1981 Porsche 924

The Porsche 924 Turbo was in production from 1980 until 1983 is a two-doored, four-seater, front-engined coupe.

The 924 was originally the joint project of Volkswagen and Porsche, created by the Vertriebsgesellschaft (distribution company), the joint sales and marketing company funded by Porsche and VW to market and sell sports cars for Volkswagen. It was intended to be that company's flagship coupe sports car and was named "Project 425" during its development. For Porsche, it was to be its entry-level sports car replacing the 914. Porsche executives soon realised the need for a higher-performance version of the 924 that could bridge the gap between the standard 924s and the 911. Having already found the benefits of turbochargers on several race cars and the 1975 911 Turbo, Porsche chose to use this technology for the 924, eventually introducing the 924 Turbo as a result. When released in 1980, it sold for a price of £13,029.

The 924 Turbo features a four-cylinder turbocharged engine with 170 horsepower at 5,500 rpm. It also features a rubber rear spoiler, giving it a three percent improvement in drag coefficient. Due to the fact the gearbox is in the rear of the car, the weight distribution of the Turbo is excellent. Similar to the 924 Carrera GT, the Porsche 924 Turbo boasts good fuel economy, good braking and firm suspension. At parking speed, the steering is heavy but not unmanageable, and is lighter at driving speeds. It records 0-60 mph acceleration of just over 7 seconds and a maximum speed of over 140 mph.

To drive, the Porsche 924 Turbo is not perfect, but is fast yet practical and comfortable. It was well-received due to its increase in performance by around 45 horsepower, meaning that over 12,000 were sold over a five-year period. However, it can feel quite sluggish and lazy at low revs at times.

Parts for the 924 Turbo are fairly easy to come by, however maintaining the car can present a challenge. Some cars fell into the hands of people who didn’t maintain them correctly as they got them cheaply and didn’t realise they require as much maintenance as any other turbocharged Porsche to run correctly. Make sure you inquire about maintainance records when shopping for a 924 Turbo.

Similar cars from the 924 range include the 924 Lux, the 924S, and the 924 Carrera GT.