1990 Porsche 944S2 Cabriolet

I can remember vividly when the Porsche 944 Cabriolet first debuted. As a young child, I would eagerly await those car magazines arriving by post each month, giving me the opportunity to set eyes on concepts, spy shots, prototypes and all the newest models. When the first images of the 944 Cabriolet appeared, I felt like something was missing. The proportions somehow didn’t seem right, as I had been used to seeing this transaxle Porsche design in fixed roof form for years. The folding roof and rounded off rear end seemed a world apart. However, I think time has been kind to this design and it’s a very unique model that appeared at the dawn of a decade that would bring about some of the most drastic changes in Porsche history. This 944 Cabriolet for sale in California has a mere 12,000 miles on the clock and while the Linen Gray Metallic isn’t necessarily suited to this sports car, it doesn’t offend either, looking sharp sitting on those Gullideckel alloys.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1990 Porsche 944S2 Cabriolet on eBay

Year: 1990
Model: 944
Engine: 2.5 liter inline-4
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 12,073 mi
Price: $27,500 Buy It Now

Offered for sale is an absolutely gorgeous, 12k original mile, entirely original, dealer serviced, two owner, collector quality 1990 Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet, finished in perpetually tasteful, completely factory original Linen Grey Metallic paint over a Linen interior. Sold new with a sticker price of $56,342 ($102k+ in today’s dollars, adjusted for inflation) by Scottsdale Porsche Audi on March 31st, 1990 to a Mr. and Mrs. Johns of Lake Havasu City, AZ, the car would remain in their care as their sparingly used garage queen until 2010, when it was sold with only 11k miles to its second owner, a businessman and Porsche enthusiast from nearby Flagstaff, AZ.

Over the course of the second owner’s four year tenure, he accrued a mere 1,000 miles of additional use and had Scottsdale Porsche replace the all-important timing belt and perform the preemptive 15k mile service, amongst a litany of other associated dealer-performed services. Each of the car’s two doting owners always ensured that the car was exceptionally well cared for, always keeping it garaged and maintained and always using it sparingly as a prized occasional driver. The mileage and quality of service is documented by both a stack of service documents (all at Scottsdale Porsche) and an entirely clean CARFAX report.

Considering the car’s history, the uncommon Linen Grey Metallic finish is unsurprisingly impeccable, 100% original and marred only by the most minor of imperfections, none of which are significant enough to appear in the pictures or detract from the car’s considerable appeal. Never in an accident, the body is factory straight and correct, retaining entirely consistent panel fits and gaps. The glass and rubber are in the excellent condition one would expect of a well-cared-for 12k original mile car and the factory wheels are exceptionally clean and wrapped in Goodyear tires with plenty of remaining tread.

The car’s interior is commensurately virginal, the Linen leather seats and original carpets showing effectively no wear whatsoever and the dash entirely free of cracks, housing fully functional, all original gauges and components, including the original Blaupunkt head unit and optional Blaupunkt BEA 80 Equalizer Amplifier Unit. The car’s original soft-top, rear window and boot cover are all in excellent condition, and the car comes with an unused front bra system, car cover, records, two sets of keys, the spare and toolkit, the original MSRP invoice and odometer sales documents and all of the original books and manuals (including the stamped Service Booklet). Please Note: While the original Owner’s Manual isn’t in the picture, it is included in the sale.

Always well maintained despite its sparing use, the car is also extremely strong mechanically, the original, normally aspirated, dual overhead 3.0L Ventiler engine starting effortlessly, idling consistently and pulling strongly and smoothly through each of the 5-speed transmission’s gears. Compression is excellent across all cylinders and the car’s road manners are faultless. What’s more, as a 993 owner and driver, I can honestly say that while quite different, the 944 S2 is surprisingly quick and the experience from behind the wheel is thoroughly satisfying and Porsche to a T.

It’s becoming awfully difficult to find unmolested, extremely low mileage examples, and considering that only 2,402 NA 944 S2 Cabriolets were produced over the three year production run, this is undoubtedly one of the finest remaining, lowest mileage 944s – certainly that’s available on the market today. Let’s rehash the most important points:

12k Original Miles
Two Fully Documented Owners
Entirely Original, Including Paint
Impeccable Original Interior
Mechanically Excellent and Fully Dealer Serviced
This is a rare opportunity to acquire an incredible, truly collector quality, low mileage, entirely original example – one that is as honest and original as any on the market and one that can be thoroughly enjoyed as it continues to follow its Porsche brethren in the appreciation curve. This is a truly special 944 S2 Cabriolet, worthy of the garage of either the weekend enthusiast or the seasoned collector. Neither will be disappointed.

Compared to the 968 Coupe we saw for sale on Saturday, I think this 944S2 Cabriolet is a much better deal when you consider how rare they are. Only 2,402 examples were ever sold in the US market, giving this 944 perhaps the best dollar to exclusivity ratio of anything wearing the Porsche crest. Prices for 944s have been fluctuating as of late, so it’s hard to say exactly where value lies for such a piece, but considering the ultra low mileage we’re dealing with on this 1990 example, I’d say we’re not far off the mark.

-Paul