25 replies to this topic

[lbpesq]

I'll be showing my Cab tomorrow at the annual Orinda Car Show.  This is a relaxed, informal, non-competitive, non-judged, just-for-fun and worthy charities show.  I brought my '58 TR3A last year, and will be bringing my 968 this year (can't show favoritism amongst the kids - lol).  I drafted a quick information sheet to place on the windshield.  I did it from memory, so I thought it would be wise to post it here first to make sure I didn't get anything too embarrassingly wrong.  Your critique and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated here it is:

 

 

                                                         1993 Porsche 968 Cabriolet

The 968 was the culmination of Porsche’s front engine, water cooled design that started with the introduction of the 924 in 1976.  While the 924 was designed by Porsche, it was intended to be produced as a joint effort between Audi and Volkswagen.  When Volkswagen pulled out of the project, Porsche agreed to partner with Audi to produce the car.  

Originally intended as an “entry level” Porsche, the car was built by Audi and was powered by an Audi engine.  In 1982, the car was updated, fit with a Porsche engine, and renamed the 944.  Ten years later, Porsche took over the project completely, redesigned 80% of the car, and moved production to Porsche’s Zuffenhausen plant, where it was re-badged as the 968 and produced from 1992-1995.

The redesigned 968 was powered by a 3.0 liter in-line four cylinder engine - the largest four banger ever put into a modern production automobile.  It included Porsche’s then new VarioCam valve timing system.  The car developed 236 hp, 225 ft/lbs. torque, could reach 60 mph in under six seconds, and had a top speed of over 150 mph.  With the engine in front, and the transmission mounted in the rear, connected by a torque tube, the car had perfect 50/50 weight displacement, making it one of the best handling Porsche’s ever built.  

Only around 4500 were imported into North America during the four year run of the car.  Of these,  approximately 2000 were Cabriolets.  Only thirty-four were painted  Horizon Blue Metallic, like this car, this being the only one with this particular exterior/interior combination.  

By the time the car had evolved into the 968, it was intended to eventually replace the 911.  The sticker price for the 968 was north of $50,000.  At the time, Japanese sports coupes, like the Nissan 300ZX, the Toyota Supra, and the Mazda RX-7, were priced $15-20,000 less and had more modern designs.  As a result, the 968, along with Porsche’s attempt at a four passenger sport sedan, the 928, were not popular with the buying public.  Porsche had severe financial problems until they replaced the 968 with the Boxster which has been a strong seller from it’s inception.

This 968 has been modified with a new chip, strut tower brace, lower suspension brace, modifications to the airbox to allow less restricted flow, firewall brace, AC Tensioner, exhaust heat shield, and a short shift kit.
 

Edited by lbpesq, 09 September 2016 - 03:43 PM.

[flash]

well....

 

it wasn't the largest gasoline powered 4 banger in a car.  the international harvester scout had a 3.2. the fiat tipo 55 was 9 liters.

[lbpesq]

Flash:

 

I wrote "the largest four banger ever put into a modern production automobile."  I believe the Tipo was pre-1920 (which I would think isn't considered "modern").  When was the IH Scout produced? 

 

Bill

[ds968]

Wait, what ?! A 9 L four cylinder ?

[flash]

but the harvester was a modern production car.  made until 1980 i think

 

pontiac had a 3.2 liter 4 banger too in the tempest wagon

[lbpesq]

Thanks, I'll make the appropriate revision.

 

Bill

[Rap]

Isn't that an awful lot of info on another car? Surely there is more out there or here that might be more interesting? Also seems like a lot to read!

[94SilverCab]

The 968 had the highest horsepower per cylinder until the S2000.

 

Jay

[flash]

nope

 

bmw E30 M3 Sport Evo.  2.5 liter in-line 4 banger with 238 hp.

 

sorry guys

 

not even the first engine with variable cam timing

[ds968]

I think the " more modern designs " of the 300 ZX, and the Supra is a highly debatable statement .

