Porsche 944 - entry-level Porsche with classic car bonus

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Porsche 944 - entry-level Porsche with classic car bonus

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Created on May 31, 2011

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Archiv Porsche AG

14

Balz Schreier

9

Bruno von Rotz

5

Martin Wyler

3

Pawel Litwinski (Gooding & Company)

1

Emanuel Zifreund

1

Archiv

15

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Porsche 944 (1983) - Folding headlights were en vogue back then

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Porsche 944 (1983) - typical color for the early 80s

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Porsche 944 (1983) - the 944 was based on the expensive homologation model 924 Carrera GT

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Porsche 944 (1983) - view from the front

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Porsche 944 (1983) - beautiful silhouette - inherited from the predecessor 924

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Porsche 944 (1983) - cockpit exudes the spirit of the late seventies

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Porsche 924 (1974) - First complete car - without Porsche badge - as part of the EA 425 development contract in fall 1974

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Porsche 924 (1976) - the new people's Porsche as it was presented in 1976

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Porsche 924 (1976) - originally developed for Volkswagen and gradually became a genuine Porsche

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Porsche 924 (1976) - the see-through drawing shows the transaxle design

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Porsche 924 Carrera GT (1980) - the later 944 took over the front fender extensions

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Porsche 924 GTP (1981) - built for Le Mans in 1981, it anticipated essential elements of the 944

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Porsche 944 (1981) - Engine of the Le Mans version

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Porsche 944 Coupé (1982) - the Fuchs wheels cost extra

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Porsche 944 (1982) - in contrast to the 924 Carrera GT, the 944 had integrated widened rear luggage wings instead of the attached widenings

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Porsche 944 Coupé (1982) - with narrow wheels

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Porsche 944 (1981) - advertising poster - the time was ripe for this achievement

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Porsche 944 (1982) - cutaway model through the 924 successor

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Porsche 944 (1982) - looking through the 944

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Porsche 944 (1981) - the halved eight-cylinder from the 928 became a four-cylinder

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Porsche 944 (1982) - the four-cylinder engine from the front and from the side

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Porsche 944 (1982) - Engine - Longitudinal section

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Porsche 944 (1982) - Engine - Cross section

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Porsche 944 (1981) - Press photo from 1981

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Porsche 944 (1981) - Steering wheel and dashboard

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Porsche 944 (1981) - How the car was presented to the press

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Porsche 944 (1982) - attractive exterior with many elements of the 924 and 924 Carrera GT

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Porsche 944 (1981) - view from diagonally behind

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Porsche 944 S Coupé (1987) - with 190 hp

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Porsche 944 S (1987) with the narrower telephone rims

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Porsche 944 S2 Cabrio (1989) - Advertising poster

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Porsche 944 S2 (1989) - Advertising poster

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Porsche 944 Turbo Cabrio (1991) - elegant open-top driving

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Porsche 944 Turbo Coupé (1989) - powerful

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Porsche 944 Turbo S (1988) - the look was later also adopted for the "normal" model

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Porsche 944 Turbo (1986) - a successful sports car

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Porsche 944 S2 Coupé (1989) - with the look of the turbo

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Porsche 944 Turbo S (1988) - part of the Drendel family collection sold at the Gooding & Company Amelia Island Auction on March 9, 2012

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Impressions of the Solitude Revival 2013 - the historic ONS track safety vehicle based on the Porsche 944

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Porsche 944 Turbo Kremer (1986) - Kremer Racing Night of Legends at the 2012 ADAC Eifelrennen

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Porsche 944 Turbo Cup (1986) - Kremer Racing Night of Legends at the 2012 ADAC Eifelrennen

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Summary

It's hard to believe, but the Porsche 944 has already reached classic car age (30 years)! The longer the four-cylinder Porsche of the late seventies and early eighties, first the 924, then the 944, was built, the more it transformed itself into a popular all-round sports car and shed its Volkswagen roots. Our report places the 944 in its historical context, points out technical features and shows the growing classic in many pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

The roots at Volkswagen
Half a Porsche 928 engine
Proven in racing
Economical and quiet
Affordable and desirable, then as now
Further information

Estimated reading time: 4min

Preview (beginning of the article)

It's hard to believe, but the Porsche 944 has been a classic car for some time now (30 years)! The longer the four-cylinder Porsche of the late seventies and early eighties was built, first as the 924 and then also as the 944, the more it became a popular all-round sports car and shed its Volkswagen roots. It all began with a development order from Volkswagen to build a front-engined sports car. When the managers at VW lost interest due to the energy crisis, Porsche took over the reins and developed the car to completion as the Porsche 924. The car was presented in 1976, with 125 hp and a top speed of 200 km/h. With its practical 2+2 layout, it gained its own fan community; in Switzerland, for example, the well-known television presenter Mäni Weber was one of the 924 drivers. However, the economical and affordable sports car was repeatedly criticized for not being a "real" Porsche.

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