42K Original Miles: 1981 Porsche 924

It’s rare that we see a Porsche 924 appear for sale in preserved condition. Often times, they have been on the downward slope of low-effort maintenance by owners who simply wanted a Porsche for too many years. With values somewhat stagnant, it becomes difficult to justify a restoration. This 1981 Porsche 924 listed here on craigslist, however, appears to skirt that trend by being a claimed low mileage examples with just 42K original miles. That alone makes it worthy of a closer look, and the $7,900 asking price seems more than fair.

Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the find. Sadly, the pictures are somewhat atrocious, so we have to make do with what the seller uploaded. But small details – like the perfect 924 decal on the hatch lid, the crystal-clear back glass, and the intact factory pinstriping all point to a car with a clean exterior appearance. It’s also a car that presumably has lived in the Pacific Northwest, which is a haven of mundane or mildly interesting vehicles that have survived to a far higher degree than the rest of the country.

While the 924 has always been considered a cheap entry into Porsche ownership because of its shared running gear with Volkswagen products from the same era, we shouldn’t overlook what makes it a compelling choice of a weekend driver: it has outstanding balance, with near 50/50 weight distribution; it offer strong handling out of the gate, and plenty of aftermarket options exist to make it even more responsive; and because of its less-exotic hardware, it’s still a fairly cheap car to maintain. This one has the added benefit of appearing to be a real-deal survivor, with a lovely black interior that still presents incredibly well. Some OEM sport seats would make a for a desirable (and expensive) upgrade.

Under the hood is a 2.0L inline-four producing 110 b.h.p. and 122 lb.-ft. of torque. While the turbocharged model represents a significant increase in performance, there’s also some additional upkeep headaches that come with the more powerful version. Keep up with the timing belt and water pump replacements, along with transmission servicing, and you’ll have an easy-to-live-with sports car in your garage. Don’t buy it looking for searing performance but rather for its ability to make even the drive to the pharmacy an occasion.