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1992 Porsche 968

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In yesterday’s Corrado SLC post, I referenced both how Volkswagen’s coupe was another attempt to create the “poor man’s Porsche”. Of course, at the same time that VW was perfecting its craft with arguably the best of their front-drive creations in the Corrado with the VR6 in the nose, Porsche wasn’t exactly napping at the wheel. They, too, had perfected their own pauper Porsche. The problem was, of course, that not many paupers could afford it.

The 968 stormed out of the gates and straight into the early 1990s recession wielding 236 horsepower from its VarioCam-equipped development of the 3.0 inline-4 from the 944S2. Evolutionary bodywork linked the model more closely with both the 928S4/GT and the 911 range. But with more power on tap than the standard 944 Turbo had in the mid-eighties, the base price was pretty much out of reach for most mortals. In 1992, the MSRP was $39,950 for a stripper Coupe. If you wanted the Cabriolet, you’d pay more than $10,000 additional. And if you opted for a Tiptronic transmission you’d be at $55,000. In 1992, mind you! That’s over $100,000 in today’s buying power and nearly double what a base 718 Boxster stickers for today. Even the basic Coupe in 1992 was double the sticker price of the 968 hardtop.

That made the Corrado a lot more compelling to consider in period, even with the 968’s stellar poise and road manners. It’s no surprise, then, that Porsche only managed to sell 2,234 968 Coupes here – compared to over 14,000 944 Turbos imported. A bulk of the Coupes, 1811, were 6-speed manuals, thankfully. But as we discovered yesterday, just because they were really expensive when new doesn’t mean that holds true today:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1992 Porsche 968 on eBay

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Riviera Blue 1994 Porsche 968 Cabriolet 6-speed Manual

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I don’t feature the 968 all that often. I do, however, tend to feature just about anything I come across in Riviera Blue. I simply can’t turn away from them. Here we have a 1994 Porsche 968 Cabriolet painted in that bright blue. This one also has the very desirable 6-speed manual transmission. Riviera Blue often is associated with the 993 and we rarely think much of it when it comes to other Porsches. But this 968 shows the color off almost as well and even if its sporting pretensions are not quite elevated to the same level as the last of the air-cooled 911s, I’m sure this one will have no trouble attracting attention in a crowd of Porsche enthusiasts. It looks in very good condition and the mileage even is pretty reasonable when we consider it is nearly 25 years old.

The 928 gets the vast majority of the love when it comes to Porsche’s front-engined machines and there’s very good reason for that. The 968 provides its own unique appeal and definitely creates quite an ardor among its fans. And relative to a ’90s 928 prices tend to be much more attainable.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: Riviera Blue 1994 Porsche 968 Cabriolet on eBay

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1993 Porsche 968 Club Sport

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I believe this is a first for me. While I’ve written about the 968 previously, I’m fairly certain it’s never been the Club Sport. They’re rare so that’s not too surprising, but still given how often I’m on the lookout for early-90s Porsches you’d think at some point it’d have happened.

Like most any Porsche Club Sport model, the 968CS was a lightened and more potent version of the standard 968. While the 968 never was the most popular of Porsches they remain a lovely design even today and the Club Sport itself a highly sought after model. It was one of the favorite cars of our former editor, Paul. He featured them as frequently as was possible given their rare nature and the fact that they couldn’t be imported into the US. With it now being 25 years since they were first produced that problem should be more easily surmountable. If these were one of the cars of your dreams, then here’s your shot at one of these rare machines:

A Speed Yellow 1993 Porsche 968 Club Sport, currently residing in Canada, with 47,224 miles on it. This 968CS originally was delivered in Japan. There’s no word in the ad on when it made its way to North America, but it is said to come with extensive records so hopefully prospective buyers can work out those details.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1993 Porsche 968 Club Sport on eBay

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1995 Porsche 968 with 8,200 Miles

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At the beginning of the 1990s, pretty much everyone was stepping away from twin-cam inline-4s. While they had been the rage in the 80s and “DOHC” was nearly as popular as Miami Vice, buyers demanded more power and refinement. Sure, you could make 200 horsepower from a high-strung four-pot; but making it tractable for daily driving, passing emissions, and reliable? That was another ball-game. As a result, most major manufacturers went to larger displacement 6- or 8-cylinder motors in their small performance cars.

Everyone, that is, except for Porsche.

