They have never been more available than now, - never cheaper, and unfortunately never in such bad condition either.
Fashions go in popularity cycles. While young adults organize 90s parties, parents gather around 60s and 70s culture. The happy 80s falls between two chairs. Not old enough to be collectible and not young enough to be cool. Porsche 944 falls into the 80s as hockey hairdo, leather tie, shoulder pads and TV icon Pat Sharp.
When Porsche put the engine in the front
The 944 was part of Porsche's strategic effort to create a replacement for the 911. Following Volkswagen's smash success with the bubble-top successor, the Golf, Porsche began production of its first front-engined car. First the 924 from the 1977 model year, then the 928 from 1978. The Porsche 944 didn't come until 1982, as a follow-up to the 924. I've read that Porsche was seriously considering phasing out its air-cooled, rear-engined models.
The Porsche 944 is becoming a classic. If you are looking for a hobby car that can be registered as a veteran, it is not a bad idea to take a closer look at the 944. But be aware that there are good alternatives. Toyota Supra and Nissan SX, or Mazda MX-5. They are more reliable, less expensive to keep on the road and run better.
- But they are not anybody Porsche, you might say.
- But it is not Porsche 944, rather, others will argue.
Be prepared! You may be met with a cold shoulder in certain snob car circles. It is not certain that you will get someone's hand on the wheel when you meet 911 owners along the country road.
Two early copies
I have photographed two early examples of the Porsche 944. They are both for sale. Both were outside all winter and are far from being ironed. They need a thorough overhaul, depending on the buyers ambitions. The cars are not used for robbery. Nor do they seem "screwed to death" by overambitious hobby mechanics. The best thing about the cars is that they seem complete, have signs and can be driven on their own. Besides, they are vintage cars.
I know the two cars only by a visual impression. The contact information is provided at the bottom of the post for those who are interested. The beige car has an American front and will be sold through an auction company with an offer price of NOK 59 + fees and taxes. The blue car is on display in front of a car company, but has a private contact person. The seller wants NOK 000 for it. It has relatively new EU approval. If you put in a few hours of work and a total budget of around NOK 79, I think you can hit the road with one of these cars already during the summer.
Porsche 944 in a nutshell
The Porsche 944 is a 2+2 seater produced between 1982 and 1991. It has a front-mounted 2,5 liter inline-four and transaxle – rear-mounted 5-speed gearbox with drive directly to the rear wheels. The engine produces 163 HP and has a maximum torque of 205 Nm at 3000 revolutions. 0-100 is stated to be 8,3 seconds and the top speed is 222 km/h. The model received a facelift in 1985 with an improved interior and more modern dashboard. The model range was expanded with a turbo version. Later, in 1987-89, the 944 S came with 190 HP. Then the 944 S2 with 3 liters and 211 HP. Cabriolet versions have also been produced.
Prices
Watch out for…
They say that you should buy as expensive a vintage car as you can afford. It will be more expensive to upgrade later. This applies not least to the Porsche 944. As far as I know, there are no particular rust problems. The cars are fully galvanized. However, moisture problems can easily arise, which contributes to breaking electronics and electrical installations. It can cause a sour smell in the passenger compartment. Furthermore, problems often occur with the relatively small amount of electronics and circuit boards that exist. A general problem for early 80's cars. Not all garages will undertake Porsche 944 repairs. You should choose your mechanic carefully. The timing belt must be replaced every 100 km. The engine has 000 balance shafts that should not be out of order. The special location of the gearbox can certainly also be experienced as troublesome.
If you are looking for a Porsche 944, I recommend that you choose one with not too many kilometers on the odometer, with the drivetrain as intact as possible. Facelifted model is recommended due to the upgraded interior. It seems to cope with age better than the previous edition. It also gives a higher degree of Porsche feeling. Given that you are going to use the car as a hobby car on a modest budget, you may not have much need for a turbo. A kind of "keep-it-simple" philosophy.
Not for driving fast
You don't buy a Porsche 944 to drive fast. In today's traffic, the 163 horse will be overtaken by ordinary family cars and SUVs. The beauty of the 944 is that you don't have to drive terribly fast to feel that you drive fast. Low seating position, good sound from the engine and exhaust system give a sports car feeling. Weight distribution of almost 50/50 means that the car lies well in the bends.
Veteran is not the first thing that comes to mind when you see a 944. Prices on German and French car exchanges are higher than in Norway. It bodes well considering that the cars will be sought after as vintage cars. There are upcoming classics. Then it is possible to treat them with time and money.
Your future hobby car?
Advertisements on finn.no:
The blue 1985 model. Series 1 with leather interior. EU until 09/2019. Finncode 121146721
The beige 1983 model. Series 1 with leather interior. EU until 06/2018. Finncode 121411633
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