Porsche

I like Porsche's sporty models better than tall SUVs. I have visited sporting Porsche events in several places in Europe.

Porsche 356 Speedster replica

Posted 09/08/2025 by Terje Bjørnstad

It was designed as a minimalist variant of the 356 series that, with its low weight, could compete in road racing across the United States. Today, the 50s concept lives on as replica cars.

We can thank Max hoffman for Porsche to create the Speedster. He made his living importing European luxury cars to the United States, including Porsche. The car brand made its debut in the United States in 1950. Within a few years, a third of Porsche's production of 356 cars went to the United States via Hoffman's import company.

Hoffman imagined that a lightweight, low-cost, spartanly furnished Porsche 356 without a roof could be a success in the United States. The Germans took the hint, and in September 1954 the Porsche 356 Speedster was launched. 4822 Speedsters were produced until the end of 1959.

High prices

If you want one of the original cars, you have to be prepared to pay a lot. Prices have risen in recent years. You're lucky if you can get a good car for under €300000 – but you could risk paying a lot more. With such high prices, unfortunately, the cars often end up with collectors who never take them out on the road.

Replica models

Some 65 years after the last Porsche 356 Speedster was produced, many replica cars have been made that owners are more than happy to take out on the road on nice summer days. You can acquire a replica in the following ways:

Factory-built, new cars that are delivered ready-made – ready to turn the ignition key.
Cars that are delivered as kits in different levels of finish.
Construction kit based on a chassis from a donor car.

Continuation models?

No replica manufacturers are approved by Porsche to produce any official continuation models. The closest ones are probably Reutter Body Works in Stuttgart. Some cars are said to have been built by Reutters after regular production ceased. Reutter supplied bodies to Porsche, including the Speedster. Any cars produced by Reutter afterwards are then more closely related to the original cars than later replicas built by other players.

Recognized replica models

Several manufacturers have subsequently delivered fully built cars that can be considered continuation models. Chesil Motor Company can deliver fully built cars with a new chassis, new engine and disc brakes on all wheels. The cars are approved by the British IVA (Individual Vehicle Approval) and will probably be approved in Norway as well. A new factory-built car with new parts costs from £79995. A self-build kit costs a total of £33000 if you have a donor car with ID, chassis and drivetrain. Chesil is British, but also makes cars with the steering wheel on the left side (LHD).

Another manufacturer, Beck Speedster in Indiana, USA, delivers ready-made cars with new components for $50165 – prepared for the installation of the desired powertrain – for example, air-cooled VW.

Replica manufacturers

Chesil Motor Company, Oxfordshire, UK.

Beck Speedster, Indiana, USA.

APAL Speedster – Belgian company that is no longer active, but their cars are considered very good replicas.

Chamonix NG Cars – Brazilian company that, among other things, has been involved in building the Puma with technology based on VW. No longer supplies cars, but previously built cars are considered very good.

JPS Motorsports, San Diego, USA.

CMC Speedster (Classic Motor Carriages), Miami USA. The company no longer exists, but the cars are considered very good replicas.

Vintage Motorcars, Inc., Miami, USA can supply Speedster replicas with several engine choices.

Pilgrim Speedster Ltd, West Sussex, UK. Delivers ready-built cars (also LHD) with VW 1600 95hp.

Martin & Walker, UK, no longer exists, but built sporty Porsche replicas that are highly regarded on the second-hand market.

Speedster Clinic – Building kit supplier in Warwickshire, UK.

Speedster Werks Construction kit supplier in Derbyshire, UK.

Factory built new or used Speedster?

A ready-made replica car from a low-volume production run that has already been approved by a European inspection body will probably be the easiest way to get behind the wheel of a classic Porsche Speedster. Prices are about the same as what a Cobra replica costs. We are talking about a budget of between NOK 750000 and 1 million. Then you get a hand-built car with a fiberglass body on a new chassis and a rebuilt or new air-cooled VW engine, Porsche 914 engine or water-cooled Subaru boxer engine. The car drives as well – or better – than an original Speedster. One advantage of a factory-built car may also be that you can clarify early on whether the car can be approved in Norway.

