1981 Porsche 924 Carrera GT (937)

Volkswagen's decision not to proceed with their designed-by-Porsche 914 replacement led to the latter taking on the project themselves. Launched in November 1975, the resulting 924 drew heavily on Volkswagen/Audi components - the 2-litre, four-cylinder, overhead-camshaft engine being a development of the Audi 100's and the 4-speed transaxle a VW unit. A 5-speed Porsche-designed gearbox and improvements to the suspension were early developments and in 1978 came the first truly high-performance 924 - the Turbo. The latter's extra 45bhp raised the top speed to around 150mph and this figure would be further improved upon by the 924 Carrera GT. A road model with competition potential, the luxuriously equipped Carrera GT was launched at the 1979 Frankfurt Show. Easily distinguishable from lesser 924s by virtue of its bonnet air intake and widened wheel arches, the Carrera GT was built in limited numbers - only 406 were made - 400 cars being the minimum requirement to gain homologation for rallying and 'Group 4' events. The standard version came with 210bhp, but this could be boosted to well over 300bhp for racing. Three cars were entered by the works in the 1980 Le Mans 24-Hour Race, finishing sixth, 12th and 13th.

The car presented here is a 1981 (MY) Porsche 924 Carrera GT delivered new to Germany, thus LHD/937. It obviously came with the generous specification of a its model type, plus the additions of (115) Digital radio with traffic decoder, (197) stronger battery 63 Ah, (220) limited-slip differential 40% locking factor, (395) 16" forged alloy wheels, (398) exterior mirrors, heated and electrically adjustable, (425) rear window wiper and (650) removeable roof, but not electric windows and A/C - this an homologation model after all!

It was sold to its first customer, Herr Maier, in October 1980 and was serviced routinely, at Porsche (Mahag) München, until 24,450km. Herr Maier continued to treasure it until 1999 and 47,500km before its second owner, Herr Class, also from Munich, acquired it and put it safely away into storage for around ten years. The third owner, Herr Beyerlein, did likewise, quietly placing the car into his Collection; neither Class nor Beyerlein registered the car for the road, having it purely as a collector-piece. Appreciating the car's impressively original, unmolested condition our Porsche-enthusiast vendor (a British businessman living/working in Switzerland) bought it in 2018 and subsequently oversaw its recommissioning (to comply with very stringent Swiss laws), spending approximately £5,000, enabling him to drive and enjoy it regularly - something the car has excelled at.

Pleasingly and increasingly rarely, this 924 Carrera GT has remained wholly original, with only three previous enthusiast-owners and just 48,919km (30,396 miles), at the time of cataloguing, in 44 years. Reassuringly, it's still accompanied by the original service booklet documenting its regular maintenance, its Porsche Heritage Certificate and much associated paperwork. Our vendor, a member of the Owners Club, has conferred with model experts who deem its Indian Red (aka as Guards Red G1) paintwork to be (mostly) factory-original and were thrilled to see the original soundproofing still in-situ under the bonnet!

This rare and exciting Porsche is presented to auction absolutely ready-to-go, having just been treated to a major service, including a cambelt, oil, brake and clutch fluid changes; it offers a great opportunity to take ownership of a rarely seen Porsche, in sought-after original condition that is guaranteed to attract all the right attention at any classic car event.

NB: please note that the vendor will pay the UK import when the car sells if the buyer wishes to register the car in the UK.