Once upon a time, Porsche was struggling. The 911 wasn’t selling as well as they’d hoped, and they needed a replacement. This actually happened a few times throughout the history of Porsche, but perhaps one of the most famous potential company rethinks was putting the engine on the opposite side of the car and adding two cylinders. Enter the blasphemous, V-8 powered, FR layout, water-cooled, 928. This one here, from the first year of production, submitted by user ToddK, can be found listed on the Bay Area craigslist for $27,500.
Let’s start with some basic background. The 928 was fitted with a 4.5 liter V-8 engine, with two valves per cylinder, and produced about 219 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. It was produced from 1978 until 1995, and received many mechanical and aesthetic changes over the nearly twenty year run to keep it up-to-date and competitive, but the basic shape and chassis remained the same. A major feat of engineering, since this was the first car Porsche made from the ground up as a Porsche. The 911 was a refreshed 356, which was in itself a sportier Beetle. The 914 was originally supposed to be a Volkswagen, as was the 924. This example looks relatively clean with no rust, and it’s said to run well. As is typical with just about any car: if you maintain it properly, it will run forever.
Moving inside the car, it looks to have been maintained meticulously well. There is minimal wear on the leather seats and rubber pedal covers, the plastic panels look to align well, and there is little sign that it’s nearing a half century on this planet. Its lack of wear-and-tear is probably due to the fact it only has 88,000 original miles on it, a figure that my personal Miata surpassed many years ago, despite being nearly thirty years younger.
You don’t buy a classic Porsche because you want something practical, but this actually has practicality in spades. A large cargo area under the hatch can hold a week’s worth of groceries, and it looks down on some back seats for your toddler or miniature poodle, though not much more than that. This is a Porsche, after all. If you’re in the market for a classic sports car that will start when you want it to, with a big (by European standards) V-8 engine, enough cargo room to do a grocery run or a weekend trip away, and some of the absolute funkiest (and therefore coolest) pop-up headlights imaginable, this is for you. What really gets me about the 928, though, is this clip from a TopGear episode with Jeremy Clarkson explaining why he likes it. Where would you drive it? Would the chicken still be warm when you got there?
Nice find, Ben.Always liked these, good looking design and good performance. Also taught us of the mindset that most brand zealots (Porsche and Harley immediately spring to mind) have for their preferred brand. BMW Motorrad encountered the same issue worldwide with their announcement of the “Last Edition” boxer twin in 1984 as the new “flying brick” was to be introduced. There are folks out there that hate change but sometimes the change IS for the better.
This is a beautifully kept example of what could have been a good supplementary machine for Porsche if they had a better introduction I believe. Given the ability I’d buy and drive this before buying a 911 of the same vintage, even after thoroughly enjoying one of the vintage years ago-especially for the price difference.
GLWTS.
It has always been a wonder to me why this model was so hated and drew so much controversy. I have Porsche lover friends who wouldn’t be caught dead in one but I have also always liked these cars. I have owned several air-cooled 911’s and water cooled Porsche cars over the years and I never draw comparisons to the different models. In some ways I like the early 928 models because it represents the purest form of the car. Much like the long hood 911 models. Certainly not fast by today’s standards but I like the weird color and interior combinations. Cars are robust and the engine is a non interference design on the 2 valve versions. Timing belt brakes and no problems except for your ego. I will take mine in petrol blue with cork pasha interior and a 5-speed.
Double tap on the pasha. This one would be enhanced with inserts of classic black and white
I don’t understand the snobbery of 911 owners.
If they just sold 911s and no other model, Porsche would have never survived
What part of the equation do they not understand?
Yes, the 928 is a wonderful piece. I never understood the 911-sters who disliked it, eventually deciding that most of them never drove one before making up their minds. As a distance-consuming Grand Tourer, it’s about as Grand as it gets.
The only thing that would tempt me away from a car like this one — aside, of course, from the price, which I do have to consider — is that it isn’t a 928 S4, which was a lovely a regular driver as its two-cam brother but a rocket sled as well.
Either way, you can’t beat ’em, at least as long as you can afford the service and parts costs. They’re worth it.
