It seems that everywhere you look, people are talking about the four-cylinder, front-engine Porsche transaxle cars. The 924 and 944 quite literally kept Porsche in business during a rough patch in the 1970s and ’80s. They were affordable Porsches, and they made great first Porsches for many people to introduce them to the sports car brand.
Like any Porsche aimed at the lower end of the market, they depreciated badly, to the point where you could buy for one as little as $3,500. And like other budget Porsches, such as the once-ridiculed and now wildly popular mid-engine 914, they have started to appreciate and are finally considered collectible Porsches, with prices rising accordingly.
Of the transaxle Porsches, there is one model that remains off the radar for most people, the 924S, which Porsche produced as their budget model after prices for the new 944s went up. It combined the old 924 body mated to the engine and gearbox of the 944, making for a package that is not only well-balanced but actually was faster in this its year than the 944.
The Pick of the Day is a 1988 Porsche 924Sadvertised by a dealer in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This car is finished in Grand Prix White with a black cloth and vinyl interior, and it has completed 84,318 miles. This is a final-year 924S, powered by the improved 160-horsepower version of the 944 engine.
The 924S includes its original books, window sticker, tools and such, and it is ready to be driven by its new owner immediately, the ad says. In the photos with the ad on ClassicCars.com, it looks to be a stunning example of the breed.
The car is all-original and was well-maintained by its single owner, who bought it new in 1988, the dealer says. A prospective buyer would need to inquire as to whether the periodic timing-belt service is current, and if so, just buy it and enjoy driving it.
I am enjoying my own Porsche transaxle experience this week, driving my newly purchased 1984 944 from the East Coast to Monterey, California, a trip of around 3,200 miles. The 944 is perfect for this kind of highway duty, with the added benefit of my having a vintage Porsche to drive around to the various auctions, tours, car shows and concours during Monterey Car Week.
The 924S is a relatively rare Porsche, being the lowest production transaxle car with just 9,137 built during the three years that they were imported to the US.
The asking price of this 924S is quite reasonable at $11,450, and looks like a good deal in today’s frothy Porsche market.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day
