I hate to admit it, but after a solid three weeks of stating I was done with projects, I now want a Porsche 928. These have always been intriguing cars to me, starting with the styling and then the V8 power, made even more compelling with the rare but standard 5-speed manual gearbox. And as more Porsche models become unattainable (with the exception of the four-cylinder offerings), one has to wonder just how much longer the 928 will remain attainable. Find this project car-grade 1984 Porsche 928 listed here on eBay by one of my favorite sellers, Just Donated.
The 928’s styling is just as wild today as it was in the early 1980s. The huge rear glass canopy, the pop-up headlights, and the (optional) Pascha interior all combined to create a Porsche that world had never seen before. Of course, there were high expectations that the V8-powered cruiser would occupy a significant role in Porsche’s lineup, perhaps even nudging the 911 out of the way, but that obviously didn’t come to pass. Personally, I’m on the hunt for these wheels at the moment for another car – they are affectionately known as “manhole covers” – and I can tell the staggered setup is reversed on this 928, with the wider rear wheels mounted on the front.
It used to be the 928 was one of the Porches you’d see most often turn up in salvage yards; however, that’s changing. It’s likely a combination of supply drying up and more owners choosing to hold onto their cars and restore them or part them out versus getting $200 from the salvage yard. The car shown here has a few strikes against it, but being a California car, it doesn’t have any significant rust that we can see, which is a good reason not to junk it. However, it is an automatic and it has been resprayed, so it’s a long shot as a restoration candidate; the listing notes it does not run.
Sometimes you get lucky with these donation auctions and find an awfully nice car that was donated by an estate, but not here. The 928 is equipped with a powerful 4.7L V8 that pushes out 310 horsepower, a robust number in any era. These cars were a hoot and a half with three pedals and that’s a car that is on my periphery should a decent example pop up. With a current bid price of $976, it seems likely that this car’s future is offering up some good used parts (those wheels alone command $600 for a used set all day long). The 928 is a Porsche that won’t be cheap forever, so keep your eyes peeled if a decent examples turns up in your neck of the woods.
I understand your desire to own a 928, Jeff. They are fantastic GT cars.
Can’t pass judgment on the automatic, as all my 928 experience came in manual-transmission examples, with the rarest — and probably most expensive — S4 version being my favorite. Not only were they fast cars, but (and this is much better, IMO) they FELT fast.
Probably not inexpensive these days, though, even at the sub-1K bid. I have heard that at least some 928 wiring harnesses deteriorate and require near-total replacement. There’s a lot of wire in there…. And it seems likely more than a few parts are Unobtanium these days.
Still, a brilliant machine, and one that gives its driver great satisfaction (and probably a few speeding tickets). I’d skip the automatic and look for a four-cam model, but the driving gain is well worth the financial pain.
And, to be fair, I’ve talked to several 928 owners over the years who racked up pretty high mileages with zero issues….
That body design has aged well. I am especially fond of the versions with these wheels.
If the price stays low someone in the Los Angeles area that has experience working on 928’s might take a shot at getting it running, then part it out if they can’t. It’s complete and looks to be in decent shape, cars like this can yield a lot of parts.
Me and a few friends would often buy a parts car that was the same make and model of our current projects, you would make the bulk of your money on the $20-$50 items, which would now be $50-$100, and keep what we needed for ourselves.
Steve R
Sold on 3/10/2025 for a high bid of $1,550.
Steve R
Every time I see this body style Porsche; I think of the movie Risky Business. Joel, Tom Cruze is driving his dad’s Porsche, I don’t think it was a 928 but the body was the same styling. He ends up parking it on a dock and it slips into the ocean. Later at the dealership with some friends waiting for news about how bad it is. The service manager comes to the waiting room and asks the group “which one of you is the U-Boat commander.
Correction to the article. The North American 928 had less Hp than ROW cars. We had a lower compression 4.7L with electronic ignition but mechanical advance distributors as witnessed in the picture. That engine made 234Hp. We wouldn’t get the stronger engine until the 32V version in 1985 putting out 288hp. Also new for our market was the Mercedes 4 speed automatic.
Looks like a squashed AMC Pacer.
Went to the auction. Looks like a scam. Contact us first means scam or let’s sell it outside of freebay
They are a well known outfit that puts a lot of items through EBay.
They have probably set that requirement based on all of the auctions where the winner doesn’t follow through.
Regarding this car, Steve R has the best approach. Reviving this thing is going to be a leap of faith in your abilities and a fat wallet. But, the result would be amazing fun.
I never realized how far back the engine sits. It could be termed a front mid-engined car. I believe to be labelled as such it has to be 80% behind the wheel centerline? One car I have never driven. Went to look at several, but wouldn’t even try to put a wheel to pavement.
I’ve always liked these, also, Jeff. Never wanted one but preferred these over the coveted 911.
Maybe that’s why I demolished a ’68 911 in ’72.
Why is that?
I would prefer a split windscreen 356
That may be just a few $ more
“… getting $200 from the salvage yard,,,”
other way around here, WE hafta pay them that now.
Audi collector changed his mind ona TT head gasket asked
us to change from a flubbed water pump job. Seemed some transmis problem(s) too. No 1 would buy the lump (including us) for 2K$ so we called the junker. ’S what he hada pay…
Im w/U Jeff, only porsche ta have. I’m even worse tho, auto’s fine
(well 4Motion’s good, not sure if they were out then & 4WD but I know
that’s only available 4 yrs later).
Yes, in Volkswagens!
Unfortunately it is an automatic and not a 5 spd.
1. Yes it was a 928 in Risky Business.
2. There was never an AWD 928.
Rust may be an issue. The car has a Michigan license plate.
the European version had 310 hp but this is a 16 valve version. As stated earlier closer to the 234 hp. additional smog crap on this engine held it back, not that 234 is not plenty the 32 valve engine had what made it a fast car.
Great GTs. I initially didn’t care for the styling until I saw one in person, and I loved it. I drove it and was really impressed, but I went for a 911. It has a more visceral driving feel, and I love the sound of the air-cooled engine. This will be a good parts car.
I had a 1983 928S with the stick shift—the ONLY way to go. A fun car, nice to drive, but expensive it it needed repairs. I believe the 1984 model came out with a better engine (more HP and 32 valve if I recall), but I had no problems with my 1983. I bought it because the price was right and it ran great with the stock engine. Another car I should have kept.
This could be a fun driver once running but I don’t think it’s a good project candidate. A 1984 US automatic is pretty near the bottom of the 928 food chain.
I have had a number of 928’s. The 310 hp was the euro verison. It also then had a extra red light square lens on drivers rear bumper. This is used at night parking in foggy conditions. It is correct about the electric system corrording. If you pull the the passenger carpet back. You will see a foot long fuse terminal. That has more wires then you can count. I WILL KEEP THIS SIMPLE. Most people do not know not to put gas down the intake carb. There is a fine hair wirer there. If the 928 cough once. You blow the wire. It will never start. I still have a full set of factory manuals in English for 928.
Always loved these, but dealing with the parts would be something else …I have enough headaches trying to find decent interior parts for a 24 year old Audi TT. I cannot contemplate the gymnastics required to hustle up some of those unobtainium parts, but man I love these cars