These were always my favorite Porsche, and I like 911s as well. The wheels were always a bit of a weak spot though…
Being a child of the 80s this was what a real Porsche was to me. The 911 was nothing more than a glorified Beatle. I can’t say that I feel that way still but I have a soft spot in my heart for the transaxle Porsches. This one is a nice example. Slick sides with no rub strips and sunroof delete. The only wart is the ridiculous spoiler someone threw on the back. Originally, there would not have been anything back there spoiling the smooth look of that thing’s beautiful hind end.
I am a proud aircooled Porsche ( and VW) owner and the onbly water cooled P car I have ever wanted was a 928. thought the car was fantastic when it came out and stayed that way..much more poppular in Europe that the US for some strange reason. I remember Sylvester Stallone ordering one of the first ones and when it was dedlived he said “Woy sounds like Chevy v*….cool” Nice car here…ready for a cross country run..
If you’ve driven the Autobahn in Germany you’d know why the 928 was so popular over there. We took our 356C coupe over with us and even with the new factory installed 912 engine we were among the slower cars out there. 121 was all we could get and it looked like we were parked most of the time. Crowning blow was a 3 ltr 911 powered VW Bug that passed us at least 40 mph faster than we were running. Caught him at a gas station and got a tour of the car. Wild machine.
I absolutely love these 928’s……still regret passing on one that needed much luv because my job “suddenly” went from perfect to uh-oh the contract is not being renewed and my new job was flying to different hospitals and staying weeks at a time in hotels :-(.
when you roll in on a Friday night or Sat morning with tons of chores to get done then fly again Mon at 3AM there’s not much time for project wrenching
Only thing this car needs is the later S4 wheels. The phone dials just don’t seem to get it on this car.
This is one of the best Porsches ever built. Plenty of power and great balanced handling with absolutely no oversteer in curves like the 911.
Buy one that has the manual shift and sunroof and Porsche rally wheels.
Good advice because I own one.
Always liked this styling. Superb handling and power. But owning one could be..
“Risky Business”….😉
And how I loooved
Rebecca De Mornay….😜
In that film….😍
Well… back in 1983 I owned a 1980 Porche 928 5spd Guards red with the tan interior.
HIGHS…i was travelling on a weekly basis between LA and Las Vegas. Each trip was great. 75 out of LA to Bakersfield 85 thereafter to the Nevada line and 130 iinto Vegas.
No slowing in the twisties before hitting the line . Got in a race with a Shelby GT 500 entering an on ramp. Shelby had good acceleration so I tucked in behind r a n him out of gears at around 145 downshifted to 4th redlined it and shifted into 5th as I passed him. Speedo showed 160 and engine still pulling.
Car handled quite well until pushed very hard in a corner then wante to start to oversteer.
Very comfortable to drive long distances.
LOWSFor me the car was overly complex. Over 40 relsys in the dash with a bank of little rectangular lights that were trounle lights. At least once a werk one or more would come on. Meant trip to the rr never inexpensive.
Every accessory and hose st one time I r another had to be replaced. Including the water pump which by the way is a MAJOR undertsking. About 600 dollars as I recsll. A lot of money back then.
I s u ppose I was spoiled by the cost of a Chevy big block water pump and the fact that I could change one myself.
Itcwas the only c a r I ever owned that would break or have a puddke of some fluid under it after sitting still in the garage for a few days. When it had been perfectly fine when I put it away.
It could not be described as a reliable car. At all. When I bought the car it had 11 000 miles on it. When I sold it it had 37000 on it. I was happy to see its well rounded ass going down the road.
I then bought a 1990 Ferrari Testarossa about a year thereafter. Beautiful car fast I had it at 180 a couple of times.
MORE RELIABLE BY FAR Maintenance qite expensive especially the 3 year15000mile major. But as long as you stuck to the scheduled maintenance no problem.
LOWS Not a very comfortable car especially in heavy traffic or long trips. Absolute cop magnet. Tail happy as hell you didnt want to push it to the limit in a curve. Very little luggage room for 2 people on a weekend trip.
Even tually traded the car at 45000 as a down payment on a CL65 . V12 with twin turbos. Discovered Renntech 672 hp later and at 192 mph realized that you could have fast and comfortable and reliable. Just keep to the maintenance schedule.