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Porsche 935/78 'Moby Dick'

ClassicPorsche
845 hp
Horsepower
970 kg
Weight
RWD
Drivetrain
1978
Year

Porsche 935/78 'Moby Dick' (Classic Group 5 Racing Car)

The Porsche 935/78 'Moby Dick' is the legendary long-tail evolution of Porsche's turbocharged 935 program, built for Group 5 special production racing and remembered as one of the most extreme silhouettes of the late 1970s. With its massive rear aero bodywork, stretched tail, and highly tuned twin-turbo flat-six, it was engineered for raw top-end speed at circuits like Le Mans.

Key Specs (BoP-dependent, typical sim values)

  • Powertrain: Rear-mounted 2.9L air-cooled turbocharged flat-6 (Type 935/78 race engine, longitudinal) with twin turbochargers

  • Total Output: ~845 hp (630 kW) in qualifying/race tune

  • Redline: ~8,000 rpm

  • Transmission: 4-speed manual racing gearbox

  • Weight: ~970 kg

  • Dimensions: ~4,900 mm long × 2,000 mm wide × 1,100 mm tall | Wheelbase ~2,273 mm

  • Tires: Period racing slicks on forged center-lock wheels

  • Brakes: Ventilated steel discs with racing calipers

  • Layout: Rear-engine, rear-wheel drive

In the Simulator Feel

The 935/78 is a brutal, old-school turbo monster that feels fast even when you are barely on the throttle. It combines massive straight-line pace with the trademark rear-engine traction and a very narrow operating window, making it demanding but deeply rewarding when you get it right. The long-tail aero package gives it serious high-speed stability, yet the car still asks for respect at corner entry and on power, where the turbo surge can overwhelm the rear tires.

Engine & Sound: The twin-turbo flat-six has a hard-edged, mechanical howl layered with deep turbo whoosh and wastegate chatter. Below boost it can feel a bit lazy, but once the turbos wake up the car surges forward with explosive force. The soundtrack is pure late-’70s Group 5 theater — angry, metallic, and unmistakably Porsche.

Handling Characteristics:

  • Cornering: Strong front bite for a rear-engined car, but the chassis will punish abrupt inputs. It prefers smooth weight transfer and patient turn-in.

  • Traction: Excellent drive off slower corners if you modulate the throttle, though turbo boost can trigger sudden oversteer when the rear tires are loaded up.

  • Braking: Effective but period-correct in feel, requiring commitment and a stable platform under deceleration.

  • Top Speed: Exceptional — this car was built to be terrifyingly quick on long straights and in the slipstream.

Driving Style Tip: Drive it with respect and anticipation. Keep the car settled, short-shift if needed to manage boost delivery, and prioritize exit speed over late braking heroics. It shines on fast, flowing tracks and long straights where its aero efficiency and monstrous turbo power can stretch its legs.

Livery & Aesthetics: The 'Moby Dick' nickname comes from its enormous white long-tail bodywork, which looks as outrageous today as it did in period. The huge rear deck, wide hips, and low-slung stance make it one of the most iconic silhouettes in motorsport history.

For drivers who love vintage turbo brutality and challenging race cars with real personality, the Porsche 935/78 'Moby Dick' is an unforgettable classic — a Group 5 legend built for speed, spectacle, and survival.