1980 Porsche 924 Turbo

Porsche was commissioned by Volkswagen to develop the 924 project, originally conceived as a replacement for the VW-Porsche 914, but bought the rights to the car back when VW changed tack. Build quality was up to the usual superb Porsche standards and, from 1976, the 924 was an instant sales success. In production terms, the 924 was the first Porsche model powered by a water-cooled, front-mounted engine. This arrangement, coupled with rear-wheel drive, was normal for most other manufacturers, but it was unusual for Porsche having previously only used mid or rear-mounted engines all of which had been air-cooled.

With Porsche at the forefront of turbo technology and the 924 chassis ripe for exploitation with more power, the 924 Turbo’s development was inevitable. Thanks to a 45bhp power boost that raised top speed by nearly 20mph, a 5-speed gearbox and uprated suspension, the car was very well-received and more than 12,000 were sold over a five-year period. Introduced in 1978, the 924 Turbo featured a distinctive row of four extra air-intakes in the nose panel and a NACA duct in the bonnet. Other unique features included aluminium 15" spoke-style alloy wheels, four-wheel disc brakes, 5-stud hubs and a discreet but effective rear lip spoiler.

Today, the 924 Turbo is a rare car, with Phillip Watson of the 924 Owners’ Club stating 'We reckon that there are only about 60 left in the UK' and as such, we must be grateful to the technicians at Porsche Centre Bournemouth for saving this car. First registered on 1st July 1980, this 924 had travelled some 96,000 miles when the car rolled into the main dealer’s workshop. Porsche Centre Bournemouth’s publicised account of the restoration was driven by three main philosophies: to find a car that needed the most attention in all areas, to find a rare model and to retain the integrity of the original car. They state that in order to achieve their third objective, it was imperative to approach the restoration in a methodical way, beginning with a complete vehicle strip-down and assessment of the interior, bodywork and mechanical work required that amounted to an incredible 550 hours. They even recreated the original 1979 advert using this car and would look fabulous framed as a pair.

After completion, it was proudly displayed in the classic Porsche section of their state-of-the-art showroom where it caught the eye of our vendor in 2021. Having only covered a couple of hundred of miles since the restoration, this rare little 924 remains in a wonderful condition.