Do you ever see listings for cars where it seems like the seller is missing a golden opportunity to get top dollar for their car or truck? This listing for a rare Porsche 944 Turbo S strikes me as one of those times, as this is a sought-after model from Porsche’s lineup of water-cooled, front-engined cars. The seller has shown it quite plainly and honestly as a project but barely makes mention of this being a real-deal Turbo S car, of which a very small allotment was made. In running condition, this is a fairly safe bet as a $20,000 car all day long. This project-grade ’88 Turbo S is listed here on eBay with no reserve and bids to just $5,650.
When it comes to special edition models, it’s safe to say you’re not wrong to be expected to be let down by what ends up being truly “special” about it. Some badges, a plaque, maybe some bigger wheels – but essentially, just superficial improvements. The 944 Turbo S was not that at all, ending up with a 30 horsepower bump in output from the factory along with a firmer, more track-oriented suspension; transmission oil cooler; bigger front sway bar; and more. Production was limited to 1,000 units worldwide and it is believed fewer than 500 came to the United States.
Now, this 944 is clearly a project, with a disheveled interior, tired cosmetics, and no apparent mechanical history listed. Now, the seller does disclose that it will come with a new carpet kit and it sounds like the front seats have been recovered, but there’s still a long way to go to bring the cockpit back to presentable condition. The photo gallery includes an odometer shot showing over 100,000 miles and the 944 has a fairly important timing belt service that must be done before too many miles are racked up; I doubt it has been performed in this case, as it’s a major selling point if so. Then again, the seller may not be mentioning it given the muted attempt to publicize this as a genuine Turbo S car.
The listing notes that the car currently needs “….driveshaft bearings and a fuel pump” but that it does run. Again, I wouldn’t want to run it too much before having a timing belt service performed, as this is an interference engine in which catastrophic engine damage can occur if the car is driven with a belt of unknown health. The 944’s body doesn’t appear to have much in the way of rust, but we also can’t see underneath the car. Regardless, if bidding stays below $10,000, this is a car worth taking a chance on, but only if you plan to ship it and not run it until the belt has been replaced.
Not too hot on what should be a good car but isn’t. Pretty casual about things like the driveshaft bearings which require removing the transaxle and drive shaft tube, replacing the bearings, which should include replacing the clutch while you are there, lubricating the CV joints and putting the whole mess back together. Also, why would you try to sell a car with the interior piled full of junk or whatever it is. Yes, it has an upgraded suspension and is a good handling car but has any maintenance on the bearings, bushings, shocks etc. been done? Too many “who knows” on this one but that could equate to lots of money to spend. That present bid is were I’d stop.
Sold for $12,700, a really good buy for an S in this condition. Best wishes to the buyer who got this rare car for ‘picnic money’
Every 944 Turbo made after 1988 was an “S” specification model. This is not a rare car. The limited production version were all “Silver Rose” color with a special cloth interior, which this does not have. So while this may well be a later S specification car, it is very obviously NOT one of the limited edition silver rose versions unless it has been completely repainted and had the entire interior replaced with a different color (including the door panels, which do not match the silver rose cars).
Whoever wrote this article has zero knowledge of the 944.
Totally incorrect. Respectfully A.M., please delve a bit deeper on these quite rare cars, as the series 1 – ’88 m.y. were somewhat plentiful.
Yes, there WERE the Silberossa or Silver Rose cars produced in the last half of the run of the ’88 model year cars. Up till then you had the normally produced turbo, available in all colors, for the first part of the build out; these produced 217 horsepower. All options were available EXCEPT the higher horsepower engine
The latter part of the ’88 model year, out came the second series car or ‘S’, making these cars known as the 944 turbo S. After these unique S cars in Silver Rose were built (in very limited supply) ALL colors were available till model year ended. What makes these last few 951s unique was the Silver Rose car came with plaid interior and numerous STANDARD features the first series did not come with, BUT could be ordered out optionally.
So to add to the mix and what creates confusion we have several iterations of the ’88,’89,’90 turbos:
–1988 – 944 (or model 951) turbo; 217 hp. All colors and options, same as the preceding ’87 model year, making these cars a bit more common. A Series 1- 951 or 944 turbo.
–1988 – 944 turbo S making 247 hp as the ’88-second series 951 in Silberossa or Silver Rose. Very limited production with plaid interiors, most coming with LSD, M036 Suspension, forged alloy wheels in the 928 ‘sewer lid’ style OR the FUCHS ClubSports. The color was close to another Porsche color called ‘Flamingo’ also VERY seldom seen as well, but silver rose colored cars are very desirable, and Rare.
