Porsche 924 Turbo S2

Click Here for Full Screen Image - Click Here to Download Image

Launched in 1978, the Porsche 924 Turbo was Porsche’s second foray into turbocharged road cars following the success of the legendary and intimidating 930 Turbo of 1975.

Capable of sprinting 60mph in 6.9 seconds to 100mph in 19.7 seconds with a top speed of over 140mph, Motor magazine were moved to state that “staggering performance allied to excellent fuel consumption, prove that Porsche know what a supercar of the future should be like.” Priced at £4,000 more than the base model (you could buy a new Ford Capri 2.0S for the difference!), the Turbo was a thoroughly re-engineered 924 designed to handle the 170bhp KKK turbo performance the car delivered.

Aerodynamics were addressed and a rear spoiler fitted, giving a CD of 0.35, cooling was revised with a vented bonnet-line and NACA duct. The dogleg gearbox used 911SC internals and 911 disc brakes were used on the front with 928 discs at the rear. Five-bolt alloy wheels were standard and all UK cars were equipped to 924 Lux levels (electric windows and mirrors, radio, headlamp washers, rear window wiper etc).

Following initial RHD imports in 1979, the car was further developed by Porsche in 1981 to give 177bhp and 184lb/ft via a new ignition system and increased compression ratio in the S2 version (as here). After a run of 11,500 Turbos (of which less than 10% went to the UK), production ended in September 1982, making this example one of the last made.

The first of just four owners bought this Porsche from AFN Porsche, Middlesex, in May 1982 and ordered it in Alpine White over Gaboon Grey, with brown/grey Berber trim and the optional extra of a removable sunroof. The last registered owner purchased the car from a Porsche specialist in 1989 for £9,000 with 66,000 miles on the clock and FSH (advert on file).

He enjoyed the car over the following years, having it correctly serviced, adding a period radio/cassette player, and driving it in all weathers. In 1992 this resulted in a minor accident whereby the offside rear wing was dinged. A most fastidious owner, he insisted that car was repaired by Porsche agents Evans Halshaw to ensure that the fully galvanised body was correctly repaired and a certificate by Porsche issued (again, all on file).

In 2000 MAB 251X was taken off the road and garaged due to a slight misfire. With other pressing commitments, the owner never got round to the task and it remained in storage for 13 years until being acquired by the current custodian (and serial front-engined Porsche collector) in 2013. While the body and interior remained in fine fettle, the car required full re-commissioning and was sent to a water-cooled Porsche specialist. Works included: flushing of the fuel system and engine and new fluids; new fuel pump, cambelt, plugs, leads, rotor arm and cap, fuel filter and water pump; new front and rear discs and pads; new Continental tyres all round etc.

Despite this, the car still didn’t run as well as it should, so the owner set about diagnosing the issue, resulting in the fuel injection system being properly rebuilt (including metering head and warm up regulator), new vacuum hoses and gaskets throughout, and several new relays. To cap it all off, a working clock for the centre console was sourced and a stainless steel exhaust fitted. All the bills (many from Porsche) for the re-commissioning are on file and amount to nearly £4,000. The car was submitted for an MOT in January 2016 where it passed with no advisories and it now drives as it should.

Exuding originality, this 924 Turbo has a substantial service history folder and the 24 service stamps (plus 13 old MOT certificates and 18 tax discs) endorse the still-low mileage of 92,000 miles. The car comes complete with its Porsche Driver’s Manual and Maintenance Record, a workshop manual, untouched jack and space-saver tyre, all the aforementioned bills and documentation and is a matching numbers example of what is a very rare car (just 61 still on the road in the UK with a further 171 on SORN according to DVLA figures).

With two leading classic car magazines tipping the 924 Turbo as a shrewd buy in the last four months, it is now being recognised as an extremely collectible Porsche. As we all know, there is nothing as expensive as a cheap Porsche – happily the current owner has absorbed the big bills and the example on offer today is one of the best available. It has low ownership and mileage, excellent service history, and looks and drives as a fine, original, example should.

In a couple of years time the guide price suggested here will no doubt look absurdly modest so if you have ever hankered after one of these quick and nimble coupes, now is probably the time to buy…