In Europe, well-built, used Speedster replicas with low mileage cost from €40000-60000 before taxes. With approval from another European country, it will probably be possible to clarify approval also with Norwegian authorities before the car is brought into Norway.

Used Speedster replicas are expensive cars that are often sold through dealers of finer, classic cars. Reputable dealers will state the name of the manufacturer and probably also who built the car if it was delivered as a kit. Reputable kit and car builders defend the high price. It is pathetic when sellers try to hide the fact that the car is a replica, even though everyone should know that a real car would have cost 10 times as much.

Chesil Speedster — Porsche 356 Speedster 1600 Replica.

Real Speedster or replica?

All original cars had steel bodies. There may also be cars with steel bodies sold subsequently by the bodywork manufacturer. ReutersAll other cars have fiberglass bodies.

The following things can reveal that the car is a replica:

4 wheel nuts, not 5.
The pedals are attached to the floor, not to the wall behind.
The handbrake is located between the seats, not as a handle under the dashboard on the left (LHD).
Straight gear lever, not bent
Several replica cars have raised the canopy somewhat.

Self-built Speedster?

If you have an old Volkswagen, you can transform it into a dream car. The wheelbase of the Porsche 356 is 30 cm shorter than the Volkswagen Type 1, so the first challenge for the DIYer is to shorten the chassis of the donor car. The Porsche 356 Speedster had either a 1500 cc engine with 60 hp or a 1600 cc engine with 75 hp, but several replicas work well with the donor car's original VW engine. With a fiberglass body and spartan interior, the weight can be kept very low.

About the pictures

The car in the main photo was taken in Bicester, 2022, probably in connection with an event held by the Chesil Motor Company based there. Photo by Sue Thatcher (Shutterstock.com). The photos of the ivory white car were taken in connection with a car meet in Perpignan, 2023. The black car was also photographed in the same place, but at a car meet earlier that year. The gray car with beige hood and interior was taken during a Cars & Coffee car meet at Øvrevoll racetrack in 2025. The car is built on the chassis of a 1963 Volkswagen 1200. The ivory white car with Norwegian registration number was photographed during a car meet at Skui gård in Bærum. The red, original Porsche 356 Speedster, participated in a VW exhibition in the town yard of the Norwegian Folk Museum in 2016.

APAL Speedster — Original 1957 Porsche 356A Speedster 1600S

See

Photo Sunday: Tra'Montagne 2023

Posted 22/05/2023 by Terje Bjørnstad

The largest gathering of Porsches in Occitanie gathered last weekend in St.Cyprien in the South of France to take part in a "driveout" to Spain, and other activities to cultivate the joy of owning these great cars.

Named after a mountain wind

tramontane is the wind that blows between the mountains around the Mediterranean in the Catalan part of France, Langedoc Roussillon. Now it has just ravaged the landscape for 6 days. The wind can be quite insidious because it can quickly change direction, and the winds can come as gusts. It can suddenly come roaring at you while you sense peace and no danger. It is also said that the winds always last in cycles of 3 days. So what is the connection between the Tramontane winds and the Porsche event? Well, the Porsches can come roaring around the next corner, and the car meet lasted exactly 3 days.

But when all the Porsches are lined up or parading through the city, I realize that it is not possible to take a picture of them all. So I concentrate on the ones that catch my eye most easily – the classic cars that are one size smaller than the new Porsches. In the 60s and 70s, people would point and shout "Look, a Porsche!". Today, almost "everyone" who has reached mid-life can buy a new or nearly new Porsche. Classic Porsches, however? - Not everything can be bought with money, you know.

