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Wiring Nightmare: 1978 Porsche 928

There are few things more upsetting than the thought of investing untold thousands of dollars in a vehicle and then having a catastrophe strike, like a cabin fire or act of God incident. This 1978 928 was lavished with an extensive engine rebuild, full-body respray and more before a wiring fire caused the previous owner to throw their hands up and move on. Find this 928 baking in the Arizona sun here on eBay with active bidding and the reserve unmet. 

The 928 has more than a few issues to work out, namely the GTS wing that needs to be removed and the stock suspension that actually looks like it has the car sitting even higher than normal. The repaint is said to be well done, but I’d prefer to the original paint, which the seller suspects was silver. Still, the paint had to be of decent quality, as the 928 has basked in the desert sun for 15 years and sun-fade appears to be minimal.

Oh mama. That’s the stuff of bad dreams, right there. The seller doesn’t know exactly what was happening when the glove box disappeared and all of the wiring was torn out, but does credit a fire somewhere in the cabin with being the final straw for the previous owner. I actually just acquired a parts truck for my new project and it had a similar tale of woe wherein the owner prior to who I bought it from threw in the towel after a rod went through the block. It’s a sad day when your love affair ends, but sometimes it’s for the best.

The seller included this picture, along with an invoice for over $5K, that demonstrates the extensive engine rebuild that occurred prior to the fire. The 928 is an automatic transmission car, and the seller says he has no reason to believe it won’t fire up and drive fine once the wiring mess is sorted out. Of course, that’s assuming anyone has the stomach to take on a project of this magnitude. For $5K or less, would you?

Comments

  1. Avatar ken TILLY Member

    If you want to see what an old style telephone exchange wiring looked like, look under the front floor mats! Hope the problem with this 928 doesn’t reach that far.

    Like 4
  2. Avatar Boatman Member

    I want the ’68 Squire behind it!

    Like 6
    • Avatar Miguel

      I just looked. It is not listed on his Ebay site for sale. Too bad.

      It looks like the seller has sold a few cars.

      Maybe it will come up for sale soon.

      Like 0
  3. Avatar Superdessucke

    Good wiring. There is no substitute.

    Like 4
  4. Avatar Suttree

    Another car that would have been fun while it was under warranty.

    Like 1
  5. Avatar Michael

    I bought two running manual 1979 euro 928 for $700 each before. Ehy would anyone pay 5 grand for a nightmare like this?

    Like 3
  6. Avatar Doug

    One might be best off selling the engine to recoup some of the purchase price, and installing a GM LS street rod engine kit, with a Ron Francis or Painless wiring street rod harness, thus avoiding any issues with the Porsche computers, etc. It would make a pretty decent sleeper, fun for embarrassing some muscle cars…..

    Like 5
    • Avatar Claus

      That is what I would do!

      Any inexpensive 928 in the Houston area? No engine no problemo.

      Like 0
  7. Avatar Stephen Puglisi

    I’d buy it in a heart beat.
    With or without a wiring schematic.
    Wiring is my thing.
    The best feeling in a rebuild is finding the one thing , whether it be a relay , pinched wire or sending unit frying an entire loom figured out.
    And to boot I would like to own a 928 someday before they shovel dirt on me no matter the model.
    Silver would have been my preference in color.

    Like 3
  8. Avatar Chuck F 55chevy

    My $1500 impulse purchase, a Euro model, always wanted one. Hi, I’m Chuck, I’m a car hoarder, it’s been 3 months since I bought a car.

    Like 8
    • Avatar Miguel

      Hello Chuck.

      Like 4
  9. Avatar BuickGuy

    My uncle had an 81 chocolate brown 928 with beige leather and phone dial rims. These cars are really under appreciated. I loved that car so much. I still have the spare key he gave me. It’s a huge black key with the Porsche logo on it. There is a button to press to activate the flashlight so you don’t scratch the door at night trying to unlock it.

    Like 1
  10. Avatar Chuck Foster 55chevy

    Hey Miguel, I am chevy5557 on trifive.com, 55chevy on Jalopy Journal/HAMB and other sites like 67-72 chevy trucks, maybe even Rennlist, that’s the place to talk Porsches. Barnfinds needs a forum eh?

    Like 0
    • Avatar Miguel

      The 928 has always been my dream Porsche for the headlights alone.

      The problem is that I am scared of the electrical problems.

      Where I am I can’t even find a mechanic to fix a common car correctly, let alone a specialty car like this one.

      There are a lot of cars I would like to have but the inherent problems with them keep me away. I am talking about Jaguars, Mercedes, BMWs and the like.

      Like 0
  11. Avatar Injuhneer

    I know this car. A few years back I nearly purchased it. I reviewed the engine rebuild (it was not assembled at the time). The prep on the motor was top notch.

    The interior was still fair back then but the wiring gremlins were enough to put me off the car.

    Like 1
  12. Avatar Fran

    I had 8 928’s over the years and never again, wiring is just the beginning!

    Like 1

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