Porsche 928S Coupe

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WE REGRET TO SAY THAT THIS CAR HAS NOW BEEN WITHDRAWN

Launched in 1978, the Porsche 928 was aimed squarely at the international jet set and still fuels your cataloguer’s fantasies of storming across Europe with a bootful of dodgy diamonds and a sultry French actress in the passenger seat.

Looking positively futuristic even today, the 928 was initially fitted with 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. In 1980 the car got better still with the launch of the 928S with a larger 4.7-litre engine now with 300bhp, front and rear spoilers and wider wheels.

First registered in April 1984, this particular 928S Automatic looks particularly cool in a period shade of Bronze with matching dark brown leather interior. In the current ownership for the last 14 years it has been well maintained in the past and has no fewer than 14 service stamps in the book up to 2001 at 121,102 miles (11 at the supplying dealer, Wilmslow Motor Co of Stockport, and the last at Autofarm of Oxford).

There is also a service bill from Porsche specialist Bob Watson at 125,311 miles when the timing belt was replaced and the vendor states that it has been serviced once more since then, although the bill for this has been lost (the current mileage is around 136,000).

As the vendor spends most of his time in the South of France, the car has barely been used in the last few years spending most of its time in storage, although it was taken for a brief run on his return to England this summer and reportedly drove well. However he does state that the headlamps could only be raised manually, the heater fan wasn't working, the driver's door was reluctant to lock and the paint was looking tired in places. MOTd until November 2015 and recently fitted with a new alternator, the car also comes with all its original handbooks, the aforementioned service record and various bills for other expenditure.

What the car needs more than anything is an enthusiastic new owner who can sort out the niggles that have crept in during storage and give it the regular exercise it deserves. With air-cooled 911 prices already heading for the stratosphere, the 928 is widely tipped as ‘the next big thing’ and this one could well prove a canny buy at the modest guide price suggested.