[Fox944]

As we all know, the 968 is the 3rd and final evolution of the front engine 4cyl Porsche line which started with the 924 back in 1976. Here are some pictures of the very first road going 924 prototype. A couple from the museum and one taken in the 70's next to a one of the first 924 production cars.

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[DaveN]

I'm glad the 944/968 evolved past the Gremlinesque look of that 924 prototype! Rear is a bit hideous for my tastes.

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[Langley968]

I honestly almost "choked/barfed" when I saw the picture! What were they thinking with the small tire size? WOW!

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[Scott Collins]

wiping chunks off of my monitor and now ruined keyboard and mouse pad.

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[ds968]

Fugly indeed ! In addition, and what makes things even worse, IMO, is the typical ( classic Porsche for some reason ) wheels set so far inside the fenders. Just take that ugly 924 and visualize it with the wheels aligned to the edge of the body.. ok, still ugly, but a bit better, right ?

Thus, the reason I have spacers on my wheels. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]

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[biotechee]

Gotta say yuk....

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[968Syncro]

It gets worse, a BMW was used as the test mule for the 924 drivetrain. From "Porsche 924, 944 & 968 A Collector's Guide" by Michael Cotton.

   

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[ebarone968]

We can't say they didn't eventually get it right !

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[Ryan]

I think those wheels might be VW rabbit wheels or at least from the vw parts bin.

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[PorscheDude]

I actually like it:-)

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[Johannvb]

That 924 has a lot of 356 in it. I like the colour.

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[Fox944]

While this may be considered an ugly duckling, it is the car that started it all and our 968's exists because of this car.

Looking at all the models, they progressivley looked better and better with each upgrade.

the Production ready car looked better then the prototype. The 924 Turbo, then Carrera GT just got better. Then the 944 rolled along and with each update that just kept getting better. The Turbo came along in '86, and the '91 S2 with the bridged spoiler & nicer wheels took it one step further. And finally the 968.

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[sstman]

You also have to consider that the humble 924, (ive owned three) pretty much was the financial salvation of Porsche from 1977 onwards... Although of course the ridicule, and 'snobbery' stigma of it not being a 'real Porsche' did'nt help the early versions, and of course the version for the USA was severly hindered by the additional plumbing that was added to control emission levels in the 'cleaner air ' states, so the respectable 125 BHP of the motor was reduced to a laughable 92/95 BHP. I still have one now as a garage queen, gets displayed at shows etc.

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[Fox944]

The greatest driving experiance of any oem front engine Porsche is likely found in the 1981 924 Carrera GTS Club Sport.

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[Ryan]

The evolution from the 924 to the 968 is very interesting and for the most part made sense. Take the 944T, the 944 was turboed; bigger brakes; better suspension bit and better bodywork. The S2 has all the turbo bits minus the turbo, but plus 500cc and 8 more valves. Then the 968 which is a more improved S2.

OK how did the 944S fit in? Porsche develops the 16 valve head for the 4banger to race at Lemans and they decide to add it to the 944 road car. Thats it. They did nothing else in fact maybe less. Oh they put that door ding strip with "16 ventiller" on the sides, but thats it. How was this marketed? I have one and it did not even come with a rear sway bar. Oh it priced out at 36k in 87. That went over big. I wonder who dropped the ball on the S ? What were they thinking with this model? It makes little sense.

Anybody?

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[sstman]

Just two years after the 944 turbos intro, Porsche plugged the performance gap between the ordinary 944 and the turbo with the 944S. Thanks to a cylinder head with four valves per cylinder and two overhead camshafts, this version developed 188bhp and a top speed of 140 mph + and 0 to 60 in the 7-second bracket.

The range was rationalized in 1989, with the turbo now enjoying 250bhp, and the S2, updated to 211bhp, a lighter cylinder block, and for the first time in any production car a plastic oil sump.

Hindsight must question 'why?' the 944S was so short lived, my guess is down to the falling sales of the 944 across the world at that time, money and rationalization of the range giving a wider performance gap between the two models?, 1989 was nota good time for Porsche sales wise, so it's a fair bet that cost saving was a factor.

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[Fox944]

i always liked the 944 S. The extra punch up top was just what the 8V needed imho. The 944 range had so many engine choices over the years.

83-85 944: 2.5L 8V 148HP
85.5-88 944: 2.5L 8V 158HP
89 944: 2.7L 8V 165HP

87-88 944 S: 2.5L 16V 188HP
89-91 944 S2: 3.0L 16V 208HP

86-88 944 Turbo: 2.5L 8VT 217HP
88 Turbo S & 89 Turbo: 2.5L 8VT 247HP

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[sstman]

Yes I still am tempted to aquire an S2 cabrio for the summer driver!, and I always hankerd after a 'silver rose 16 valve ' limited edition in my 'youth' lol

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[Monstrous4Banger]

There was a silver rose 16v LE 944? Ive only known of the turbo s 8v silver rose. 88'.

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[sstman]

1992 - S2SE, UK Only, any colour with special decals, lowered suspension etc. - 15 units in total made.... Porsche GB had remaining stock, 968 was about to be launched, so they 'threw' some extras at the last 15 cars in the stock holding..., one came up for sale recently on line.... with 61000, miles, FPDSH, and sold for less than £5000 .

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