The original concept for the Porsche 928 was to create a luxurious grand touring car that would take the brand beyond its rear-engined, air-cooled legacy. A luxurious steed for the well-heeled enthusiast who prefers rapid travel. While the finished product was exactly that, the 928 never became a lasting part of the Porsche stable, and these complicated rocketships have never really taken off in the secondary market. Why? This 1980 Porsche 928 for sale on eBay in Summit, New Jersey, is a rarely seen running example of Porsche’s once-revered flagship. With an asking price of $13,928 or best offer, is this your chance to get a bargain for a car of this caliber, or is the automotive financial equivalent of quicksand?
Development on what would become the Porsche 928 began in the early seventies. The idea was to create a luxury touring car that would be relatively fuel efficient, have a conventional drivetrain layout, and would be designed both for high-speed touring and the tastes of the American market. Bear in mind that this was a difficult time to be an automotive product planner. Consumer tastes were changing rapidly, there seemed to be some sort of fuel crisis every month, American emissions and safety regulations were constantly in flux, and the economic conditions seemed to worsen every year. Porsche executives were also certain that customer demand for the unconventional 911 was eroding rapidly.
After being delayed by fears of yet another major oil crisis due to the Arab-Israeli War, the Porsche 928 debuted in 1977 (as a 1978 model) to a stunned world. The car featured a V-8 engine with a transaxle to make a 50-50 weight distribution possible. It was a legitimate 2+2 if your rear seat passengers were rather diminutive, and could be ordered with either a 5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmission sourced from Mercedes-Benz. The whole car was an engineering tour de force and a testament to the talents of Porsche’s legion of engineers.
Unfortunately, the 928 never became an integral part of Porsche’s long-term planning. Sales failed to reach expectations, and the advanced engineering of nearly every part of the car made them expensive to maintain as the miles and years added up. Porsche soldiered on with the 928 until 1995, when it finally faded away. Over that long production run, the car was incrementally improved and became one of the most respected long-distance touring cars ever built.
You would think that the 928’s quirky good looks and high-speed prowess would make it a favorite of Porsche lovers. The biggest problem has been that a 928 can fast become a giant hole to pitch fistfuls of cash down. Owners have struggled mainly with electrical gremlins and various issues with the car’s aluminum V-8 engine and its complicated timing belt system. Some owners have sidestepped these issues sacrilegiously by installing small-block Chevrolet V-8s when the original engine’s damage was too much to stomach. These were designed for people with means, and owning an aged example is easier if you are a person of wealth and patience.
Or, the path of 928 ownership is a lot easier if you are a Porsche mechanic. That is the job description of the seller of this 1980 example. The mechanic owner came into possession of this 928 when their friend lost his parking spot and decided that it would be a good time to downsize. The car has benefited from the replacement of the radiator, all of the hoses, the water pump and thermostat, front engine seals, an inner timing cover, the all-important timing belt, clutch, alternator, and a rear spoiler. It has also been the recipient of a complete tune-up and a brake job. A light kit underneath the car was also added for the enjoyment of its admirers. It also appears that the body and interior are in great shape, and the underside of the car exhibits nothing more than a bit of surface rust.
We are told that the car runs and drives well, with the only issue being that the air conditioning system does not currently work. It is also being advertised as a car with the true mileage unknown. Yet, the condition of the car points to it being well cared for and likely driven sparingly.
It is good to see a 928 of this vintage on the road. They were impressive cars throughout their production run. You can see why Porsche thought that the 928 was the model they would base their future on.
Have you ever owned a Porsche 928 or worked on one? What are your impressions of the cars as a whole, and this one in particular? Please share your memories and thoughts in the comments.
Undercarriage lighting and raised white letter Goodyears. Woohoo!
The 928 may not have a direct successor, but one could argue that the Panamera is basically the same concept expanded to 4 doors and 4 passengers.
Like the looks better without the rear wing on this 928.
Agreed, the wing detracted. IIRC, it was that sort of soft foamy material that was so popular in that era…
yes! – also, best model to me
but nota porsche aficionado.
@Stan
Good eye, Stan. I didn’t even notice it. As spoilers go, it’s relatively small and unobtrusive but, yeah, would look better without it.
I always thought I was weird, as I liked them, the styling and rear glass and the headlights facing up when not in use. No one else seemed to like them. They all preferred the 911.