Porsche 356

Early Porsches were not supercars. Only well-built, harmonious and beautiful gran-turismo cars with sporting characteristics. The model was made in 4 series, but it can be difficult to date a car only from a visual impression. The green car above is a 1600 C - where C stands for Carrera - stated to have the 1600 engine with 75 HP. A slightly wide strip at the front of the hood and double air intakes at the back indicate that it is a model year between 1962 and 1965. The blue car below is a 1600 SC (Super Carrera) which then has a 90 HP 1600 engine.

Collector cars

The cars on the red carpet belong to the local Porsche dealer Center Porsche Perpignan. Among the cars, they had 2 classics that are unlikely to ever fall in value. The white Porsche 356 AT1 is of model year 1957 and has a 1600 ccm engine with 60 HP. The car was first registered in the USA and the first owner was one Lewis K Gough. He was National Commander for the American forces during the Second World War and is known, among other things, for involving Marilyn Monroe in so-called morale-building activities during the war. There is a picture showing the commander presenting a plaque for her commitment, but the film star has probably never sat in the commander's fine Porsche, which you can study at the Center Porsche Perpignan. I haven't dared to ask about the price.

Porsche 911 930 Turbo

I remember well when the Porsche 911 Turbo arrived. The most eye-catching thing was the large rear spoiler, which probably only got bigger as engines and performances grew. The car pictured is probably from the latter half of the 80s with a 3,3 liter engine that can probably deliver 300-330 HP. In any case, there should be enough power to hold the car down at speed.

VW Porsche 914

The model was produced by both Volkswagen and Porsche. The cars built by Volkswagen had 4-cylinder engines taken from the 411/412 while Porsche used 6-cylinder 2 liter engines. The car in the pictures has this engine. It stood on the stand until Sud Classic Car. It has undergone full restoration and appears as an original car painted in Delphi Green. The bonnet and tailgate are foiled in matt black, and according to the dealer can be removed before sale. The price is 36 euros, probably NOK 000.

Porsche 911 997 with the hood spoiler up

Porsche Spyder 718

When Porsche introduced the Porsche 718 Cayman and Boxster with a 4-cylinder turbo engine, many people turned their backs on the model. A few years later, the (Cayman) GT4 and (Boxster) Spyder were launched with flat-six engines of 4 liters – rebuilt from the 911 range. The picture above is of the 718 Spyder.

Porsche 911 964 at the harbor in St. Cyprien

Today, the Porsche 964 is not only a vintage car and a classic, but also the last model with an early 911 appearance. About the 964 it was said that no previous 911 model had received as many changes, but that was before the 966 arrived. In retrospect, one can clearly see that the 964 carries many features from the original 911 series.

See

Porsche Club Roussillon

Porsche 928 in three eras

Posted 22/03/2023 by Terje Bjørnstad

Porsche 928 – Porsche's previous flagship had no successor. Now that the model is 45 years old, two projects have emerged that have adapted the aging top model to new eras.

Nebula 928

The Nebula 928 is a pure art project – not a car you will meet on the road. The images that abound on Instagram are the result of a collaboration between the artist Daniel Arsham and Porsche. It's about a meeting between two generations – the Porsche 928 from 1978 and the "Y2K aesthetic". It was a teenage fashion trend around the year 2000 with, among others, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton at the forefront. The sugary color range and bubbly decorative elements are masterfully implemented in the Nebula 928 by the car artist Khyzyl Saleem. Also worth mentioning are the special rims inspired by the concept car Pan from 1989. The interior is produced by ByErase which, among other things, has researched new microfibre textiles.

In the name of art

The car was shown at the art festival 2023 South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin last week. There it was on Porsche X's stand. It should be added that the exhibition car is not lowered as shown in the pictures. That is another image manipulation (in the name of art). Nor should any interventions have been made in the drive system.

Nardone Porsche 928

Like a new car

The next project, pulls the Porsche 928 into the present. The Frenchman Thierry Nardone has, through its network of top Italian mechanics, built a Porsche 928 that many people could imagine having in their own garage. It is about donor cars that are rebuilt according to the specifications of the Nardone Porsche 928 Restomod. Unlike the Nebula project, Porsche is not officially involved in any way.