–1989 – turbo which is identical to the last produced ‘colored’ ’88 cars, in every optional color EXCEPT Silberossa. These did NOT carry the ‘S’ badge moniker as the second series ’88 cars had (in speech identity only) but were identical in every other way. M030 chassis built, forged ‘ClubSport’ FUCHS wheels, LSD, and a high end 10 speaker Blaupunkt sound system (on some cars ordered that way. Around 1454 of the ’89 and ’90 cars were made for the world, around half that number to America.
Am not throwing stones here as this is an oft erroneously reported on subject. Many on the current forums are producing false info. I was there when my ’89 was produced and I still own it, as 3 of my friends do as well. One had an ’88 Silver Rose, One also had an ’89 which was destroyed in a street accident with serial number just before mine. (there are also running nuances in the last of the ’89/’90 cars such as use of cast vs. forged alloy engine componentry)
Many of you here may or may not know me by my forum name on many Porsche sites: mrgreenjeans.
Thanks for the opportunity and your time
Putting the S cylinder head on any 944 does wonders for torque and power.
The content of your comment is either 1) agreeing with mine, or 2) wildly incorrect with respect to production numbers.
Let’s start with where you’re agreeing with me.
We agree that all turbos after 1988 (that is, 1989 and later) were mechanically S-spec cars (albeit without “S” badging).
We agree that only the 1988 Silver Rose cars were officially factory limited production (that is, were subject to a cap on production rather than just building however many were ordered).
We agree that the eBay car is not a Silver Rose car.
We agree that the ’86-early ’88 cars were more numerous (specifically the ’86 cars were much more numerous than any other year) and that the later 247 hp cars were overall fewer in number than the “early” 217 hp cars.
Where we differ:
I know that it’s not even remotely close to accurate to say that “fewer than 500” of the non-Silver Rose 247 hp cars came to the U.S. A non-Silver Rose car is simply not a rare collector’s item, even if it’s a later 247 hp car. Yes, there are fewer 247 hp cars than the earlier 217 hp cars, but they were not subject to a production cap and whoever wrote this article claiming that “fewer than 500” came to the U.S. was wildly mistaken.
Even your own numbers are wildly inaccurate. The U.S. got 1,385 247 hp 944 Turbos in 1989, with another 144 model year 1990 944 Turbos trickling in. And you don’t need to take my word for that – you can actually check the production information from a very well respected source of Porsche information: https://www.pelicanparts.com/944/tech_specs/production_runs.htm
Sorry to burst your bubble, but, respectfully, you appear to have been more interested in holding court than in actually reading and understanding my earlier comment.
For what it’s worth, I’ve been active in the 944/951 world for over 2 decades now, and, judging by our respective join dates on Pelican Parts, this is over a decade longer than you’ve been active. I’ll also note my 2,878 posts on Pelican to your 7. I don’t necessarily think there’s any great meaning to those numbers, but since you brought it up…
A.M. first off I rarely visit Pelican and comment. I do read commentary there, but it is not the only 944/951 site I visit.
If you knew me, you would not assume I ‘hold court’ in anything, rather addressing some of the more vivid statements often made regarding these cars. Yes, we do agree on some things here; the largest issue here in disagreement is that this car being repped by the seller was ‘inaccurate’ in his description as to the number. Yes, the early 217 hp 951s were the largest #s made in ’88 for that year. But midyear on intro came the series 2 – 951s, made first as the Silver Rose cars, THEN the last produced ’88 cars in colors. Thought by many to number around 500. This number may be the disputed subject of our convo.
’89 cars were all M030 – 951 in the same specification power wise as the previous year, series 2 Silver Rose, then final ‘colored’ cars of that year.
(merely as a matter of clarification, I joined Pelican much earlier under a different name before losing my connection with CableCom when they dropped all email accounts. I had been on other forums previously as well. My first Porsche bought new was in ’84 which I still own. This n/a-944 I tracked, Concoured a 914, later adding other 944s, 911s, and my ’89 – 951. I merely am going by numbers which I have recorded as ‘authentic’ by forums I frequent, by numbers I have tucked in my glovebox while meeting with other Porsche people at Parade, Treffen, or Tech-tactics. Another 944, (actually 2) we are trying to ascertain actual numbers for: my ’88 – Jubilee – 944 in Satin Black, and my ’86-944 with seldom seen ‘Sport Touring Option Group’ with a host of very interesting bundled MO numbers not even Porsche has retained knowledge about. Curiously upon inquiry to them, both of these cars piqued an interest to them to purchase, but I am still owning and possibly negotiating their sale. Reluctantly.)
