1978 | Porsche 924 Turbo

Walk-around video

- VIN code 0005
- Pur sang rally car as it has been built and used to race
- Comes as a 2-in-1 package as there is an extra 924 Turbo that serves as a donor car; all parts are there to complete the project
- Comes with the entire history about this very car, nearly every mile it has ever raced could be traced
- Stripped and disassembled entirely to restore it; so far the body has been restored and inside, a roll cage has been installed

The Porsche 924 was produced from 1976 to 1988 and served as the successor to the 914 model. The idea for the 914’s successor was first proposed in 1972, though it took four more years for the actual development to take shape, coinciding with the escalation of the oil crisis. The 924 was the first Porsche that had a front-mounted engine, which was somewhat contradictory to Porsche’s trademark. However, this did not hinder the 924’s period of successful sales and production. Consequently, the 924 has now evolved into a highly coveted classic car.

Initially, Porsche intended to produce the 911 only temporarily. However, the sales of the 911 exploded, leading to further production. This presented Porsche with a ‘luxury problem’ as they feared an abrupt drop in sales if they relied solely on only one car. Therefore, an entry-level model was deemed necessary, and it was previously sold as the '912', then as the '914', and in 1976 the 924 came to market. The design team at Porsche was asked to create an entry-level Porsche that could accommodate four people comfortably while still embodying the sporty Porsche charisma. In 1976, they succeeded with the introduction of the 924. It was a sporty Porsche coupe that fulfilled its promise of seating four individuals, but it was atypical for Porsche because it housed a four-cylinder engine from the Audi 100 in the front. This led to some initial criticism of people stating that it was not a ‘real Porsche’. Nevertheless, times have changed, and the 924 models have garnered true admiration over the years. This is shown in the appreciating value of these models, which, like the iconic 911, make for a sound investment.

Another unique feature of the Porsche 924 was its pop-up headlights, which significantly improved the car's aerodynamics, and its nearly balanced weight distribution, achieved through the combination of a front-mounted engine with a rear-mounted transmission. Both these aspects contributed to its popularity, and by 1988, approximately 120,000 924’s had been sold, following several different variants and minor facelifts.

Porsche 924 Turbo

The 924 met just nearly all criteria of buyers in the seventies, but some among them felt that its atmospheric engine lacked the distinctive Porsche character. Fortunately, Porsche engineers are as quick as the cars they design, so they responded pragmatically by optionally equipping the 924 with a turbocharger from 1978.

To equip the 924 with a turbocharger, some adjustments were to be made to the 924’s straight-four engine. Certain components had to be replaced with modified performance ones, and visually, even the hood underwent a change: NACA ducts were mounted at the front of the hood. These served not only to visually differentiate a 924 Turbo from a ‘regular’ 924, but also allowed warm air to escape when stationary.

The 924 Turbo turned out to be a success. Its performance was praised from the moment it was released, with performance approaching supercar-performance level. In 1981, a second, more powerful and revised version of the 924 Turbo was introduced.

About 13,000 of the Porsche 924 Turbo were manufactured. It was unanimously praised at its release, and that praise has even strengthened over the decades.

Technical information:

Body work

- Length (cm): 421 (166 inch)
- Width (cm): 166 (65 inch)
- Height (cm): 126 (50 inch)
- Wheelbase (cm): 240 (94 inch)
- Weight (kg): 1180 (2601 lbs)

Mechanics

- Engine: turbocharged 1984 cc straight-four front-engine
- Valve gear: 8
- Fuel system: Bosch K-Jet fuel injection
- Gear box: 5-speed manual
- Transmission: RWD
- Left-steered
- power: 168 hp (125 kW) at 5500 t/m
- torque: 245 Nm at 3500 t/m
- Top speed: 225 km/h (140 mph)


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