New gearbox - no automatic

It is impressive how well Nardone has succeeded in bringing the style to the present. The car appears as a completely modern Porsche – as the 928 could probably look today. The car is 100 mm wider at the rear and 80 mm at the front with forged 18-inch special rims. It has been necessary to make completely new axles. The engine is a 5 liter original, self-aspirated V8 with 400 HP. The gearbox has been rebuilt from 5-speed to 6-speed within the same external dimensions as the old one. The cars will not be delivered with an automatic transmission, as the original 3-speed automatic transmission – a legacy from Mercedes-Benz – will not live up to today's expectations.

Externally, the front and rear have been changed with headlights and taillights in a new LED design. Composite materials have been used where possible, and some changes are difficult to see at first glance, such as the fact that the rear side windows have been cut higher to match the new, wide rear fenders.

New instruments

Inside, the old instrument panel has been removed and replaced by smaller and more modern instruments. In addition, a company in the South of France will deliver an infotainment system that includes Porsche Classic Management system (PCCM) combined with a high-quality hi-fi system with Apple CarPlay. The furniture has been re-stitched in Italian leather and Alcantara.

First deliveries in 2024

It is planned to build 8 cars during 2024, and approximately 10-12 cars per year. All work will be carried out in Italy. The price is 480 euros ex VAT and donor car. Let's compare with what a Porsche 000 would have cost today given the tax system was unchanged. The last year the Porsche 928 was sold in Norway was 928. According to the Tax Agency, the Porsche 1994 GTS had a list price of more than NOK 928 million in November this year. Converted to today's price level, it corresponds to close to 1.7 million.

What about the original?

Here is a picture of an original Porsche 928 S photographed at Kjeller last year. It is from 1984. The Nardone Porsche can be dated to 2024. The Nebula 928 is somewhere in between. So we have 3 Porsche 928s over a span of 40 years. Which one is the nicest?

Porsche's track selection

When Porsche began producing cars with front-mounted water-cooled engines and power transmission via transaxle to the rear wheels, it looked for a while that they would gradually replace the 911 series. But that didn't happen. New 911 series became more popular than ever. So after being in production for 17 years, the 928 was discontinued without any successor. Has the 928 ended up on a side track in Porsche's history?

Restomod

Restomod has long been popular on the continent. It is based on professional restoration of classics - not only with original parts, but newer components to make the cars more operationally reliable, traffic safe, comfortable and easy to drive. Among other things, early Porsche 911 models have been modernized in this way, but Nardone's project (2022) should have been the first for the 928.

See

Lee Sibley in conversation with Thierry Nardone – 9WERKS TV

Nardone Automotive keeps us constantly updated on the Instagram account @nardone_automotive. Here we see the car in daily use, as well as meeting some of Nardone's contacts in Northern Italy.
Nebula 928 - Official photos are only published on Instagram, where they have been widely circulated. You can see the entire photo series here @porsche_france.

Photo Sunday - cars on display along the road

Posted 12/07/2021 by Terje Bjørnstad

Sunday morning is a good day for cycling

Then it is calm and peaceful along the roads. Last Sunday I took pictures of cars on display outside car shops in Billingstad. Not just any cars – but cars that had something special about them. Bentley Arnages, for example, are rare even in London's snobby precincts. They certainly arouse curiosity. How much does one like that cost? What kind of engine does it have? You don't need a price tag on the route. You have a mobile phone and can search for the car on "Finn.no" or on the car dealership's own website. A kind of modern window shopping. Join the trip!

The space outside car dealerships is an excellent place to display special cars. They can then attract car enthusiasts.

And you ... Terje's cars seller not cars. We just type about them. We are not the ones selling these cars. Click on the link to the ads if you want to know more about the objects for sale - or just enjoy the pictures!

