I came across this inspiration for this information from our friends at Werk924 in Guteborn, Germany. Their website is, as you would imagine, in German, but Google Chrome does a pretty good job of “instant translation” into English. Research elsewhere helped me discover even more…enjoy!
We know that the 924S has an interesting history. How it came to be included a storied production from 1976 through to 1985 with the VW/Audi 2.0 engine and the fact that VW stopped making the engine block in 1985 – leaving Porsche without an engine. The decision was made by senior management of Porsche decided that the 944-powered 924 could be its entry-level car at just under US$20,000. In 1987, almost 7,000 were sold in North America, but changes in the US/Germany exchange rate seriously increased Porsche prices in the U.S., and sales dropped by almost 50%. Only 2190 924S cars were sold in North America, and production ended in September of 1988. The model was dropped, not to return.
However, the long term plan for the Porsche 924S was to keep it around for a while. In 1987, the 924S was pretty popular in the wake of the 1987 944, selling almost 7,000 924S to 13,000 944, 951 and 944S. The downturn in the exchange rate was apparently unanticipated, and development of the 924S was to extend well past the 1988 model year.
Since the end of VW production of the 2.0 engine in 1985 was a bit of a surprise too, the 944 driveline was put into the old bodywork and interior – that is why the 924S has the 944 Series I dash, wiring, etc. In typical Porsche fashion, work started immediately in 1986 to update the “old” 924 interior and running gear to the more modern 944 Series II interior, bringing it in line with the 944/951 brotherhood.
This leap would have brought us the 924S 2.7. The new car – 1989 – would have the 1989 2.7 normally aspirated engine AND the 944 Series II dashboard, airbags, console and flush-mounted windshield. The photo on Werk924.com shows the 16″ wheels from the 928 parts bin, a modification that we have been putting on 924S cars for a decade since they make the car handle so much better.
Porsche built about twenty-five preproduction 2.7 924S models. Reportedly, about half were destroyed in crash testing, with the remainder sold off to factory employees. How lucky.
So there it is…we make replicas of various 924 and 924S models out there, so how about duplicating the rare European 924S 2.7 from 1989?
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