Yesterday

Yes, this really is a Porsche 944 Shooting Brake

CarPoint founder once drove a 924 wagon; now he's offering the GT-K44 as an incredible conversion

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While the Shooting Brake name has been sullied of late with the badge on four-door estates - looking at you, Mercedes - a true SB remains a thing of wonder. A two-door estate is such a bizarre idea, but a compelling one in reality: long and low like a coupe, with space for a dog. See the Lynx Eventer and Aston Martin DB5 for proof. 

Now there’s another, the CarPoint GT-K44. Which sounds like a finance agreement, but is actually a Porsche 944 Shooting Brake. Looks as cool as it sounds, too. It represents the realisation of a dream held by CarPoint founder Andreas Freund for 40 years, having driven a similarly specified 924 Turbo in the mid-80s converted by Günter Artz. Freund shared the memory and the idea with designer friend Michael Söhngen; he came up with a design study for Freund’s birthday, an Oak Green 944 Shooting Brake with Pasha upholstery. Totally beguiled by what his pal had created, Freund set about making the real thing - and now it will be offered to paying customers.

To create a 944 Shooting Brake ‘almost as though it could have been an unrealised factory derivative’ requires plenty of work. The B-pillars have to be modified to accommodate the much larger windows and much longer roof, the rear wings are rebuilt and the boot glass is obviously different. Indeed it’s unsurprisingly suggested that the rear treatment is ‘particularly complex’, making an estate tailgate work with the new metalwork  - and keeping it looking like a 944. But it certainly seems successful from here, even if a 944 estate (with a hatch opening a long way back in the roof) might take some getting used to. Those unmistakable lights and not too much glass make the CarPoint very convincing. It’s several hundred hours of work well spent. 

And while this is a bold new direction for the company, it’s well-versed in classic car conversion; alongside a catalogue of classic car parts made in-house, CarPoint previously built an air-conditioned, V8-powered Jaguar MkII, a Sebring-spec MG B and even an Austin Healey 3000 estate. The difference now is the ambition to build a few, rather than a one-off. 

For €100,000 plus taxes (and a donor car), CarPoint will build a 944 Shooting Brake just like this one. Or however you’d like it: “We can’t make it fly - but almost anything else is possible” added Freund. So if you want an automatic (and can find a donor), then that’s fine; ditto a Turbo, or presumably a 924 as well. While CarPoint says that the 944 coupe ‘should already correspond as closely as possible to the desired final specification in terms of engine, transmission, colour and equipment’, there’s a whole lot of personalisation possibilities on offer as well. The company can sort suspension upgrades, more performance, sat nav, better sound systems, all the way to an ‘extensive redesign of the interior’ - Pepita or tartan can be had, for example, though you know everyone will go for Pasha (with matching luggage)…

This is a German restomod, too, so it’s done very properly indeed. This two-door, two-plus-two 944 Shooting Brake (note the rear bench) has already been inspected by ‘an officially recognised expert’ to ensure the conversion is ‘in accordance with Section 21 of the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations.’ It’s legitimate alright, not a nice render with vague plans and a need for deposits. Of course the idea of a six-figure 944 estate is going to be extremely niche interest, but look at where the restomod scene has ended up: those willing to pay their money can have pretty much anything they want, from Diablo to Datsun. So there’ll surely be one or two takers for the CarPoint GT-K44. Donor cars are still from £10k, too…

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• Porsche 959 | PH Heroes
  
• Porsche 911 Turbo (993) | PH Heroes

[jmcc500]

I think it is a shame to lose one of the distinctive features of the 944 (the wrap around rear screen).

Proportions from rear three-quarters are also a bit too Scimitar for my taste but each to their own.

[nicholasm]

Looks quite different to the period “DP Cargo” conversions. The rear screen looks more raked in this one and I think it looks better for it.

[swisstoni]

Not my thing but a beautifully implemented bit of work.

[Jte3397]

I love this. I presume you could specify a different engine although, money no object, I'd probably have something forged and boosty made of the 944 turbo lump. Nothing crazy, 200 bhp per litre would do.

[Nobody13]

I think it looks great, I do recall a similar 944 version from DP Motorsport (or someone similar) in period, think it’s in a book I have in the garage.

[VR6 Eug]

Reminds me of a Scimitar GTE, cool factor 10.

[Silverbullet767]

VR6 Eug said:

Reminds me of a Scimitar GTE, cool factor 10.

Good shout, a bit that and a bit Z3M for me.

[MrMoonyMan]

[captain_cal]

Neat, but lacks the "blunt instrument" utilitarian feel of the original conversions which is part of the appeal for me. Having owned two 944s and marvelled at their practicality as standard, one with a bigger boot could well serve me as a one-car garage!

I've heard DP still have the bucks, if you have the bucks...

[5pen]

That looks like a really well executed conversion. Many of this type of effort have very awkward lines where the roofline starts to fall away on the original design, but this looks fine.

I like the concept of a 2+2 (or even just a 2) with a decent luggage hatch, but it seems a niche that is not (or ever was) profitable to fill. Was there ever a more recent attempt after the Scimitar and Volvo P1800ES? (I suppose the 480 was vaguely similar to the P1800 in concept)

The lad I saw last night trying to wrestle a bike into the back of a Porsche 924 might like one.

[nicholasm]

Jte3397 said:

I love this. I presume you could specify a different engine although, money no object, I'd probably have something forged and boosty made of the 944 turbo lump. Nothing crazy, 200 bhp per litre would do.

Just the 370 bhp/ton, then (assuming the conversion doesn’t add any significant weight)!
Yes, if I was lucky enough to spec one of these I would stick with a blueprinted 944 engine (or 968 - don’t know if there were many changes TBH).

[ArgonautX]

I like this. Nice execution, very practical and looks exotic.

I would ask for a Porsche 4.8 V8 + 6sp manual from the first gen Cayenne.

[Dusty964]

ArgonautX said:

I like this. Nice execution, very practical and looks exotic.

I would ask for a Porsche 4.8 V8 + 6sp manual from the first gen Cayenne.

The first gen was a 4.5, but agree, that would be fantastic.

[Jonathan-mhhx7]

Very nice, 8.5/10. I would definitely rather have a Turbo. And the rear glass line is not quite right - it doesn't gel with the door. Some trim along the top edge, flowing round the back edge, maybe. Or the door frame/b-pillar trim in gloss black. Or both, might be better. But it looks a bit jarring to me.

[Lotobear]

I think that looks great. The Elan was there first though:

https://www.adrianflux.co.uk/influx/cars/lotus-ela...

[Still Mulling]

It's a big fat shiny yes from me! (Although the interior is having a bit of a Magic Eye effect on me...)

[Clad-Hach]

Is there a bit of a BMW M Coupe in the mix..???

[Super Sonic]

Clad-Hach said:

Is there a bit of a BMW M Coupe in the mix..???

It immediately reminded me of one.

[nismo48]

Actually that's rather good, and the Fuchs wheels set it off quite nicely

[NGK210]

Holy fook, yes please.
Actually prefer this to the original coupé

And it’s significantly better value compared to the £300k BL deathtrap currently on PH.

I’ll have mine with a Cayenne’s V6 – yeah, I know, but it’s more reliable / less hassle compared to the V8 – with its 6-speed manual and, if it’ll fit, its 4WD gubbins, painted Marrone Metallizzato with a beige cabin, please.