One of the best parts about our hobby is that most all of us see potential in different pockets. In other words, you may love old T-bucket hot rods and I think split window VWs are cool as heck. There’s no wrong answer in most cases, aside from when people try to tell you their version of the hobby is the superior approach. Outside of those narcissists, seeing someone take a car like this 1978 Porsche 924 listed here on eBay and give it the show car treatment is the best part of our obsession, as it shows me, at least, you can appreciate the effort when the end result is as pristine as this car appears to be.
The seller is looking for an opening bid of $5,300 with a Buy-It-Now of just $7,150. This seems downright reasonable to me, especially since this 924 appears to be pretty tidy. The seller reports that the previous owner owned it for 40 years, and apparently treated it to a no-expense-spared restoration where the engine was removed in the process. While it’s hard to say exactly what was done, the paint looks so pristine that I wonder if it was resprayed at the same time. You could order a 924 in yellow, however, and I even had a neighbor growing up who drove one out of the showroom in this spectacular shade. Check out the rare “heckblende” panel between the taillights. The mag wheels are an interesting period-correct aftermarket design, but I can’t put my finger on exactly who makes them.
Known as “Rally Yellow”, it is one of the rarer colors offered in the lifespan of the 924. It was offered for just the first 2 years of 924 production, and was almost certainly a casualty of the shift away from such loud 70s-era shades. Most 924s you see are red, black, or white, so this one is a stand-out just for the paint job. But the rest of the 924 looks very clean, with the preferred 5-speed manual, nearly-mint bucket seats, the rare gauge package, and attractive brown and black plastic surfaces. Pure black would have been even more attractive, but seeing how stock the cabin remains, I’m glad the previous owner didn’t mess with it.
Seeing how uncluttered the engine bay remains is another positive indication of how detail-oriented the previous owner was. Now, I get it – there could be all sorts of loose ends and cheap workarounds up close, but from here, it looks like a solid representation of a 924 with small details like the factory engine bay stickers still in place. With 110 horsepower and 122 lb.-ft. of torque, acceleration was leisurely, but this car is all about the sensation of speed rather than all-out performance. The previous owner likely has far more that he could tell us about his obsession with this 924, so it’s a shame the current owner doesn’t have the same perspective; however, the included photo album documenting the restoration may likely fill in a few gaps. This 924 looks like a winner to me – do you agree?
Appliance Wheels – not as in “refrigerator” but as in the name of the company, “Appliance”. Had ‘em on my hopped up Mazda RX2. Sort of a poor man’s BBS basket weave, cast aluminum, one piece wheel. Japanese (Taiwanese?) I’m guessing. Kind of out-of-place on this. Nice car. Agree, Jeff, whatever floats one’s boat. It’s a broad hobby. I’ve learned to appreciate that from years of following Barn Finds.
Looks like it only has a 4 speed.I’d want to see/drive it first.
I drove a much later 924S,& was impressed on how well it drove
up Highway 101 to near Oregon.
The Porsche that shared its engine with the Gremlin. :)
Ha, ha… back in my starving college student days, I loved telling people my ’77 Gremlin had a Porsche engine ;-)
The engine was sourced from Audi/VW and yes, shared with AMC, BUT, the 924 version had Porsche cylinder heads and a Bosch fuel injection system. The 924 hp ranged from 110 to 125, where the Gremlin version put out 95. AMC bought components from quite a few different manufacturers over the years.
A lot of companies bought stuff from other companies. A FoMoCo management type told me “If you’re not doing something with someone else you’re not doing anything at all.”
Actually, the Gremlin version of the Audi 4 put out 80hp and 105lbft torque. It was assembled by AMC at their Richmond, Indiana site from Audi supplied major castings… AMC’s version was significantly cost reduced (vs the version used by Porsche), using a single barrel carburetor and different ignition system components… among other things. However, the engine was still expensive to produce for a car such as the Gremlin and only used from ’77 to ’79. It was replace by the Pontiac “Iron Duke” 4 in the 2nd restyling of the “Gremlin” whose name was then changed to “Spirit”.
I remember the Audi 4 in my ’77 Gremlin and it was dependable with enough power for what the Gremlin was… One didn’t want to go all that fast in that chassis anyway… and it got 28 mpg all day long no matter how you drove it.
This is the first time I seen a very clean 924. The ones I do see are trashed. And its a 4 speed trans not 5 speed. Yes i would like a 5 speed. The fuel injection is wild looking. I wonder if parts are still available for this 924. I liked the Turbo 924 it sounded really cool back then. Then I remember the 944 came out. And 924 who? People traded the 924 for 944 and were very happy. The price is very fair. I would just stitch the driver’s seat. And enjoy it to shows and weekend drives. Good luck to the next owner. 🇺🇸🐻
My father purchased a yellow 924 in ’77 or ’78 when we lived in Nashville. It was a futuristic looking car at the time. Even at my young age the back seat was ‘snug’. He traded it in a few years later for a 924 turbo with pasha interior.
Our maroon ’77 with the ’78 European
Special Edition engine was fast and fun. Drove it all over the country, autocrossed it, and got groceries with it. Dog loved the view out of the glass rear hatch. ’77s and ’78s only had 4 speeds.
I dont recall the NACA duct hood scoop on the standard 924–only the Turbo.
Has the hood been replaced?
I had a 924–then totally fell in love again when the 944 came out–had 2 of those!
Now I still wish for a 968–the ultimate version that started out as the 924!
The NASA hood and the red PORSCHE tail panel are ad ones. The hood came with turbo models. Tail panels were accessorys . Check to see if dash top is cracked ,( common problem ) I cannot tell if it has a cover or not. Looks like nice car for the money.
My buddy bought one of these, I think he got it for around $5000, but he ended up spending almost $15,000 in parts the first year he worked on it. There are so many items that need to be replaced or rejuvenated on these cars, the timing belt, the hoses, tires, it adds up really quickly. And no matter how much money you put into one of them, they’ll never get it back. People still want what rhey consider to be a real Porsche, which is the 911.
Ironically, a 924 would stand out at any Porsche gathering but only as a curiosity. As a car it was completely outmoded by the 944, 944 Turbo, and 968. Still, this would be a good start for a young enthusiast.
Those wheels were on the Life Savers Rabbit giveaway in 78. The Rabbits didn’t have quarter windows, metal panels.
Fits the era…
SOLD for $5550.
5 bids.