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Strange though it may seem, the 1988 Porsche 924S is not a model we often write up. We do feature just about every Special Edition 924S I find, as they’re a really neat fly-under-the-radar package. This isn’t one of those cars. It’s a “plain” 1988 924S, which you can immediately identify by it being Guards Red (all the SE models were black). But as I said in my article about limited 924 models back in September, the 1988 S is a subtle upgrade and the one to have if you don’t go with a hard-to-find SE. The compression bump meant 160 horsepower, and coupled with the 944 driveline bits underneath it was a fun, sporty car. However, best of all – and unlike most of their other watercooled brethren of the same ilk, these 924S models are often overlooked by the market.
But there are a few reasons to look at this particular 924. First, the ’88 models are pretty hard to find. They accounted for only 2,190 sales (including the 500 Special Edition models) compared to the near 7,000 1987s sold. But above scarcity, it’s in pristine condition with only a claimed 25,000 miles covered since new. And while it seems most of the really nice late 924s that come to market are automatics, this one is a 5-speed manual:
There is always a place for subtlety in the car world and while subtle hardly applies to the Porsche 930, among modified examples it’s a term that can make sense. It’s rare that I feature a modified 930 as most of those I come across appear in questionable condition or simply seem overdone. Here we have a definite exception. This 930’s modifications are limited to the engine so from the outside it appears almost completely original. It also happens to come in a very attractive Dark Blue over Tan leather interior. For fans of dark colors it’s a nice alternative to the more common Black 930. Under the skin, a K27 turbo, upgraded intercooler, and Andial fuel system are said to raise power to “more than” 385 hp. That’s a substantial gain over the stock car’s 282 hp and given the already engaging dynamics of a 930 it’s sure to be extremely attention grabbing for any driver!
Yesterday’s post was a bit concerned with finding certain diamonds in the rough; finding those 911s that won’t break the bank but should still stand to deliver a good deal of joy over the life of the car. The one we see here makes a good argument for inclusion in such a group, though in a much different way than the Carrera 4 did. That this is a 911SC in many cases already would keep it in the reasonable price group, but there is more. For one, this one is pretty high mileage having seen 232,284 miles over the course of its 37 years. But the owners weren’t content to leave it be and (presumably) rather than rebuild the original 3.0 liter flat-six with which it left the factory they chose to fit a slightly more modern 3.2 liter engine from an ’87 Carrera. The original 915 5-speed transmission remains with the car, making this a little bit of a hybrid drivertrain, but the suspension was also redone at the time it received its new engine. All together it should make for a nice driver and one that should be had for pretty reasonable cost.
Our search constantly has us on the lookout for rare models, rare colors, and rare combinations of both. In the world of 911s that usually means something very expensive.
There is another type of search.
A search for the more frequently seen models, but still ones that seem to stand above the rest of the crowd. Since 911s are expensive full stop they’re not cheap, but for those shopping for one in the first place we’re at least delving into more reasonable territory. Sometimes we find subtle combinations of these factors, typically less common color combinations on otherwise common models with higher mileage that helps keeps prices down. That seems to be the case here. This Silver Metallic 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Coupe fits the bill of a standard 911 that appears in nice shape given its age and mileage. However, step into the interior and we find Burgundy leather carpets and seating that we do not see often on the 964. We frequently come across a Burgundy interior in the 3.2 Carrera and perhaps it is this model year’s close proximity and overlap with those outgoing Carreras that made it possible for Burgundy to find its way into this early Carrera 4.
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?
