The Porsche 928 remains one of the more attainable classic models from the storied sports car maker. But even with its enormous credibility as a fantastic GT car, the 928 carries with it some risk as a model that isn’t keeping up with other models in terms of enthusiast enthusiasm. What this means is you want to buy a car that’s either the best of the best or one that’s been loved, as anything else will likely be a painful experience of investing in a project with no chance of meaningful return. This 1979 928 has a lot going for it, including a healthy recent maintenance list. Check in out here on craigslist for $18,500.

In the world of 928s, an early car is somewhat of a bigger risk than the later ones. For starters, the early 90s models are typically the most desirable, especially as you get into GTS and S4 trim. They made a lot of 928s, so you always want to opt for one that’s more limited in production. Secondly, a 5-speed is a must. There’s a boatload of automatic-equipped 928s littering craigslist, Marketplace, and the PCA classifieds at any given moment, and almost every enthusiast will prefer three pedals in one of these V8-equipped cruisers. Right out of the box, this car has a huge advantage thanks to the transmission.

There’s also the “slicktop” designation, which is a reference to the fact that it has no sunroof. European cars throughout the 80s and 90s almost always came equipped with a sliding sunroof, and while there’s nothing inherently wrong with this, it does add weight and complexity, especially when the motor inevitably fails. A sunroof-delete car instantly seems more desirable, and it saves on weight and the headache of it breaking at a later date (likely 2 days after you take ownership.) The interior of this 928 also looks fairly tidy, with no cracks in the dah and seats in very good condition for an older model like this.

Most importantly, the list of recent maintenance is quite long. Read the ad for the full list, but major jobs like a new clutch, rebuilt steering rack, engine wire harness, a new starter, a replacement front splitter, and so on shows that this owner took a blank check approach to maintenance. In addition, he has the supporting documentation from the shop that did the work, so it’s a win-win for the next owner. The 1979 928 features a 4.5L V8 good for 219 horsepower and 254 lb-ft of torque, and when paired with the manual transmission, it will feel plenty sporting. This looks like one to buy for sure if you’ve been hunting for a 928. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the tip.