Nothing beats an open-air breakfast after spending a night in your camper-converted Porsche. Uh, what? That’s right, perhaps born from pure proximity and liters of Hofbräu Dunkel, this (unknown year) Porsche 924 wears a folding rooftop tent. Its hatchback holds a cook stove and other utensils, rendering food and lodging with sporty Teutonic style. After investing $2500 on upholstery, fitting a “new engine,” and dropping at least $17.50 on plywood, the owner lists the currently non-running RV on Facebook Marketplace, where $5000 makes it yours. Thanks to Mitchell G. for spotting this one-of-a-kind camper located in San Diego, California.
Those seats do look inviting, and that custom bamboo? console nicely matches the tan interior. Ironically someone has painted over the original woodsy brown with this glaring white, possibly with a roller, and perhaps in anticipation of an arctic adventure. No engine picture made the listing, but most of these made about 140 HP. Don’t forget, that’s only about 40 shy of the small block V8s fitted to Class C motorhomes in the ’80s. Power-to-weight advantage: Pop-up Porsche!
What might look like subwoofers from a distance are actually the cook stove burners, and the convex hatchback expands practical storage while offering a panoramic view of your worldly possessions. The lived-in look may deter thieves as well.
Anyone who laments the conversion of this 924 into a camper should remember that many Porsche owners can’t even pronounce the word Porsche, which seems more insulting that this camper when perpetrated en mass. I traversed a number of logging and power line access roads in my 1973 Mercury Capri as a youth, and you can get pretty deep into the woods with a RWD German coupe. The oversized tires on this Porsche actually increase ground clearance, unlike the body lifts on many Jeeps and pickups. Careful driving might earn better than 25 MPG on the highway, meaning you can explore more places for the dollar. Stealth camping? Until you pop the camper tent, just tell those nosy nitpickers the black box on top holds your meteorological instruments. What destination would you visit first in this camper-converted Porsche?
Hang around long enough and you see it all. Had a 924 but concentrated on engine and suspensions. But what we did do while in Europe was build a similar machine out of a VW Notchback. Kitchen over engine in rear trunk with canopy over it, back seat out for large cooler and portapot with curtains, and front trunk storage of tent, clothes, and beer. Used it to go to F1 races and Le Mons. Say what you want about the 924 but there was a lot of similar “campers” over there.
Wellllllllll, 1st of all, plywood increases in price by the hour, and more like $25-$50 PER SHEET. My old man never thought he had $500 worth of plywood in the old station wagon. This, believe it or not, is the “New” thing in camping. While it does get you off the ground away from mountain lions and bears( that hopefully can’t climb ladders) I think it’s a novel idea, but climbing on the roof of your $50K+ SUV, might not be for everybody. See, the thing is, tell an American to go camping, they will give a slew of ways to do so, even if it is on top of a German sports car.
When you reach that point in life where you have too much money and too much time on your hands and decide that THIS is what your destined to do with it all! I am going out on a limb here but I am assuming the designers in Stuttgart never imagined this on the drawing boards!
They don’t say why this 924 doesn’t run. It could be it’s too embarrassed to be seen in public. If whoever buys this manages to bring it online again, they needn’t worry. If it conks out (and it will, it’s a 924) in the boonies they’ll have a place to spend the night.
Nice write-up and a unique vehicle accessory Todd. With a towbar or trailer you could use it as a towable camper while repairing the 924.
You also gave me an idea that could make me millions… A space saving cook stove that is also a subwoofer. Survivalist and hip-hoppers will be waiting in line to buy!
Genius! Thank you, Matt D.
Matt D did sum it up quite well !
Did anyone notice the plates expired in April of 2023
Looks like some project James May would do for the Grand Tour TV show.
This might be the dumbest car-thing I’ve ever seen.
Just get over it and buy a hitch and a used pre-pandemic micro camper, pop-up camper or maybe even a tent. Or even better a motor home with a trailer to pull the car. Kinda looks like something from the Red Green Show.
I’m sure duct tape is on it somewhere.
I’m still searching for the reel of the Camaro pulling up to the high school lot on “Stranger Things”with the caption “what people see when you pull up in your vintage classic”. Then it shows “Red Green” in a K Car and parts start falling off with the caption “what it really feels like driving a classic”.
Guess the owner must’ve read “Survival of the Fastest” where they drives a pretty clapped out 944 from London to Capetown.
Everytime I went tent camping in my younger days. Itvwas on the night of the biggest rain storm of the summer. Sorry, but I could never get used to water running through the tent. So I started with a Regis Trimline Cricket. Which is no longer even found on Google. It was 4’X6.5′ that unfolded to 12’X6.5′. It even had a full height screen door. It was the last model tent trailer that Regis produced as they sold the manufacturing business to Coleman for”their” camp trailer business. I pulled this Trimline Cricket with my Plymouth Cricket! (And later my VW Scirocco) Even slept in it in the lot next to the Queen Mary (north side) for the 1977 Long Beach Grand Prix. Having a,cheap or sporty car never stopped me from camping.
Oops, 1978 Grand Prix. Dinner on the “Queen” was fun. We had reservations for 6 months, so we were not turned away. When we came through the restaurant doors. Many of the drivers had pulled their tables together in a circle. When they saw us with our Goodyear jackets, they made the circle larger and invited us to join them. At the time I was a huge GP fan. So sitting there with Gilles Villeneuve, Niki Lauda, John Watson, Alan Jones, Ronnie Peterson, and Jody Schecter was a blast. Most spoke good English, so conversation was easy. I never had a better dinner in my life. And the food was bad either. Thank goodness that Andretti wasn’t there. He is just a jerk! Just the right jacket at the right time!
Ridiculous. How far to the right do you think that thing leans when someone climbs the ladder and puts all their weight on the outer edge of the tent “floor” sticking 3-4 feet out beyond the wheelbase.
It’s a matter of leverage, m’ boy!
My heavy duty tent doesn’t run either but it only cost 100 bucks not 5 grand !
Ridiculous.
Well…. the 924’s didn’t have much value as a Porsche (virtually VW) so taking on a project like this is all about creativity! I like the creativity without having destroyed a valuable car!! Interesting concept!!
It was the 914 that was “virtually VW” not the 924.