Porsche’s first attempt to buck the trend and introduce a front engined sports car into their lineup didn’t go exactly as planned. Being a marque almost exclusively based on rear engine performance cars, the Porsche 924, faced criticism at the hands of Porsche enthusiasts as a result of its radical new engine placement but most notably for its rather underwhelming performance. So when Porsche announced they would be introducing a new front engine model, there was unsurprisingly some scepticism. 

But there needn’t be, as in 1982, we were introduced to the all new Porsche 944. Faster, more dynamic and more lavishly equipped, the 944 was a car far better suited to bearing the Porsche badge. The 944 sported a 2.5 litre four cylinder engine (effectively half of the thumping 5.0 v8 used in the 928) chosen for its blend of efficiency and performance. 

What resulted with the 944, was the one of the most successful Porsches ever made to this day. Manufacturing around 163,000 units, the 944 was the most successful up until the introduction of the Porsche Boxster. No mean feat for the radical new comer with its engine at the wrong end!

It was decided however, that this wasn’t quite enough for the boffins at Porsche and so in 1986 the 944 turbo was rolled onto the forecourts, boosting the power to 217bhp and cutting the 0-60 time from 9 seconds to 5.9, the turbo model took the already brilliant 944, and turned it up a notch with upgraded suspension, gearbox and slightly revised aerodynamic styling. 

This is a later Turbo model, based on the Turbo S, with a number of improvements over the earlier model, including increased power (247 hp, 0-60 mph 5.5s) from the M44/52 engine.

The model we see here is an early 1990 car, first registered for the road in February of that year. The car was purchased by its current owner in 2010, an avid Porsche enthusiast who was drawn to the well specced rare colour combination on the 944. 

Under its current ownership, the car has been dry stored, regularly serviced and maintained to an incredibly high standard, hence we see it in the wonderful condition it sits in today. 

The 944 benefits from the accompaniment of a comprehensive history file, including invoices and receipts for most if not all of the major servicing and maintenance work undertaken throughout the car’s lifetime by multiple specialist workshops and Porsche main dealers including Merlin Porsche of Nottingham and Pickup Motorsport.

Neatly tucked within a smart, embossed leather folder are the Porsche owners books and operating manuals, which sit alongside the all important Porsche service book that has been regularly stamped by Merlin Porsche and other various specialists. 

We also find a stack of the car’s prior MOT certificates which highlight the incredibly low mileage the car has amassed within its lifetime, with the current owner having covered just 11,000 miles in the car since purchase in 2010. The 944 also boasts a current MOT certificate which is valid until July of 2022 with no advisories. 

That famed Porsche quality has certainly played a role in the cabin of the 944. Opening the doors and glancing inside, we find a crisp white interior that has borne the test of time remarkably well. Very much a bold choice, and a far cry from the usual greys and blacks found here, the white linen colour upholstery truly makes this 944 pop and has been maintained to an incredibly high standard. 

The wonderfully sculpted leather seating in both the front and rear of the car is in excellent shape, the leather still rich with colour, lacking in the discolouration and staining one comes to expect of a white interior, with the only notable wear being to the bolstering on the driver’s seat. As for the rear seating, it could be questioned as to whether they’ve seen any use at all since leaving the factory in 1990. 

Similar to later S2 models, the Porsche comes equipped with the updated sleeker dash panel, far less cluttered and more elegant than the square dashboards seen in the older 944s, its flowing lines are adorned with a mix of white and contrasting black leather, the piece is of an excellent standard, the leather is still of a high quality and there are no real signs of wear to be seen. The same can be said for the neat strip of plastic and switchgear sandwiched into the middle of the dash piece, which is also lacking in the wear commonly seen here through more consistent, regular use. 

Protruding from the bottom of the dash is the smart centre console piece, here we see the aftermarket upgraded radio that has been fitted to the car, neatly installed above the various plastic switchgear and leather wrapped gear shifter, all of which is in great clean shape. A small red light seen within this cluster denotes the installation of an aftermarket alarm system also fitted to the car.

At the sides we find two smart and well trimmed door panels, a mix of black and white leather, upholstered to match up with the dash piece and create a beautiful flowing motif within the cabin. The door furniture and carpeted pieces on the panels are in equally good order, with just some minor signs of age to be seen around the carpeted pieces of the panels. Up to sits a neat black roof liner within which is the large sunroof piece, which can be either fully removed or just tilted to allow increased air flow into the cabin.

To really assure the cabin of this 944 was a true statement piece, the original owner not only specced the car with white leather upholstery, but white linen colour carpeting, which drapes its way throughout the floor of the cabin and into the incredibly clean rear storage area, moulding its way over the rear mounted spare wheel and fixing to the back panel of the car through a system of metal poppers. To say the carpet has held up well would be something of an understatement, courtesy of protective floor mats placed over the top, the carpeting is still plush and bright white in its colour. The wear one would expect to find here simply isn't present. 

When a car has already been specced with a white interior, the exterior colour choice can be a difficult one, finding the right colour to compliment the white linen would have most certainly been a challenge for the original owner as they sat at the order desk of Merlin Porsche back in 1990. The choice made was most definitely the right one as the colour we find the car finished in today is truly exquisite. 

Believed to be either Baltic or Dove blue, the paintwork has a deep glossy shine to it, with a brilliant bluish hue exuding from all angles to make this 944 really stand out from the more subdued greys blacks and whites more commonly seen from the Porsche lineup at the time. The paintwork itself is in good order and presents wonderfully, with just a few examples of the age related marks and patination one would expect of a near 30 year old vehicle in what is believed to be original paint. Most notably we find some micro blistering on the front nose cone and some light scratching on the bonnet and passenger door, these really do not detract from the wonderful lines of the 944 though.

At the front, the all important pop up headlights are in good order and function fully. The various trim pieces and turbo specific aerodynamic styling parts present in great shape as does the glasswork within the car, including the large rear tailgate piece with its fitted rear spoiler.

The 944 sits on four excellent Porsche alloys, but not the ones more commonly found on the model. In fact these are upgraded cup 2 alloy wheels normally seen on the Porsche 993. The alloys are in great shape and really set the car off in comparison to the more subdued factory 944 wheels, unfortunately there is some blemishing to be seen on the front drivers side wheel which could benefit from some light refurbishment.  

Having benefited from regular and thorough maintenance and servicing at the hands of various Porsche specialists, the 2.5 litre powerhouse we find under the bonnet of the 944, is one of an excellent standard. Firing into life immediately, the 4 cylinder motor provides a great tone via the rear mounted exhausts and on the road, is reported to provide the excellent dynamic, rewarding drive the 944 is so adored for with plenty of power on tap at request of the driver and their right foot courtesy of the factory fitted turbo. 

The engine and engine bay present very cleanly however it should be noted that at present, the struts that hold the bonnet up are not functioning correctly and will not hold the bonnet up without assistance. 

Going back 5 or so years into the past, the Porsche 944 had a somewhat sullied reputation, living in the shadows of the 911, the model was certainly overlooked by Porsche enthusiasts. Yet flash forward to present  day and the 944 finally has the recognition it has always deserved, a true performance car in its own right, and on a far more reasonable budget than its rear engined counterparts, the 944 is nothing short of an excellent car, made even better with a factory fitted turbo. 

What we have here is a well maintained clean example of a brilliant, rewarding, rare sports car. Boasting a beautiful colour specification and a long MOT, this is one to be enjoyed right from the first moment. Whether that be at a car show, a twisty B-road or on a longer road trip, the 944 is ready for it all.


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