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4

Year Model: 2021
Presumed exhibition car or demo car at Porsche Center Asker & Bærum, Billingstad.
Engine: 4 liter 6 cylinder boxer engine
Power: 420 HP
Price: From 1 + equipment
Link to point of sale
Underrated sports car in Norway. "Not a real Porsche" - "Porsche for those who can't afford a 911", and so on. The fact is that this is the only Porsche model with a mid-mounted engine – a car designed to provide lots of driving pleasure.

Bentley Bentayga Hybrid

Year Model: 2021
Demobile for sale at Bentley Oslo, Brookland Motors, Billingstad.
Engine: V6 3.0 liter petrol + 94 Kw electric motor
Battery: 17.3 kWh Lithium-ion
Power: Combined power 449 hp / 700 Nm
Price: 2
Km: 5900
Link to advertisement
Big and bulky like an elephant, but interesting in a hybrid version. That makes the car more affordable - if you can use such a word about a Bentley. Range of the batteries is stated to be 39 km (WLTP). The car has 4 separate luxury chairs - i.e. a 4-seater for 4 top managers.

Bentley Arnage Green Label

Year Model: 2000
Used car for sale at Bentley Oslo, Brookland Motors, Billingstad.
Engine: BMW V8
Power: 354 HP
Price: 679
Km: 60
Link to advertisement
A classic long before it achieved vintage car status. The Bentley Arnage ticks all the boxes associated with classic Bentley. "Green label" means that it has a BMW engine taken from the 7 series.

Ferrari Spider 488

Year Model: 2016
Used car for sale at AutoXO Sport, Fekjan.
Engine: 3,9 liter V8 twin turbo
Power: 670 HP
Price: 2
Km: 50
A Ferrari like this is reminiscent of how the car industry can create completely unique "man - machine" interfaces - like a Tour de France cyclist can experience between body and bike.

Maserati Granturismo S

Year Model: 2009
Not for sale. Just a great car "spotted" in a parking space outside the car dealership.
Engine: 4,7 liter V8
Beautiful car in the color Rosso Mondiale.

Ford F-150 Harley Davidson Supercrew (tv)

Year model: 2019 (the pickup on the left)
Used car for sale at RøhneSelmer Asker and Bærum, Billingstad.
Engine: 5,0 liter V8
Power: 400 HP, 542 Nm
Price: 1
Km: 100
Link to advertisement
Never mind that the Ford F-150 is now at full speed into the electric car world. These raw cars will roll around for more than 50 years and represent the pinnacle of American V8 trucks.

The white pickup is probably equipped with 3,5 V6 Ecoboost petrol 408 HP and can cost around NOK 1 million incl. VAT.

Citroen Xantia 1,8i

porsche centre — Citroen Xantia series 1

Year Model: 1994
Used car for sale at Asker Bilmegling, Slependen.
Engine: 1,8 liter petrol
Power: 101 HP
Price: 29
Km: 89500 (!)
Link to advertisement
Xantia with air suspension and very low mileage. The shine reveals that the car may have been partially repainted. Presumably parked in garage. A youngtimer that gives a very special grip in the corners - and which will undoubtedly become a future classic. This is a car for enthusiasts who know what this is. If you are looking for a cheap used car for the family, you should find something else.

See

g500 4x22 — Photo Sunday – Citroen and G 500

4 x 22 — Photo Saturday – Mustang and Mercedes

bentley oslo — Photo Sunday - Life in the artist street

There is something about the Porsche 718

Porsche Festival 2019

Posted 16/09/2019 by Terje Bjørnstad

They are celebrated all over the world – the Porsches. At the weekend, the event took place at Rudskogen Motorsenter. A very wide range of Porsche entertainment.

