Porsches. Mostly 924 but probably other interesting ones too.

[inconsistant]

Yes, OK, I realise this is Autoshite so I’ve been hesitating about whether to start this thread, but I know a few of us have one, had one or still hanker after a 924, 944 or maybe a 914 or a 928 or similar, so I thought I’d go for it.

 

This year is an exciting year for Porsches that aren’t proper Porsches, because it’s the 40th anniversary of the UK launch of the 924, and Porsche are starting to make a big deal of celebrating ’40 years of front engine/transaxle cars’. This will probably continue into next year when the 928 celebrates it’s 40 birthday. Why are they making such a big deal of it? I’m sure it’s no coincidence that they’ve now got a few front engined models in their current line up and a bit of heritage based marketing never did any harm. Also the recently released Boxsesxester and Cayman are 4 cylinder 2 litre cars, so there’s plenty of links with the past to be made and product to shift.

 

Whatever the reasons, Porsche are wholeheartedly behind the 924 and are supportive of us owners. To be absolutely fair to them  I don’t think they ever weren’t, because the OPC (Original Porsche Centres or ‘dealerships’ as other brands call them) have for a long time been supportive of 924 owners in supplying spares cheaper than ebay and much of the internet do, it’s just that in a lot of their previous publicity blurb about classic Porsches and images of their model history the 924 has been noticeable by it’s absence.

 

I belong to the 924 Owners Club and they have an event coming up this weekend and it’s going to be quite exciting. The 924oc have a national get together to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the UK launch of the 924, and it’s being hosted by Porsche GB, at the ‘Porsche Experience Centre’ at Silverstone. It’s a big event, and at the moment about 125 924s are expected, from across the UK and Europe.

I’m going, so I’ll add photos here, and if anyone else wants to add anything about the Porsches that Porsche enthusiasts aren’t quite as enthusiastic about then please do.

 

A while ago GarethJ did this excellent thread about the 924, and convinced me that they were ace. He was mostly right:

http://autoshite.com/topic/12699-porsche-924-the-autoshiteists-choice/

 

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I wrote some blurb about the 924 for the owners club front page which seems to have gone down quite well so I'll copy it here:

 

Opinion is changing about the Porsche 924. This misunderstood and overlooked model in the Porsche range has always been a very capable car that makes a great practical classic but this seems to have been a bit of a well kept secret. With its 40th birthday this year there has been much press coverage, review, discussion and re evaluation in favour of the Porsche 924 so if you think you might fancy owning one then don't hang around, we encourage you to take the plunge now before everyone realizes just how underrated they are!
The 924 story is interesting: it came to the market with lots of potential, but with a confused identity. Developed as project EA425 it was to be the replacement for the commercially disappointing joint VW/Porsche 914 venture, but this model was to be sold solely within the VW/Audi model range. Porsche did a lot of research and development work for VW/Audi before the 1970s so it was natural that VW would commission Porsche to design a groundbreaking high end sports coupe based around their current 2 litre engine and utilising existing parts where possible.
Porsche were developing their own 928 at the time and there are many design and engineering parallels between the two projects, which enabled Porsche to come up with an interesting sports coupe for VW/Audi, but as the project neared completion a change of management at VW/Audi and a review of company strategy in light of the 1973 fuel crisis lead them to back out of the project. Porsche saw an opportunity to sell the car as their own, snapped up the rights to the project at a bargain price and promptly put it on the market in early 1976 as an entry model in their range, the Porsche 924.
1970s and 80s legend tells us that Porsche enthusiasts wholeheartedly disapproved. The 924 was the Porsche that apparently didn't deserve to be one, the Porsche that never quite was a Porsche in the eyes of those that loved Porsches. It was a VW/Audi with a Porsche badge on it. It was slow, unrefined, the engine was at the wrong end and it was of all things, water cooled!
Certainly the US market Porsche 924 was more expensive, a bit heavier and a lot less powerful (95bhp) than the European version, which did the early reputation of the car no favours at all. The views of a vocal minority influenced what many thought without them really understanding or caring what the 924 was trying to be. They criticised it's performance, (interestingly at about the same time the VW Golf GTI was winning universal praise for its performance with pretty much the same 0-60 time and max speed as the Porsche 924).
At launch the 924 was almost universally praised for its fuel economy, handling, (thanks to almost perfect 50/50 weight distribution) and it’s styling which suggests that Porsche knew exactly what they were doing with the 924, and that they were looking to the future, and not to their past. The 924 opened up a new market for Porsche, where practicality, built quality, economy and reliability were more important than outright performance. Fortunately there were enough people who didn't care what the traditional Porsche enthusiasts thought and these people bought and loved the 924.

