RE: Porsche 928 | Spotted

RE: Porsche 928 | Spotted

Tuesday 10th December 2019

Porsche 928 | Spotted

40 years old it may now be, but this 928 is looking better than ever



Given that now we are nearly 25 years on from the last Porsche 928 having been made, as well as more than 40 from when it scooped that famous European Car of the Year victory, it seems surprising that Porsche hasn't revisited the concept. There's surely a perfectly good base and powertrain selection in the Panamera platform, which could be adapted to suit the two-door GT brief. Given how well we know that car already performs, something sportier and a little lighter with the V8 could prove a great rival for cars like the BMW 8 Series, Bentley Continental GT and maybe even the Aston DB11.

For whatever reason, that hasn't happened. Perhaps because the Panamera is pretty dynamic despite its four-door billing, and the 992 is as much a grand tourer as it is a sports car, so there isn't a gap in the line-up for a front-engined, two-door GT. Seems a shame, because it could be incredible...


Anyway, the absence of a successor arguably makes the original 928 that much more desirable. The reputation, deserved or otherwise, or being the doomed 911 replacement - what a world we might have if that had happened - has been disregarded now as the car's talents as a stylish grand tourer have been recognised. It's a significant Porsche, too, the 928 being the company's first V8-powered car as well as its first entirely new design: the 356 had been derived from a Beetle, then the 911 from that, and the 924 from the abandoned VW/Audi project.

Just as relevantly as all that, though, is the fact that the 928 has always been so cool. Because it was never pitched as something as sporty as a 911, there were never any gaudy 928 special editions; arguably the purity of the styling was compromised as updates during the 80s and 90s added bits and bobs, but even a late GTS has a certain timeless swagger. The car has always managed to look purposeful without imposing, smart without showy and exciting to look at without being excessive. Especially so in 2019, given it'll be the size of a scale model grand tourer, though it's never going to be a dainty classic, either.

This particular colour combination ensured that no other 928 was going to be featured. Pasha upholstery was a legendary trim for the car, made to look all the jazzier here with the light tan leather as well. The green must be an exceptionally rare colour, too, which is a surprise given how good it looks on this particular one. More subdued specs are certainly available, but why not go full 70s' grand tourer if you can?


Furthermore, while the ad is pretty brief, there are a few encouraging details: an engine rebuild, a new interior and a service for the next owner. It would naive to assume that a car this old and this complex will be a breeze to run, though there are useful pointers with this 928 that it'll be as good as any other. That it's being sold through a Porsche specialist, too, should be a good sign, their knowledge of the brand and the cars hopefully useful for ongoing maintenance.

Finally, while £30k will seem a lot to those who see 928s at half the price, values have cooled off from the outrageous asking prices seen not that long ago. As one of the very early cars in an incredible colour combination, this one will surely be an easier sell in future than just another silver 5.0 GT. Or, failing that, you could just keep it until the V8s from the 1970s aren't allowed any more - what a way to see out that classic GT formula this could be...


SPECIFICATION - PORSCHE 928
Engine:
4,474cc, V8
Transmission: 3-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 240@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 258@3,600rpm
MPG: 13 or so
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1979
Recorded mileage: 118,000
Price new: £19,499
Yours for: £29,995

See the original advert here

 

Author
Discussion

dendyb

Original Poster:

20 posts

180 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
A late GTS of one of these is in my dream 5-car lottery win garage. Such cool cars. And those pop-up lights kick ass man.

rodericb

6,656 posts

125 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Cor that's ace!

British Beef

2,191 posts

164 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all

A huge NO THANKS.

For that price, with that interior, with that 3 speed autobox....... I cannot think of a car less desirable for £30k.

Expensive shed of the week!

chelme

1,353 posts

169 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
British Beef said:
A huge NO THANKS.

For that price, with that interior, with that 3 speed autobox....... I cannot think of a car less desirable for £30k.

Expensive shed of the week!
I'm inclined to agree. Nice colour combo aside (forest green, tan interior, orange indicator lights all evoke nostalgia) the car itself is nothing special either to look at or to drive. One of the overhyped ones.

A1VDY

3,575 posts

126 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Lovely looking thing and a great colour combination.
When you look at the stupid prices being asked for some escorts this is a bargain..

oilit

2,618 posts

177 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
very retro small wheels in big arches - just goes to show how the marketing departments have us conditioned for full wheel arches these days.

I always hankered after these as a broke teenager - but I am afraid it doesn't do anything for me now.

s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Wonder what necessitated an engine rebuild on a 4.5 litre V8 at just 100,000 miles? Not in a particularly high state of tune at 50bhp per litre, also running through a slushbox.
Still, should be good to go for a fair few miles yet but I’d want a manual personally. Not enough go for the mpg with that box

rossub

4,400 posts

189 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
I’m clearly on a different planet to everyone else. That colour is awful and the interior... I have no words.

Red or black with black leather would do it for me.

Venisonpie

3,231 posts

81 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
At 10k it would make a funky classic addition to a driveway but at 30k it simply makes no sense. The later ones are more like it.

coppice

8,561 posts

143 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
In period the wheels seemed huge - and I still love the pop art interior . You can only properly judge a car from the past by the standards of the time -otherwise we end up saying 'Those Bugatti Type 35s ? No turbo, no ABS , crap aircon and needs servicing every week . Crap mate- my Type R is much better innit '

And that would really never do

Niffty951

2,333 posts

227 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
You neglect to mention the sound, or how potent those old v8s were.

It's as surprising as a DBS V8 in the way it accelerates and makes a tune that in my opinion Porsche failed to better until the Carerra GT (the v10 thing not the 924).

J4CKO

41,273 posts

199 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Normally I love stuff like that but just not grabbing me in that combo, a white S4 though (on the correct wheels) is more like it or some of the other early colours, and maybe without the Rodney Dangerfields trousers seats.

Niffty951

2,333 posts

227 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
s m said:
Wonder what necessitated an engine rebuild on a 4.5 litre V8 at just 100,000 miles? Not in a particularly high state of tune at 50bhp per litre, also running through a slushbox.
Still, should be good to go for a fair few miles yet but I’d want a manual personally. Not enough go for the mpg with that box
Alusil - All aluminium engine block including the cylinder linings. Its actually very resistant to wear under the right conditions but very prone to oil contamination. It needs to be treated right and used regularly.

You also have to be very careful who rebuilds it for you.

s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Niffty951 said:
You also have to be very careful who rebuilds it for you.
Yes, that would be a concern as well

swampy442

1,472 posts

210 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Not really a fan of the initial 928 design, but the S2 and S4s, yes please.

Maldini35

2,913 posts

187 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Well I love it.
It’s no sports car with that slush box but what a way to cruise around.

sjabrown

1,909 posts

159 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Somehow that combination of green exterior, tan leather and those seats just looks superb! Doesn't seem too extortionate a price compared to many a ford escort...

CharlesA

70 posts

73 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Love the seats, but not sure I could actually live with them. I think the technical term is an eyef**k

s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Niffty951 said:
You neglect to mention how potent those old v8s were.
In their day ....but nowadays people will compare it to SOTW Corsa acceleration or GT86-matching go

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Henry Cecil the late great horse racing trainer had a 928 when they first come out and remember seeing him going up the Moulton hill in Newmarket and me thinking how big and wide it was, saw one parked next to a Range Rover recently and it looked tiny.