V8 5-Speed: 1983 Porsche 928 S

Do any of you have a car you can’t quite extricate completely from your project car sub-conscious? That is certainly the case for me with the Porsche 928, a classic GT cruiser that offers space-age looks and lustrous V8 power. For years, the 928 has lived in the shadow of the 911, but it seems like it is high-time that we celebrate this highway bahnstormer for being a totally different kind of car and thus, deserving of recognition on its unique merits. The 928 shown here is a desirable manual transmission-equipped example and looks like a great entrypoint into Porsche ownership.

Like so many other exotic and luxury cars, the 928 is often seen as a throwaway car because so many of them end up in poor condition after years’ of deferred maintenance. The 928 is, quite honestly, a cross between a tech-laden GT and a high dollar sports car, so there’s no running away from the requirements that such a car comes with. While it may seem simple by today’s standards, a 928 represented the pinnacle of automotive development in the middle 80s, right there with the likes of the Bentley Turbo R and Mercedes-Benz 560SEC. You have to think about these cars in terms of how much they cost new, and realize that the need for upkeep hasn’t changed as values have dropped. Note the front and rear spoilers on this model, which was a distinct design change over the earliest examples from the late 70s.

The cabin features 2+2 seating, and the backseat is somewhat usable. The 928 went through numerous design and engineering revisions throughout its development, and when internal influences weren’t affecting its development, the threat of global wars and energy crisis were. To say the 928 encountered a few bumps along the way is an understatement, but it ultimately emerged as one of the predominant V8-powered GTs of the 1980s and had a successful run, culminating with the highly sought-after 928 GTS of the early 90s. As mentioned, this example is equipped with a 5-speed manual, which is somewhat hard to find considering how many owners opted for the automatic.

This car looks very clean inside and out, even if it’s not what I’d consider pristine. It has been driven – that much is clear – but the interior shows normal signs of age and wear as opposed to being overly worn, and the same goes for the exterior (the wheels could use a polish.) Underneath, the engine area looks clean and dry and I see no obvious signs of rust. The seller mentions that there is a healthy paperwork trail demonstrating ongoing maintenance, which you should definitely seek when considering a 928 purchase. Find it here on eBay where bidding is at $14,000 with no reserve.