On track

Racing was held, including several races as part of the Porsche Carrera Cup. It was fantastic to see and hear the cars in their "natural" element at Rudskogen. The break program started with the Porsche Vintage Race. It naturally went at a much slower pace. Afterwards, the "Race of Stars" was run, where celebrities were allowed to duel two by two. The first participants were Linni Meister and Jan Thomas. Then I went for a walk in the depot where the cars from the veteran race had just arrived. Later, young people between the ages of 16 and 18 could practice on the track in cars with double pedal sets - Porsches of course.

Very nice to look at

In the depot area at Rudksogen there was, among other things, a separate tent where the public could drive Porsches on Playstation. There was also a separate tent where you could study the new all-electric Porsche Taycan. Both in the depot area and in the car park there was an opportunity to study great Porsches up close. The exhibition also included the audience's own Porsches. Porsche owners were allowed to park right up at the tracks, while the rest of us had to park down by the main road.

I took a number of pictures of cars in the depot area and in the car park. I have commented below each image and the images can be viewed in a larger format by clicking on them.

- And the Taycan?

Everyone wanted to see the new "Norwegian car". I stood in a very long line. After standing on the spot resting for about fifteen minutes, one of the organizers came and told me that "my" queue was only for those who had reserved a Taycan. The had not jeg. Therefore, I was referred to another queue, at least as long. According to the organizer, they would not let anyone in from the other queue until the "reservation queue" was empty. Then I dropped the idea of catching a glimpse of the Taycan. I could probably have waited an hour - but not more.

- Should have ordered a Taycan!

Pictures from Rudskogen

1980 Porsche 911 in the same color as Saga Norén's car from "The Bridge".

Great subject - classic Porsche against a container wall.

See

Rudskogen Motorsenter

Sjøflyhavna - meeting place for car enthusiasts

Posted 06/07/2018 by Terje Bjørnstad

When the Oslo sea airport at Gressholmen became too small, the state decided to establish a new airport at Fornebu. A facility for servicing aircraft both on land and at sea. What is today Sjøflyhavna Kro was built in 1939 as an expedition building to serve seaplane traffic. At the time, it was believed that amphibious aircraft would dominate the airspace. Pan Am's flying boats had begun transatlantic flights. As far as I know, none of them ever came to Fornebu.

A contemporary colourist

Sjøflyhavna Kro, with its simple funk style, is a typical period color for the 30s and 50s. The style is not typically Norwegian. It could be anywhere in the world. Unfortunately, the place is not suitable for recreational boats, but is all the more popular for land-based recreational vehicles.

It is not only the building itself that creates the color of time. Also the space around. The small harbor facility makes a positive contribution. But I miss the old launching ramp, where the municipality's fire boat is now moored. A launch pad would create more life. Maybe we could see interesting boat projects? Fortunately, the square has not been developed with modern buildings. The place still looks like a seaplane port.

Aquarium plans

Selvaag Bolig, buyer and developer of Fornebu Sentrum in the Koksa area, has launched plans to build a large aquarium outside Sjøflyhavna. The Funkis building is listed, but will probably disappear visually in the new building stock. The prestigious aquarium will look like a new opera house. It could be a really great tourist attraction, but the car enthusiasts will probably have to look around for a new gathering place.

Nice cars

The seaplane harbor is located in my immediate area. I often pass there when I walk my two Dachshunds. Quite often it flows to others who air the great ones the cars theirs. Maybe just a short reconnaissance round to look for acquaintances? Maybe for a cup of coffee and something to bite into? While enjoying refreshments and food at the inn, they may see a grey-haired dog owner with two male dachshunds in tow. A bag of dog poop in one hand, and a camera in the other. If the pictures turn out well, they might end up on Instagram or here on Terjesbiler.no.

Wondering where to take your fancy car this weekend?

Sjøflyhavna Inn, of course!

Pictures from Sjøflyhavna on Thursday evening 5 July 2018

Click on the images to see them in a larger format.

2 pcs. Porsche 911 GT3 RS. The green one was first registered in 2018, the Orange one in 2006.

