Description
What is it?
The 944 Turbo is Stuttgart’s 1980s masterstroke: a front-engined, rear-transaxle sports car that delivered supercar pace with everyday civility. Launched in 1985, it showed the world that a four-cylinder Porsche could embarrass six-cylinder rivals. With its wide arches, pop-up lamps and purposeful stance, this is the thinking driver’s Porsche — fast, balanced, and beautifully engineered. Porsche created a sports car with huge but accessible performance.
It was considered a machine, for modern times, complete with memorable turbo script scrawled across the top of the wing the 944 Turbo was, and is, all about dynamics.
What’s it got?
Supplied new in 1987 in Guards red paintwork with rare sports seats finished in black cloth with a light white pinstripe. Under the bonnet lies a 2. 5-litre turbocharged and intercooled four-cylinder engine, good for around 220 horsepower with a load of torque. It had one of the first effective turbo installations that drew on all of Porsche’s turbocharging experience from racing and the 911 Turbo. Power goes through a rear-mounted 5-speed transaxle for near-perfect balance. Brakes are big four-pot Brembos, the suspension is taut yet supple, and the cabin gives you proper Porsche ergonomics with space and visibility the 911 could only dream of.
How does it drive?
In a word: confidence. There’s a brief pause as the turbo gathers itself, then a strong, elastic shove The steering is communicative, the chassis allows for seriously swift progress and the brakes bite hard. It will cruise like a GT all day then tackle a B-road with uncanny composure. Period testers called it “effortless driving pleasure with near-perfect roadability” — and they weren’t wrong.
Why this one?
This car is accompanied by an exceptional history file, including a complete Porsche main dealer and specialist service record, the original sales invoice with supporting literature, every MOT certificate and tax disc from new along with a complete owners wallet. In January 2023 the engine was fully rebuilt by Porsche at a cost of £7, 400, followed in 2024 by further Porsche work covering the cooling system, brakes, and fuel lines. Maintained to this extraordinary standard, it is a 944 Turbo you can simply get in, turn the key, and enjoy exactly as Stuttgart intended.
1987 Porsche 944 Turbo (951)
2. 5 manual 220 bhp
Engine: 2. 5L SOHC I-4 turbo, intercooler
Power: ~220 hp (’86–’88)
Torque: ~243 lb-ft / ~258 lb-ft
Drivetrain: Front-engine / rear transaxle, RWD, 5-spd manual
Weight: ~1300kg
0–60 mph: ~5. 5–6. 0 s
Top speed: ~152–162 mph