[lbpesq]

I had a '91 300ZX. I perceived it as more modern than my 968. But the 968 has much more soul, is more enjoyable to drive, and is definitiely a cut above on the fun meter.

Bill

[ds968]

Well, modern is a rather subjective term, so that's why I said it's debatable, and not false , lol. So perhaps at the time some people saw other cars look more modern to them, but what I think is less debatable however is that the 968, unlike the ZX or Supra or just about anything else ever made has kept its modern style to this very day . If you look at a 300 ZX now or a 90s Supra , or an RX7 , etc , they all look dated to the era they were produced , the 968 looks every bit as a car made in the last couple of years ( absent the pop up lights, lol ) , and one in mint condition will still get questions from those who haven't heard of it, if it's a new model Porsche just produced . No one will ask that about any Japanese cars ... with the possible exception of a mint condition NSX , which is probably the only other everlasting classic design, IMHO .

[94SilverCab]

My 1988 Rx-7 Convertible had better design features than the 968 (Built in wind screen, headrest speakers, far better ergonomics, etc.).

 

Jay

[ds968]

Oh, I thought modern design referred only to the lines of the car, not all the other the integrated " features " But better ergonomics in the RX-7 ?! Maybe for Jay, but I sat in my friend's RX -7 and thought the seating position , driver vantage point, instruments aesthetics , and all those things were awful ..by comparison to the 968. Actually I don't think I've been in ANY car with as great of an ergonomic set up and as aesthetically pleasing arrangement as in the 968 ( except for the stupid placement of the switches, lol. )

As for power, Flash is right on both the power per L and the variocam, but the 968's claim to fame is not only the most powerful torque of any NA 4 cyl produced but also more torque than almost all of of the 6 cyl cars out there ( also NA ) , until the 993 showed up ...and that one was only marginally more torque ( less than 10% ) . Even at that , I'm not so sure the peak torque was delivered at a lower or equivalent rpm level as the 968's ..
I had to laugh when I read about the Honda S 2000's HP - that HP is completely useless considering that car has virtually no torque ..you have to wind it up to 8000 rpm to get any torque out of that engine ..you can beat that car off the line or from a rolling start with a friggin' 944s !

Edited by ds968, 10 September 2016 - 10:03 AM.

[flash]

actually the same M3 motor specced above makes more torque per liter (78 vs 75)

 

sorry guys - there is really nothing magical about this engine, other than it combined technologies from multiple engines to produce a flexible power plant.

[Bulti]

Taken from Porsche968uk.co.uk:

...Improved combustion chamber and inlet manifold design, give the engine 240 HP at 6200 rpm and torque of 305Nm at 4100rpm (58Kw/Litre). At the time of production the engine had the highest displacement per cylinder of any car engine and also the highest torque output of any unblown 3 litre engine.

[ds968]

No 4 cyl, nor any 6 cyl ( NA of course ) has matched the equivalent peak torque - at 4100 rpm - the 968 delivered . The M3 flash mentioned needed 5500 rpm to get to its peak torque . Most of the other cars required near-redline levels to achieve that torque .

[flash]

bulti - yeah - well, maybe of any 3 liter, but not the most per liter.  also, the peak is very misleading, as it is over a VERY small rpm range.  it is due entirely to the second loop in the intake manifold.  it's a lot like the S2000.  if you rev it up to redline, you can get the peak number, but anywhere you normally drive it, the numbers are a lot lower.

 

lol - regardless, now we are looking for some silly spec.  "the most powerful engine in any blue car with leather interior..........."

 

we all want to think the 968 is unique or special, and in terms of being a great all-around car, it is, but not in terms of any one feature or spec.  the sum is greater than the parts.  that's why we like it

[MCL968]

There are so many "cool factors" that make the 968 unique, relying on specs and data seems unnecessary and fruitless. The most compelling things (to me) that prompted me to buy one is the weight distribution and the fact that it's a 4 banger that displaces 3 liters! And you don't see one on every street corner, that's why they are so fun to talk about with people who have no idea what they are.

[Bulti]

And besides, dudes love factoids :-)