2018 Porsche 911 GT3 RS in Lizzard Green.

Sjøflyhavna Inn

Time for the Porsche 944?

Posted 07/06/2018 by Terje Bjørnstad

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

There are quite a few 944s for sale. As with several other vintage cars, prices on the continent are actually higher than in Norway. The price scale is taken from the German car database mobile.de. The price picture in France is the same. A significant proportion of the cars are still in a price range above NOK 200. Many of them are S000 models and convertibles, but also regular 2 II with and without turbo. As for series 944 models, they are mainly between NOK 1-50 depending on km and condition. I don't think they will ever get much cheaper.

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

See

Porsches on tour

Posted 16/06/2017 by Terje Bjørnstad

tram mount — Porsches on tour along the port area of Saint-Cyprien, France. Front: Cayman (987).

Porsche Club Roussillon organized its Rallye Tramontagne (named after a mountain wind). The rally is a joint excursion along mountain roads in the Pyrenees and the beautiful coastal landscape of the Côte Vermeille.

What would you do if you had a Porsche?

Drive, of course! Feel the forces, hear the sounds as the landscape rushes by. Now, before the joint holiday has started, you can get there quite quickly along the southern European motorways. I was present when 150 Porsches from all over France, Monaco, Belgium, Spain and Germany gathered in Roussillon in the south-west of France towards Spain.

Rally Tra'montagne

Porsche Club Roussillon organized its Rally Tramontagne (named after a mountain wind). The rally is a joint excursion along beautiful mountain roads in the Pyrenees, as well as the coastal landscape of the Côte Vermeille. These are country roads that are shaped according to the landscape - so-called B-roads where there is not too much traffic. The arrangement included attendance on Friday evening, an excursion on Saturday, and finally a line-up in the tourist town of Saint-Cyprien with a parade around the harbor area. Sunday was the day when the public could view the cars. The pictures are from Sunday's event of the Rallye Tramontagne.

Cayman and Boxster

I observed the 911 in different generations and variants, as well as various Boxster/Cayman. The small Porsches seem to be more popular in Southern Europe than in Norway. The Boxster and Cayman don't have air-cooled engines and don't have the "proper" Porsche sound when you shift, but the engine placement is technically mid-mounted - moved in front of the rear axle - which provides a better starting point for building a harmonious sports car than the 911's rear engine. The models in the latest Cayman/Boxster series – the 718 – are very nice.

If you own a Porsche and are near the Mediterranean, just keep an eye on French Porsche clubs, because I think for sure the Rallye Tramontagne will be organized next year as well.

PHOTOS

Closest, Porsche 911 (991) Carrera Cabriolet next to a Boxster (981).

Sports cars at Fornebu

Posted 15/05/2017 by Terje Bjørnstad

norwegian sports car club — A wet day at Fornebu.

Norsk Sportsvognklubb ... Just chew on the name. When cars are referred to as carts you are either very "Oslo West" or very old.

I think of the actors in the old feature film "Sons of Norway buy a car" from 1962. From what I can see, many of the members are a bit older. I imagine they have tolerant spouses. At our house, the atmosphere gets a little tense when I talk about getting a "toy car".

"We still play with cars", is the Norsk Sportsvognklubb's slogan. It affects the enjoyment of the car. You don't need a lot of money or horsepower to have fun with a car. At the year's biggest event, you'll find everything from lightly patinated Mazda MX-5s and Toyota MR2s to Ferraris and McLarens, to name a few.

When you, like me, drive around this winter with hybrids, electric cars and fuel-saving diesel (mentioned on Terje's cars), it is an experience to see and hear cars running on 8, 10 and 12 cylinders for no other purpose than enjoyment. I have taken some photos from this year's spring muster at the old air tower at Fornebu. The cars are only a small number of all that were on display. Terje's cars will return with a separate post about the popular sports car Mazda MX-5 "Miata" as well as photo material of new cars from Germany.

Norwegian Sports Car Club