Optional Equipment
M030 Sport Chassis
The one option that took the NA 968 from sports car to track weapon. Coupe-only. 99 produced. Punishing on the street, devastating on the racetrack.
- 99 NA coupes total — about 4.4% of NA coupe production
- $2,017 option — Koni adjustables, bigger sway bars, 928 S4 brakes
- One Tiptronic ever — yes, really
Track-Ready, Daily-Punishing
Coupe-only · package code P31 · option code 030
The M030 chassis transformed the 968 — incredible handling characteristics that showed it was ready for any racetrack. Same characteristics, unfortunately, were present during non-track driving and produced a punishing ride.
Despite the price tag, LSD (option 220) was not included — 22 of the 98 six-speed M030 coupes left the factory without a limited slip.
M030 Component Upgrades
Everything that came with the $2,017 option, grouped by system.
| Category | Component | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | Front struts | Koni dampening- and height-adjustable, 160 lb springs |
| Front sway bar | 30 mm hollow (replaces 26.8 mm solid) | |
| Rear shocks | Koni dampening-adjustable, 160 lb springs (rear height adjustable via eccentric) | |
| Rear sway bar | 19 mm 3-position adjustable (replaces 16 mm) | |
| Wheels | 17″ wheels | Same as the optional 17″ wheels offered on standard 968s for that model year |
| Brakes | Front spindles & hubs | Upgraded |
| Front calipers | 4-piston (44 mm & 36 mm pistons) — shared with 928 S4, 944 Turbo S, M030 944 S2 | |
| Rotors | 304 × 32 mm cross-drilled front and rear, special pads (drill holes cast in — far less crack-prone than aftermarket) |
Notes & Curiosities
One of the 99 was a Tiptronic. The thought of a performance-oriented chassis on a transmission so heavily penalizing performance is the definition of dichotomy. SS820272 — a 1995, black exterior with marble grey/black interior — is that car.
Limited Slip Differential (option 220) was not bundled with M030. 22 of the 98 six-speed M030 coupes (22%) left the factory without LSD.
Period magazine articles claimed M030 was new for 1993. Wrong. NS820595 — Grand Prix White over black, Canadian-package — was the sole 1992 M030 NA 968 produced. Likely sold new in Canada.
17″ wheels were part of the package, but which 17″ wheel changed by year:
- 1992 & 1993 — option 403 Cup 1
- 1994 early (718 cars) — first 8 got Cup 1
- 1994 late — Cup 2
- 1995 — option 398 Cup 2
See the Option 718 page for why 1994 split.
- 10 of 99 were Canadian-package cars, most likely sold new in Canada
- 41 of 99 were also ordered with the sport seat option
M030 Exterior Color Popularity
All 99 NA M030 coupes by exterior color, ordered by popularity. Black and Guards Red dominate — together, 45% of the M030 production run.
| Color | Sales Code | Paint Code | M030 Built | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | A1 | L700 / L741 | 24 | 24.2% |
| Guards Red | G1 | L80K | 21 | 21.2% |
| Grand Prix White | P5 | L908 | 15 | 15.2% |
| Midnight Blue Metallic | F8 | L37W / L39C | 9 | 9.1% |
| Polar Silver Metallic | A8 | L92M | 8 | 8.1% |
| Amazon Green Metallic | N7 | L39A | 5 | 5.1% |
| Speed Yellow | X4 | L12G | 5 | 5.1% |
| Aventurine Metallic | K6 | L39R / L39S | 2 | 2.0% |
| Wimbledon Green Metallic | B5 | L23I | 2 | 2.0% |
| Black Metallic | Z8 | L738 / L746 | 2 | 2.0% |
| Amethyst Metallic | F9 | L38A | 2 | 2.0% |
| Iris Blue Metallic | D3 | L39N / L39U | 1 | 1.0% |
| Slate Grey Metallic | Q9 | L22D | 1 | 1.0% |
| Horizon Blue Metallic | F4 | L37X | 1 | 1.0% |
| Color to Sample — Metallic | 99 | n/a | 1 | 1.0% |
| Total Produced | 99 | 100% | ||