I think we both would find it enlightening if we met. I do not challenge your ranking on the boards, just giving a bit of my own interest as an enthusiast since the ’70s on Porsche. having then finally an ability to become an owner in ’84. Thanks for your thoughts …
Thanks for all this info about the 944 88’89’90’s I my self own a 84 844 not the turbo and the odometer reads 50k I’m in restoration mode now and bringing it back to life I really enjoy working on it while learning from my 944 👍🏾🙏🏾
Post your VIN..:
My ‘89, Schwartz/Schwartz, M030, LSD
WPOAA 2952KN xxx242
Production date 08/88
’89 – Black metallic/Black
M030 (Sport Suspension) – M220 (LSD), FUCHS ClubSports, 10 speaker HI-FI Blaupunkt stereo, leather interior, Porsche 300hp. chip option
Produced in July -’88
last 3 digits: 157
Sold these cars new at a Porsche dealer in Baton Rouge … had funky plaid interiors … Porsche drove one on the test track at an average 140mph for 24 hrs and only lost ½ quart of oil – and the dip stick was loose … a great “bang for the buck” and “reasonable” for now but can see prices going up when they are more appreciated …
Ooo, I fancy the Kadett…
Yeah, I’d take that yellow Opel before this Porsche.
Bo=O
More likely a “Buick Opel by Isuzu” or later Isuzu I-Mark depending on the model year. Those were rebadged Isuzu Geminis, which were a licensed clone of the Opel Kadett C, albeit not as well made or equipped as the German originals.
Totally incorrect. Respectfully A.M., please delve a bit deeper on these quite rare cars, as the series 1 – ’88 m.y. ONLY were somewhat plentiful.
Yes, there WERE the Silberossa or Silver Rose cars produced in the last half of the run of the ’88 model year cars. Up till then you had the normally produced turbo, available in all colors, for the first part of the build out; these produced 217 horsepower. All options were available EXCEPT the higher horsepower engine
The latter part of the ’88 model year, out came the second series car or ‘S’, making these cars known as the 944 turbo S. After these unique S cars in Silver Rose were built (in very limited supply) ALL colors were available till model year ended. What makes these last few 951s unique was the Silver Rose car came with plaid interior and numerous STANDARD features the first series did not come with, BUT could be ordered out optionally.
So to add to the mix and what creates confusion we have several iterations of the ’88,’89,’90 turbos:
–1988 – 944 (or model 951) turbo; 217 hp. All colors and options, same as the preceding ’87 model year, making these cars a bit more common. A Series 1- 951 or 944 turbo.
–1988 – 944 turbo S making 247 hp as the ’88-second series 951 in Silberossa or Silver Rose. Very limited production with plaid interiors, most coming with LSD, M036 Suspension, forged alloy wheels in the 928 ‘sewer lid’ style OR the FUCHS ClubSports. The color was close to another Porsche color called ‘Flamingo’ also VERY seldom seen as well, but silver rose colored cars are very desirable, and Rare.
–1989 – turbo which is identical to the last produced ‘colored’ ’88 cars, in every optional color EXCEPT Silberossa. These did NOT carry the ‘S’ badge moniker as the second series ’88 cars had (in speech identity only) but were identical in every other way. M030 chassis built, forged ‘ClubSport’ FUCHS wheels, LSD, and a high end 10 speaker Blaupunkt sound system (on some cars ordered that way. Around 1454 of the ’89 and ’90 cars were made for the world, around half that number to America.
Am not throwing stones here as this is an oft erroneously reported on subject. Many on the current forums are producing false info. I was there when my ’89 was produced and I still own it, as 3 of my friends do as well. One had an ’88 Silver Rose, One also had an ’89 which was destroyed in a street accident with serial number just before mine. (there are also running nuances in the last of the ’89/’90 cars such as use of cast vs. forged alloy engine componentry)
Many of you here may or may not know me by my forum name on many Porsche sites: mrgreenjeans.
Thanks for the opportunity and your time
Gotta love those interference mills. Yessir…
I say welcome, welcome to the boomtown…
I’ve had 2 944 S’s not Turbos they are good looking cars yes when properly maintained are fun. But once they go sideways are a nightmare to keep together. Good Luck with this one needs to be a Porsche Fan