Featuring the all-new aluminium 2.5-litre, overhead-cam four-cylinder engine
THE APPEAL
The 924 was attractive on its release, but the Porsche 944 we have here took things to a whole new level with its flared arches and aggressive stance making it a tough and responsive drivers’ car.
While clearly a development of the 924 (they shared doors, glass, roof and a Hans Braun-designed dashboard), the 944 was very much its own thing and a world away from the 924 which was developed in conjunction with Volkswagen, as a replacement for the VW-Porsche 914.
The 944 was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September ’81, beneath its bodywork lay the bones of the 924 Carrera GT’s chassis but under the bonnet resided an all-Porsche engine – a new all-alloy 2479cc four-cylinder derived from the 928’s V8, (it’s half of the V8 engine).
There was a larger rear spoiler, new front spoiler, and trademark aesthetic: the wonderfully sculpted and aggressively flared arches. This was a car with serious presence.
From February 1985 the 944, which we have here, was updated with a more modern design, dubbed the ‘oval dash’ in enthusiast circles.
The 944 is a looker, and its interior certainly of the quality expected from a Porsche.
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
Cambelt change 1000 miles ago
Always garaged by present owner
Stamped service book
Receipts for work undertaken
An exceptionally well cared for and original 944
This 944 has led a relaxed life in recent times, covering fewer than 1500 miles in the last five years. Like most cars, they like to be driven and the 74,238 miles showing on the odometer highlight that this car was used at regular intervals to keep things working smoothly and freely.
This easy -to-live-with GT had an all-important a cambelt change at 73000 miles (in 2017) and it looks as though the water pump and ancillaries were changed at the same time. This is noted in the car’s service book, along with all other significant services.
The car is original and hasn’t needed any renovation, helped by galvanized panels and very thorough corrosion preventative materials.
One interesting ‘document’ of note is a copy of Modern Classics Magazine from December 2018, the driver looks very happy to be on the track in the car.
THE INTERIOR
Electric windows work efficiently
Working heated rear window
Seats in excellent condition with little sign of wear
Dashboard top free from cracks
Air conditioning working
Huge removable sunroof working well
Porsche had always used durable quality material in its interiors, and the cabin of this 944 remains in excellent condition. The light colour of the leather and carpets give the interior a great airiness. Also, the working electric sunroof can be totally removed giving a more open-topped feel. There are no leaks from the seals. All interior parts can be easily obtained from specialist suppliers should they be needed in the future.
The high-backed sports seats retain all of their shape and support, the leather remains clean and the stitching is tight. You could say there is a bit of patina on the drivers seat but this looks cosmetic and would be brought back to look like new in no time. The beautifully sculptured seats in the rear looking virtually unused.
The leather of the lower door panels is similarly good, while the black Rhinoceros hide-style plastic door caps remain sharp looking. The same can be said of the rest of the dash; a good deep colour, no signs of warping, and all switches and controls securely fixed in place. Both the trademark Porsche steering wheel and gear stick are free from scratches or ring marks, and the gear stick gaiter is clean and supple.
The 944 is even reasonably practical providing you treat it as essentially a two-seater. You can fold down the rear-seat backrests, expanding the decent (if shallow) room beneath its vast, wraparound glass hatchback, and there’s a plastic luggage cover that can be stretched out over your valuables.
The driving mats are good, as is the carpet in the boot space.
THE EXTERIOR
Very practical hatchback for exciting shopping trips
All Porsche 944 models were fully galvanized
Floorplan and suspension mounts appear to be in excellent condition
Panel gaps are precise and uniform
No electrical issues
Headlights work well and pop up quickly
Finished in Limonengelb (Lime yellow) paint
Practical hatchback design
You would never lose this car in a car park. It’s bright and it’s fun. Porsche is well known for producing one or two cars every generation in very bold colours and this is one of the boldest!
The lime tint isn’t apparent initially but once you have been told there’s a slight greenness to it, you can’t unsee it. The paintwork is in very good condition, maintaining a good deep gloss across the whole of the car, made more vivid by the professional ceramic coating the paintwork had done recently.
The colour is uniform across all panels and the beltline protection mouldings are straight and firmly mounted. There is one small chip off the paint on the front bumper.
The large rear spoiler, which, like the rubber door seals, remains supple, free if cracks and a deep shade of black. There is no chrome on the Porsche, but the metal window frames are all in excellent shape.
The panels of the bodywork itself appear corrosion and dent free. The shut lines are narrow and uniform and the flanks and bonnet smooth. When shut, the big sunroof fits totally flush to the bodywork, as do the headlights, which pop up and down smoothly and quickly.
Although not the original issue, the Porsche Cup style alloy wheels suit the car well. They show no significant blemishes and are fitted with good tyres.
THE MECHANICS
Recent cambelt service
Stainless steel exhaust
Very solid underneath
Strong handbrake
Alarm/immobilizer
The turbo is working well
L-Jetronic fuel injection
ABS as standard
Power steering
The underside of the car looks very robust, with no signs of significant corrosion or damage from road debris. There is good weather sealing, and, commendably, all the original weather protection strips are still intact. The wrap-around underside rear spoiler/diffuser is also in excellent condition.
All suspension parts appear to be in very good order, as does the stainless-steel exhaust, which is quite a recent addition. The underside of the vehicle has also been sealed for extra peace of mind.
The engine bay appears to be very neat and very standard. There are no signs of leaks, heat damage, with clean nooks and crannies.
The wiring is neatly channelled and tethered (and again doesn’t appear to have hardened from high temperatures), and hoses and leads appear supple and of a good colour – no cracks or perishing. Suspension towers are solid and the engine bay itself remarkably clean.
One of the window switches might need the connectors cleaning as there was a bit of hesitation closing the passenger window from the driver’s side.
Essentially the 944 engine is half a Porsche 928 V8, the four-cylinder configuration. This was chosen primarily due to production line requirements, as the engine had to be fitted from beneath the car. It is exceptionally smooth due to twin contra-rotating balance shafts, and it breezed through the all-important emissions tests.
The car also has Bosch Digital Engine Electronics, a system first seen on the 1981 Porsche 924 Turbo and the 924 Carrera GT.
There were upgrades from the 924 including a gearbox oil cooler, engine oil cooler, stronger clutch, bigger brakes and uprated suspension, all of which are working well on this car.
SUMMARY
There’s no doubt about it, the Porsche 944 Turbo is unequivocally cool. Both to drive and to look at, especially in lime yellow.
Drive this 944 today and you’ll be impressed by just how well-sorted it is – from the solidity of its doors to the fluency of its chassis to the weighting of its power steering. You’ll also be thrilled by how it envelops you making you feel a part of the car.
If you could paint a picture of the perfect ’80s ‘Yuppie’ car, this would be it. Thankfully now you don’t need to be a city banker obsessed with material possessions and striving for financial success at any cost to own a Porsche 944 Turbo. You can take life at a leisurely pace enjoying the drive to the car shows and just occasionally opening the throttle and have loads of fun and performance from a car with power to spare and almost perfect weight distribution.
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1987 Porsche 944 Turbo 2.5ltr
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