The Porsche 944 – A Classic on the Edge

PB — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:21:12 +0000

If you were a fan of the 1980’s television show Miami Vice, you saw the Porsche 944 featured over and over. It was an iconic image of style, power and wealth. It has returned with a vengeance and now is considered an emerging classic and retro.

The Porsche 944 was designed and built following the usual Porsche formula of state of the art engineering mixed with unabashed luxury. This formula has worked well for Porsche and seems to be one that they will thankfully never change.

The difference is that now you can purchase a Porsche 944 for much less than ever before. It’s possible to get a Porsche 944 at rock bottom prices because their status as a retro classic hasn’t yet been solidified. When that happens, I reckon the value of the 944 is going rise. Looking at the second hand prices, you could buy one right now, then sell it in a year for at least the same money. At a time where second hand prices are dropping like crazy this is definitely food for thought.

If you have ever wanted to own a Porsche, or are a collector of vintage Porsche cars, you are going to want to pick one of these up as soon as possible. If you want the best deal, try and get one that needs a bit of bodywork completed on it. You can easily and inexpensively have minor work done to restore your new 944 to its original pristine beauty. For bodywork you will want to be sure that you stick to the original paint colors and even formula if you want the car to be considered a true classic. Of course if you aren’t worried about that, have a blast doing it your way! Low mileage, and owners club registered are always great plus points. The scarcer models will also be more likely to increase in value.

The total production of the Porsche 944, including all styles, was under 160,000. That makes it a rare car from the outset. Remove from that all of those used and destroyed in movies, television series and out in the real world population, and you have a rare car indeed.

The Porsche 944 was originally intended to be produced into the 1990’s. Because of production and design changes there was a dramatic difference between the 944 and the car that followed it, the Porsche 968. As a result, the Porsche 944 ceased production in 1991.

There were several versions of the 944 produced and all are on the verge of greatly increasing in value. The coupe should increase in value faster than the convertible. Such is the nature of convertibles.

The best deal you are going to get on a Porsche 944 is right now. Buying an older Porsche and watching the value of the automobile increase is quite fulfilling. You should give it a try!

Manufacturer	Porsche
Production	1982–1991
Assembly	Stuttgart, Germany
Predecessor	Porsche 924
Successor	Porsche 968
Class	Sports car
Body style(s)	2-door coupe 2-door convertible
Layout	FR layout
Engine(s)	2.5 L I4 2.7 L I4 3.0 L I4
Transmission(s)	3-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	94.5 in (2400 mm)
Length	1986-88: 170.0 in (4318 mm) Turbo: 168.8 in (4288 mm) 1989-1991: 168.9 in (4290 mm)
Width	68.3 in (1735 mm)
Height	50.2 in (1275 mm)
Curb weight	pre-85.5: 1180 kg (2601 lb) 85.5+: 1330 kg (2932 lb)