Porsche unashamedly marketed the car at female customers, perhaps feeling that the more subtle virtues of the 924 might find favour with those drivers who were less hung up about performance figures and the bragging rights they provided. Either way the 924 found its market and became highly successful for Porsche, selling about 125,000 over about a decade of production.

The 924 marked a radical departure from traditional Porsches.
It was a vital and inspired model for Porsche. It kept Porsche alive when the 911 wasn't profitable enough to do so, it provided a basis for the well respected 944 and 968, it gave those who didn't want a Porsche 911 the opportunity to own a Porsche, and for those who only cared for the 911, it provided the funds to develop the next generation of that model.
40 years after its introduction, and with Porsche now making more SUVs than Sports cars, the 924 is finally being recognised as an essential, fundamental model in Porsche history. 40 years ago it was disliked because of what it wasn't, now it is appreciated and enjoyed because of what it is.
The 924 has always had a loyal following, but it's been a quiet, contented following, happy to buck trends and ignore the opinions of ‘motoring experts’ and still today we enjoy owning and driving our 924s without needing to justify our choice to anyone. Now, with the oldest 924s being an unbelievable 40 years, it's becoming clear to those Porsche 924 doubters and to car enthusiasts in general, just what an outstandingly complete and competent car the 924 is.

 

The Porsche 924 range
• 924: 1976-85, 125bhp - 121,000 made
• 924S: 1985-88, 150 & 160bhp - 16,500 made
• 924 Turbo 1978-82, 170 & 177bhp - 11,500 made
• 924 Carrera GT: 1980, 210bhp - 406 made
• 924 Carrera GTS: 245 & 280bhp - 59 made
• 924 Carrera GTR: 375bhp - 17 made

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So there you go. I'm surprised how often people do say either 'I like those' or 'what is it?' depending on their age, and I'm also surprised how often people don't say 'van engine', 'not a proper Porsche', or similar. It's funny how opinion of cars changes over time, but I suppose a lot of us here are used to that.

[inconsistant]

That was a lot of words, so here's some photos of some old Porsches from a few weeks ago:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim Bell]

Pops is making noises about a Boxster. Is that a real Porsche if you don't as a Porsche man?

[barefoot]

I saw a Carerra GT the other day, I was aware of them, but I don't think I'd ever seen one in the flesh before.

[saucedoctor]

Pops is making noises about a Boxster. Is that a real Porsche if you don't as a Porsche man?

 

I'd say yes. Flat 6 stuffed up it's ass. I've had two Boxsters, and they're magic. Currently hmm-ing and ha-ing over a Cayman

[omegod]

Brother used to have a 928 s4  one scary fothermucker of a car, I fondly recall him pulling 170 on the M57 a very private road when a little white AX pulled out into the fast lane doing a sedate 50 , I swear I left fingermarks in the dash and skiddies on the passenger seat.

 

Pure effortless power, i'd love one with an LPG system   

[r.welfare]

Spoilerless 924s and 928s are things of beauty.

[RoadworkUK]

"I can't believe it. I've got a trig mid-term tomorrow and I'm being chased by Guido the killer pimp"

 

"Porsche. There is no substitute"

 

"Fuck you".

[Alusilber]

Pops is making noises about a Boxster. Is that a real Porsche if you don't as a Porsche man?

Don't see why not. A mid-mounted engine is what the 911 should have had all along, after all.

[Alusilber]

 

 I'm also surprised how often people don't say 'van engine', 'not a proper Porsche', or similar. 

 

Funny you should say that, there was a review of the new flat-4 718 Boxster in Autocar the other day, and the write just had to bring up the old "engine out of a van" thing when mentioning previous 4-pot Porsches...

