1982 944

[John Schaefer]

I've picked up a French delivery (Sonauto) '82. I'm thinking I see a lot of details that are different than '83's (even euros)... How different is this year, really?

[wrench1]

Three weeks ago I met a young man with a red 1982 944 from Europe. We were at a car rally in the Orlando, Florida area. The original engine had gone sour and he had an 84 engine in its place. He mentioned that he had "just" got it running the night before in order to be at the rally that Saturday. You could see that he had not had the time to clean the engine compartment or tidy up much but he was at the rally. That’s what it was all about, owners getting together, sharing stories, exchanging ideas, swapping/buying/selling parts and enjoying the camaraderie between one another. He has the desire, ability and drive.

From what I quickly caught sight of was a never installed power steering fluid reservoir fender bracket (no bracket, never welded in), manual steering, some wiring differences, euro bumpers both front and rear, driving lights were different and mounted in the front bumper instead of the spoiler.

[v2rocket_aka944]

I've got a Pelicanite's 82 in my driveway right now being finished up. Everything seems to be normal, with the exception of a few bracket locations/omissions. This one is a US-spec but doesn't have the exhaust test port. Still has the PORSCHE door panels, no center console armrest. Makes sense as a transition between 924/944.

[J1NX3D]

Originally Posted by wrench1

euro bumpers both front and rear, driving lights were different and mounted in the front bumper instead of the spoiler.

what do you mean? Are you talking about US-RoW differences with the park/driving lights or 1982-1983 production differences?

[9FF]

There were no US spec 82's, could be a special import in 82 but it would have come with Euro bumpers, driving lights, side turn signals etc. If it has federal bumpers and lights they were added later or could have an 82 US build date on a MY83.

And yes the very early cars had not ps bracket on the fender.

[v2rocket_aka944]

Originally Posted by 9FF

There were no US spec 82's, could be a special import in 82 but it would have come with Euro bumpers, driving lights, side turn signals etc. If it has federal bumpers and lights they were added later or could have an 82 US build date on a MY83.

And yes the very early cars had not ps bracket on the fender.

this one was probably sold as an 83 but its build date is 3/82, so well within the 82MY...

[wrench1]

I may have thrown a curve ball that took this subject off course. I was not too clear with some of what I posted earlier. The 82 that I saw at the Rally was from Europe, but was brought over when the young mans father got out of the air-force. The family and car came back together.

The driving lights were in the front bumper right next to the rubber pads. I believe that these are standard in Europe. The rear bumper had a rubber strip all the way across the bumper, not just two pads. This may only be the differences between US and ROW.

[J1NX3D]

i was thinking that was what you meant but there is a difference in the RoW driving lights too. the single bulb type carried over from the RoW 924 and the 2 bulb type. the single bulb type is just park lights. They can be used by themselves and they come on with your low beams. the 2 bulb type are a park light, will turn on with your low beams and they have a full beam for when you flick your headlights to full.

Im not sure if the 2 bulb type superseeded the single bulb type or the 2 bulb one was an option. my '86 didn't have them but the pair I got from an '87 924S did.

[9FF]

..This may only be the differences between US and ROW.

There are a few other differences. Higher compression (10.6), higher hp & tq, no cat, no O2 sensor, different DME, no side lights, turn signals on fenders, no bumper dampers, lower stock ride height and maybe a few more I missed.