When it comes to special editions that are notable solely for their cosmetic enhancements, companies like Porsche often avoid such marketing gimmicks. But in 1977, the company wanted to celebrate its racing successes and used the still-fresh 924 as a means of promoting its on-track prowess. The Martini Edition 924 features a variety of stripes, colors, and plaques, along with special carpets and seats to denote its limited production status. Today, they are not necessarily cherished by collectors unlike other limited production Porsches, no doubt hurt by its decidedly un-911-like performance. Find this rare Martini edition here on Facebook Marketplace with an asking price of $5,000.
Believe it or not, I’ve found not one but two of these rare birds in salvage yards just in my neck of the woods – one in Massachusetts, the other in Maryland. The first one I spotted years ago with my brother in a yard near Baltimore, with the original Martini graphics crudely painted over and still visible beneath badly flaking paint. The second one I found closer to home in Massachusetts, with its stripes still visible but the white paint converted to orange! The red carpets were a dead giveaway that it was originally a Martini car, and I always kicked myself for not at least grabbing the seats. But then again, who would I have sold them to – one of a handful of passionate 924 owners that were painstakingly restoring such a car?
This one at least still has the badge below the shifter to confirm it as the real-deal; the two cars I spotted were missing this critical element, but the blazing red carpet in both cars seemed like a bridge too far for someone creating a cloned version of this rare-but-not-valuable specimen. The interior photos of this car show that the carpets are decent, but a little grimy in the footwells of the passenger side. The seats are beginning to grow a bit threadbare, and the dash is heavily cracked. None of that is really all that unusual for a car of this vintage that hasn’t been kept up as a garage queen specimen, but it also shows that correcting the various ills will easily race past the purchase price.
The seller notes that it does not run, but that the engine, transmission, and paint are all believed to be original. The 924 has plenty of blemishes on the outside, stemming from random splotches of rust. While it may be original, it’s also pretty tired, even with the relatively intact interior. The rarity of this car will be the primary driver behind someone putting it back to factory specs, but it will be out of a labor of love that it looks as resplendent as it did when new. And that’s not a bad thing – after all, your reading the material of someone who almost exclusively buys projects as passion projects, and not something that can be easily flipped. It may not be as lucrative, but it’s still just as much fun. Would you restore this are Martini Edition 924?
It’s located in Grand Prairie,Texas.
With Porsches history of rust,I wouldn’t
touch this one.
Porsches started being among the most rust-resistant cars in 1976.
I didn’t think I would ever see one again. When I worked as a Service Manager at the VW, Audi dealer the Audi service rep. owned one. It was his pride and joy and in like new condition. Up until that time I never knew they had a special model. Special only in graphics and trim that is. Other than that it was Porsche’s entry vehicle that replaced the 914. Back then it was sold in Porsche+Audi dealers.
Nice find, Jeff. I remember a blinding red 924 in my rural Pennsylvania home town. One night my friend Brian tormented its driver until he surged forward. Turned out the Porsche was about an even match for Brian’s parents’ V6 four-door Citation with four fools aboard. Don’t try this at home! I like the Martini version. It would be sharp and I’ve never seen one in the wild. Nice write-up!
Gosh this is a shame…too much to pay for a rusted, dented, non running example. Drove some of these when worked for POA, and they were sweet rides if one could not afford the 911/930 models. Always sad to see a car this far gone. One day the 924s will be appreciated for what they were: affordable PORSCHES in the inflation crazy 1970s….then expect the price to rise.
Funny how these get no interest. My dad bought one new in ’78 (we still have it) and it was treated like a space ship had landed in the parking lot. EVERYBODY looked at it. In a sea of boring malaise era sedans and cheap tin can imports, this really stood out. Getting picked up at school in this was almost an event. I told dad to pick me up just before the buses arrive to get the maximum amount of stares from kids waiting on the sidewalk.
In my opinion the early 924 with the Audi engine, mechanical FI and VW Rabbit suspension were an absolute POS. When they came back out as 924S, they were basically a later 944 with a 924 body, those were nice cars. I owned both before several 944 turbos.
The direct ancestor to Jake Ryan’s red Porsche 944 in “Sixteen Candles”.
Back in my Porsche days anything not a 911 was not considered a Porsche. Although I did start out with a 928 S4 even that was looked down upon then I went the 911 route you pay a lot but it’s rather amazing how they hold their value.
I was invited to test drive a Ferrari 4C Lusso around the Sonoma Wine Country ( Good to have low friends in high places). I drove the nearly 700 hp beast around with a pro driver from the UK who had raced at Le Mans. What a day. When we parked the Lusso to chat he admired my Porsche 356 A Outlaw..and then got in his 924 Martini Edition. I was never a 924 fan because I really loved 914s but if it was good enough for him…….
Found one in a junkyard while searching for a fuse block for my 13 year old son’s first car purchase. It looked interesting. We did get the fuse block for his 924. We also got the headlight cleaning nozzles which weren’t on his car. His 924 never ran again after the drive home. Fuel by pump issue. Replaced with a 914 that I drove until he turned 16.
I have a chance to buy 2 924s that are for $1,500 and are in similar condition. One of which is a Martini. Could It be worth it?
“Worth it”, meaning what? Worth it how much precious $$ you can make off of it? Or worth it how can you save a rare car and have alot of fun tinkering with it? If you’re all about the dollars then leave it for an enthusiast to fix up. If you just love cars then it’s worth it to save one more Martini porsche from getting parted out.
I just bought a Martini 924 last week in upstate New York for $800, totally complete and original but in the same condition as this one (non-running). It’s funny how these martini 924’s differed. Some have black back seats, some have red back seats. Some have four seatbelts, some have two. Some have rubber steering wheels and shift boots, some have leather (leather was part of the martini package in their magazine ads). All have different radios.
I’m keeping mine to get running and use it as a local daily driver. I’m sickened by the drone cars that the masses drive now days, someone’s got to step in and stir the pot a little; before the kids of today think that the only color available on a car is gray.
I realize this is an old conversation but if there is still anyone out there to see this I have one of these Matini 924’s that I need to get to someone that will save it. I believe the body is solid but the engine will need work, high mileage, I enjoyed driving it. It is complete. I have a spare new wheel for it and I even have the vinyl cover for the sun roof.
Hi Van Hare, do you still have yours? I would be interested in the potentially.