked alongside a brown 911S, each in front of their respective engines. It’s without a doubt the best illustration of a 930’s absurd width compared to a narrow body car.

That photograph is a permanent fixture in my memory banks, not only for its shock value, but because that 1974 pre-production car was the only yellow 930 I’d ever seen. That’s until I was introduced to Hiba Tareq Al-Homaizi and her fabulous example in Kuwait.

A 1980 model in an incredibly rare shade of Talbot Yellow, I first caught wind of the car through a friend in the UAE. There are some breathtaking Porsches in this small country on the Gulf, but the vivid yellow shade of the Turbo had me transfixed.

“I found the car back in 2022 in the Netherlands,” Hiba recalls. “It was my first experience bidding on a car, and the process was incredibly exciting.”

Not that Hiba was a stranger to the Stuttgart crest. As her garage shutter lifted I was greeted by the 930 leading a Porsche conga-line; a red 964 Carrera on BBS LM wheels, a grey 964 Carrera with plenty of period-correct accessories and a black 993 Carrera.

“Of all my cars, the 930 Turbo consistently draws the most attention,” Hiba notes. Kuwait is a vibrant country for car culture, with a beautiful culture in general, but the 930 still stands out more than most.

Unfortunately Hiba was away when I was in town, trusting the Turbo to her friend Majeed, which reinforced the notion that I need better friends.

“Of all my cars, the 930 Turbo consistently draws the most attention.”

“The feel of driving it and the heavy mechanical steering, the smell of the fuel, and the raw, unfiltered connection to the road are truly spectacular.”

“Though Kuwait’s heat limits me to driving my 930 in cooler months, I ensure it – and the rest of my collection – stays in regular rotation.” Hiba beams. “Ultimately, nothing compares to the experience of driving a classic car.”

“The feel of driving it and the heavy mechanical steering, the smell of the fuel, and the raw, unfiltered connection to the road are truly spectacular.”

Why 930 buyers were so averse to yellow paint over its 15-year production run I’ll never know. What I do know is that I’ll never forget my first - so far only - encounter with this one-of-seven example of the breed.