Porsche 928 S4

AN HPI CHECK HAS REVEALED THAT THIS CAR WAS SUBJECT TO A CAT C DAMAGE INSURANCE CLAIM.

Launched in 1978, the Porsche 928 initially had a front-mounted 4.5-litre all-alloy V8 driving the rear wheels via a three-speed automatic transaxle for perfect 50:50 weight distribution. With 240bhp on tap, it could scorch to 60 in under 7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 143mph. The radically simple teardrop body shape was mainly galvanised steel but with weight-saving aluminium doors, front wings and bonnet and polyurethane bumpers. Other innovations included a Weissach axle that passively steered the rear wheels in throttle-off cornering for greater road-holding.

It was so well received that it won the 1978 European Car of the Year Award, the only sports car ever to have won this award which usually goes to more humdrum saloons. It is also the car design that McLaren F1 designer, Gordon Murray, once said that he admired above all others.

As time went on the 928 grew ever more powerful and the S4 version that came out in 1987 had a 5-litre V8 that produced 316bhp, cutting the 0-60 dash to 5.6 seconds and raising the top speed to 168mph. The styling was also subtly updated with smoother nose and tail treatments that gave the car an even cleaner, sleeker look.

First registered in January 1988, this 928 S4 has been in the current ownership since 2002 and has covered some 113,400 miles from new. Apart from some wear to the driver’s seat side bolster it is said to be in good condition throughout and to drive well with an MOT until October. It comes with a small amount of service history including bills for a new steering rack and rear brake discs in 2007 plus new brake hoses, tyres and battery in June 2008.

These 928s really are quite amazing machines and look like no other car before or since – the styling is so inspired and original that it never seems to go out of date. Considering that it was Porsche’s flagship model for almost two decades, with all the engineering integrity and supercar performance that this implies, it is quite astonishing that you can still pick them up for such derisory sums. Buy now before everyone else cottons on to just what it is they are missing!