S4 Project Car: 1987 Porsche 928

When a model undergoes a significant refresh, there’s typically major press coverage at the time and a marketing blitz by the manufacturer. Years later, however, those updates can get washed over and forgotten about. The Porsche 928 was the grand tourer in the lineup, and Porsche gave it a big-time makeover when it introduced the S4 generation. Decades after its introduction, however, it doesn’t seem all that special despite being the opening act for the car’s second phase of life here in the U.S., all the way through its retirement. Find this 1987 Porsche 928 S4 listed here on eBay for $2,800 or best offer.

The seller either started a project and decided not to finish it, or nabbed the forlorn 928 from a mechanic/enthusiast who got it in over their heads, is my guess. 928s are complex machines, and sadly, many of them have fallen into the hands of individuals who either underappreciated the annual upkeep required or simply got tired of finding parts obsolete (sometimes, the mechanic, too, is sick of wasting shop space and labor searching for parts.) The 928 S4 was a serious transformation when introduced, however, with significant revisions made to the bodywork, chassis, and engine compartment.

The aerodynamic tweaks were the most obvious, with updated bodywork front and rear that added to the 928’s already slippery “egg” shape. The changes carried through to the final iteration of the 928 in GTS form, with the signature feature being the modern-looking rear taillights. Porsche also widened the stance out back with fatter rear tires which helped stabilize handling. The interior departed from the silly (but fun) Pasha interior for more subdued leather trim, and the engine also got an important update with the revised two-stage intake manifold that enhanced airflow and led to the 928 generating a healthy 316 horsepower and near-identical 317 lb.-ft. of torque.

Those were fantastic numbers in 1987 and marked a healthy increase over the outgoing 928. Road test reports at the time showed that both the automatic and 5-speed manual were well-suited to the car, with the Mercedes-built automatic providing two-gear downshifts when you really stomped on it and the 5-speed capable of delivering impressive 0-60 times, usually in the range of 5.3 seconds (the automatic did it in 6.6). The 928 S4 is a model that deserves more credit for the work Porsche did to improve its iconic grand touring car, but I do wonder if it will be enough to bring this example back from the brink.