 

Personally, I like 924s because they're made out of bits of early 70s VWs and Audis as much as I do because of the Porsche badge. I bet if they did actually sell them with VW badges on, they'd be worth a lot more now...

[Alusilber]

I saw a Carerra GT the other day, I was aware of them, but I don't think I'd ever seen one in the flesh before.

Was that a 980 Carerra GT or 924 Carerra GT? 

[Ghosty]

Saw an early hardtopped Boxter badged up as a Cayman S last week.

[vulgalour]

I'm rather fond of the looks of the 914 even though I'm not much of a Porsche fan.  The Muréne concept is rather nifty.

 

 

 

I found this variation labelled as a Hueliez concept, it looks remarkably similar to the Muréne version just with better wheels and a funky skylight on the rear... lifty uppy section.

 

They're a bit daft looking as standard and came in some really appalling colours.  Just my sort of thing.  If I had to have a Porsche then I could tolerate living with one like this.  It'd be like having a really expensive TR7.

[smellypoo]

"I can't believe it. I've got a trig mid-term tomorrow and I'm being chased by Guido the killer pimp"

 

"Porsche. There is no substitute"

 

"Fuck you".

 

 

That film was excellent

[inconsistant]

Wow Vulg, not see that before, looks awesome. And like a Chevette hatch from the rear.

 

Here's one with a girl next to it:

 

 

1970 Porsche 914/6 Murène by Heuliez. Google image searching 'Heuliez' brings up a wonderful array of weird and interesting stuff.

 

I'll just pop these here too:

 

 

1970 Porsche Tapiro Concept by ItalDesign

 

 

1973 Porsche FLA, not looking a million miles away from an AMC Pacer...

 

 

 

1974 Porsche Coupe Stash Concept by Sbarro, I'm seeing a bit of 1st gen Honda Prelude in the middle bit:

 

 

[inconsistant]

Personally, I like 924s because they're made out of bits of early 70s VWs and Audis 

 

^^^This. Definitely. Stuff that goes on around the edges of things are much more interesting for me. Ambiguity, confused identity and misunderstanding create much more interesting stories than super controlled brand identities and strongly identifiable values. Cars from collaborations, like the Acclaim, Alfa Arna and others that fall between brands have much more interesting stories, and are the ones that pub bores struggle to pinhole. Which is a good thing.

[dome]

I've had 2 square dash 944s and an S2. The S2 was a seriously capable car but the square dash 944s were probably more fun on the real twisty stuff. No PAS and a small tire footprint coupled with just enough power to be able to exploit the handling. Top stuff.

 

I wimped out odf a 928 many years ago. I reckon a manual one of those needs to be tried at some point though.

 

Ditto for a 924, but it would have to be a 2.0 for me. 

[brownnova]

This was my 924

 

My favourite car I've ever owned... Sadly succumbed to tin worm of the sills.  If I had known a tame welder then I'd have kept it.

 

 

One of my real hopes this year is to get another 924... but somehow I reckon it will just be a dream!

[Cavcraft]

I'd say yes. Flat 6 stuffed up it's ass. I've had two Boxsters, and they're magic. Currently hmm-ing and ha-ing over a Cayman

 

 

Do it.

 

Porsche make some class looking cars, with the exception of those Panamera things which look toss.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

When I was 18,which was 1982. I had the choice of 2 cars from my dad's work , a1978 Renault 16TL or a 1973 914 that had been the owners wife's car. I drove them both and the Renault was faster, the insurance was double for the Porsche (Ok, VW-Porsche) too, so bought the 16 for £475 , they wanted £500 for the 914- not my best decision!

[Rovorsche]

Hey, you could always buy THIS

 

It sat in my garage for a year before I decided the best thing I could do was sell it for a £500 loss and I'm glad I did so that somebody else could finish it.

It had EFi when I sold it, I make no comment on the things it claims to have on it but at least the boot shuts now and I make no comment on why it didn't when I sold it.

[The Moog]

I decided the other day I need to do a porsche at some point. Always wanted one, hired a 3.2 911 for a weekend a few years ago and loved it except trying to park it.

 

When I first had money to buy a car it was a toss up between 924 and saab 900 turbo. Went the saab route, but still have that sliding doors moment.