When we see a gray market vehicle – that is, one imported from Europe and that has not undergone the U.S. federalization process – it always makes us wonder about the how and why behind its arrival. Some of these vehicles were imported in the glory days of back-channel importation procedures, when European car enthusiasts wanted the hottest version of a model sold in the states; others have arrived more recently as importation rules have become clearer and more streamlined. In the case of this 1979 Porsche 924 Turbo listed here on Facebook Marketplace and imported from the Netherlands, the question is why did a car that actually was sold in the U.S. get brought over in the first place?
The 924 Turbo was one of the better vehicles Porsche imported that sadly experienced a fairly short stint in domestic showrooms. The combination of inexperienced turbocharged vehicle owners neglecting key aspects of the warm-up and cool-down procedures, along with the car’s performance being stirring enough to threaten the 911, seemingly guaranteed its short-lived status. All that being said, the seller highlights how superior the 924 Turbo is to the standard naturally-aspirated 924, which is true – but given it was sold in U.S. dealers, it may not be as special as he thinks.
Officially known as the 931, this is an example of a manufacturer correcting the obvious shortcomings of a model with one, swift swing of the hammer. Porsche didn’t roll out some incremental handling improvements or offer a larger engine when the humble 924 had been here for a few years. Instead, it built an entirely re-worked model with upgraded hardware everywhere you looked. The engine utilized a KKK turbocharger that uncorked far more power than the N/A model, with around 150 horsepower in the U.S. model. The seller’s car, however, likely makes 170 b.h.p., which is a point we would have driven home if we were writing the ad.
Four-wheel disc brakes, 5-lug 15-inch wheels with wider rubber, and a bunch more sound deadening in the cockpit enhanced the chassis and interior quality of the turbocharged 924. Road tests at the time confirmed sprightly acceleration, and the seller’s car being a ’79 model likely means it has the dogleg-style shift pattern. With just 60,000 kilometers (or about 37,000 miles), this boosted Porsche also sports low mileage, and all told, it looks like a clean example. We’d go back to a single color paint job, and the silver paint inside the engine bay gives a clue as to how it left the factory. This is a collector-grade Porsche for a very reasonable price, and the extra performance of this car sold new in the Netherlands is a major win.
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