Because of that I always thought the 928 was lower than the 911 on the class scale. Learned something again thanks to Barn Finds
As service manager at an independent Porsche dealer and service center in the early ’80s I can say that the 928s alone would have kept us in business just fixing or servicing these cars. All the buyers needed was lots of money and a good towing service.
In 1981 i was a postgraduate engineer in Britain, having just bought my Fiat-Bertone X1/9 (1,5lit 5 speed) and experimenting with cheap powerboosting tricks. I used to go for a ride to the nearby motorway and then a 928 was ahead. As i was overtaking it the noise from the 928 engine was accompanied with something like small explosions like trying too hard on the gas pedal. I thought terribly about the Britons servicing the car but now it’s clear that the car had a reliability problem. That gives me a better answer almost 50 years later.
Added undercarriage lighting “just for fun”? What’s the weird wire sticking out from under the shifter housing and connecting to what looks like a switch in the 12V (cig lighter) plug ??
Cool car, I’d like one even though I know they are risky. I’d want to see the seller’s “Porsche mechanic” credentials.
Spending time and money putting undercarriage lighting on a 928 must mean you have a perfectly running, needs nothing, car – right?
Owned one, or rather it owned me! Constantly in for service, and the expensive kind too! Great looking and well handling vehicle that I bought for the wife. Ended up driving it myself after wife rented a Jeep Cherokee for herself. It died after it was stolen and torched. What a shame! I likened it to a very sexy woman(my wife). Got rid of both!
I had an 85 S 5 spd it was a blast to drive and sounded so sweet . It had the timing belt done before I bought I paid 10.5k for mine burgundy w/black interior everything worked. It had 62k on it and I had it 5 years sold it for 14 with 68k my wife drove it a lot too. I do miss that one but lost storage I didn’t want it outdoors , it went to a good home. Very fun to drive . You could drift it in 2nd on some of our highway ramps :)
The 928 the 924/944 or styled by Tony Lapine, an American formerly with General Motors design staff.
I remember the first time I drove 928 having been used to a variety of cars including a BMW M5 and a C4 Corvette that the 928 felt more solid (body structure) than any of them. Porsche ran an ad in this era that said Porsches didn’t compete with other cars, they compete with airplanes, which led me to imagine driving one of these on the Autobahn.
Buyer beware. The Nikasil aluminum block is susceptible to cylinders scoring, and it can NOT be honed. The only repair is a new block. Advice from a well known machine and race shop owner and friend in Virginia Beach.
I had a 1980 higher horsepower eurospec/graymarket version. It was great, although I was lucky that a good friend and neighbour was in the Porsche parts business. Traded it on a Ferrari Mondial T cab.
Being equipped with the desirable manual transmission, decent interior and recent service, I would consider this car strongly if I were in the market.
BTW, 928s do Not have a Nikasil block, they are made from Alumisil, and can be honed with the right equipment. Nikasil is a just coating (as found on early Boxters) that cannot be honed.
Interesting Richard. I believe I read somewhere the 1 cylinder in my DR650 had that Nikasil coating. Maybe a popular application in motorcycles also ?
I currently own a 83 US 5 speed. These cars are not for everyone. Most have suffered years of neglect, poor maintenance and hacks from careless previous owners. If you can find one that is well sorted and has been loved then they are a pleasure to own, drive and work on. Early models are not overly complex, many parts are still available and there is a great support community out there.
Loose the getto wheels and the UFO underside lighting , might be a decent looking car.
The wheels are Porsche Phone Dials, hardly “ghetto” bub. More like “stock”.
It’s not my preference but part of me can dig the rim and tire combo. Rims were obviously redone, hopefully done right.
O.k. Lavdog bub. Let me explain . Yes I know these are Porsche phone dial wheels , they just look nasty painted brown . They would look much better restored back to stock color of silver. And put black wall tires on it. White letters just don’t cut it on this kind of car.
They say that the 928 was actually more areo dynamic going backwards! I was a great road car. When I bought mine the owner told me be careful on the highway before you know it you’ll be doing a 100. I got way behind my wife stuck in traffic following her home from Boston to Cape Cod ,when I got clear I put it in 3rd hit it and shifted 4th at 110 ! :) Yup he was right and it put a jetski grin on your face every time you poked it! lol