Porsche dialed in the 944S2 a bit more with updated 928-inspired looks and a new ‘VarioCam’ adjustable valve timing on the 3-liter inline-4. Now with 237 horsepower and an impressive 225 lb.ft of torque, it roamed the sports car elite field like a small dinosaur. Porsche added another speed to the mix, but since this was a relatively expensive 4-banger coupe based on a twenty year old design, they didn’t sell particularly well. A total of 2,234 Coupes were imported between 1992 and 1995; the last year was the worst seller, with a scant 259 making the journey. This particular last-year example may just be the best one left in the country:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1995 Porsche 968 on eBay

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Double Take: 1995 Porsche 968 6-speed

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A few weeks ago, I took a look at a trio of Porsche 968 6-speeds. One was a rare 1995 model; only 259 were sold from that model year. As is often the case with 968 Coupe 6-speeds, the asking prices of two of the three were quite high and they still linger on the market, unsurprisingly. Well, today we have another double take of ’95 specific 6-speeds – how do they measure up to the last three we looked at?

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1995 Porsche 968 Coupe on eBay

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Porsche 968 Coupe Roundup

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The Porsche 968 Coupe 6-speed is a fairly infrequently seen package, but one that is generally considered to be the “ultimate development” of the water-cooled transaxle 4-cylinder models. Only about half of the cars that were imported to the U.S. were Coupes (4,242 sent to North America, 2,234 of which were Coupes), and when equipped with the 6-speed manual the number dwindles to just 1,811. That puts production of these models on par with the E28 M5 in terms of rarity, and the group of enthusiasts who enjoy them are about as avid if not moreso. However, they also often overvalue their cars in the marketplace, making them expensive options relative to the performance on tap.

Today I have a group of no less than three 968 Coupe 6-speeds for sale – a rare Christmas treat to see. Which is the winner of the group?

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1995 Porsche 958 Coupe on eBay

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1992 Porsche 968 Cabriolet

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For those who like interesting, and perhaps obscure, exterior colors on their cars Porsches of the early ’90s provide quite a few possibilities. Last week we saw a Mint Green 964; we have on a few occasions featured a Rubystone Red 964, which might be the most divisive color in the Porsche catalog. And there are plenty more. Porsche has long been known for offering a wide variety of colors to go along with the much more standard slew of red, black, white, and silver, but it seems like the early ’90s were when things got a little experimental. I’m totally here for it. I don’t always like these colors, but many of them I do and whether I like them or not I’m very glad they exist. Whether you like them because they allow you to stand out or whether they simply fit your particular preferences – other people’s preferences be damned! – they make the automotive world just that bit more interesting. Our passion for cars stems from the way they stimulate our senses and color plays a role nearly as much as the smell, sound, and feel. This all brings us to the car we see here: a 1992 Porsche 968 Cabriolet, located in California, with 140,695 miles on it. It isn’t unusual to find a 968 in a rare color but, in truth, I don’t even know what color this is. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it and the seller reveals neither its name nor the paint code. It is, however, said to be original to the car. Any ideas?

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1992 Porsche 968 Cabriolet on eBay

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1992 Porsche 968 Cabriolet

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I was pleased to see Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car prominently featured the transaxle Porsches in their latest issue. These are sports cars which are finally getting their day both in the Porsche and general collector circles. With increased respect comes an increase in values, of course. However, many of these cars are still within reach of the more modest collector, such as this 968 Cabriolet for sale in New Jersey. With well over 100,000 miles, you wouldn’t have to worry about using this Porsche as intended. Tired of the usual 911 Cabriolet? This might be the cure.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1992 Porsche 968 Cabriolet on eBay

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1994 Porsche 968

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As a kid, the Porsche 911 was one of those cars that I always lusted after but for some reason, the thrill of that sports car has faded with me over the years. A combination of steep cost of entry and a bit of ubiquity have left me longing for a more uncommon option. One car which has always been on my radar is the Porsche 968. These cars are more rare than the 911, and the combination of the transaxle layout, big four-cylinder engine and practicality are too enticing to ignore. This 968 for sale in Northern Virginia has just crossed 100,000 miles. For those looking for a driver rather than a show queen, this car is a good option.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1994 Porsche 968 on eBay

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1992 Porsche 968

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Week after week, Porsche prices seem to climb further and further, with no end in sight. What is it that makes the vintage Porsches so popular? Is it the performance? The engineering? Maybe because people are nostalgic and want to get away from the bloated models like the Cayenne and Panamera, as good as a drive they may be. One Porsche that seems to be holding the line a bit when it comes to values is the 968. But even these sports cars are starting to climb their way up the value ladder, like this well preserved 968 Coupe for sales in Pennsylvania. Equipped with the desirable 6-speed manual in Guards Red, this takes me back to the good old days when I still wanted a Porsche new out of the box from the showroom floor.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1992 Porsche 968 on eBay

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