1993 Porsche 968

Porsche 968 1992 - 1995

In May 1992, Porsche introduced the Porsche 968 Coupe and Cabriolet to the UK market. The car was the final model in a line of front-engine Porsche sports cars that included the 924 and 928, and it was initially considered to be the 944 S3. Although it looks very similar to its predecessors, the majority of mechanical parts were modified, hence the new designation.

The Porsche 968's front-mounted 4-cylinder 2990cc DOHC engine produced 240bhp and was mated to either a six-speed gearbox or an optional four-speed auto. The car had two electrically-operated front seats and two usable back seats. In February 1995, the Tiptronic gearbox was offered as an option.

In January 1993, a fast road variant, the Porsche 968 Club Sport was introduced. This was significantly lighter, with no rear seats, non- electric windows and other performance enhancements such as lowered/ modified suspension. With unique decals and limited edition colour schemes, the car was instantly recognisable and helped increase sales.

In January 1994, the UK market received the Porsche 968 Sport. This was essentially a Club Sport model but with some of the 'luxuries' of the standard model added back in. All models were discontinued in October 1995, ready for the arrival of the new Boxster.

Today, the Porsche 968 remains a good buy as an entry-level modern classic. The cars had Porsche's legendary build quality and parts are widely available from both Porsche and various independent dealers. Bodies were well protected against rust, but check the sills for any signs of bubbling that could foretell worse problems. Engines are great, but make sure they have been properly serviced, with annual oil changes and balance/ cambelt changes as per the schedule. Some suffered from failures of the cam timing chain tensioner - increased noise from the head should be treated with caution. Noise from the torque converter could also be a bad sign.

There are few alternatives that share the Porsche 968's sporty handling, superb build quality and practicality, but other sports coupes/ convertibles of the era include the Alfa Romeo 916 GTV/ Spider, the BMW Z3 and the Mercedes-Benz SLK.