944 Turbo S--sold for $30K--???

strupgolf · 08-30-2012, 06:47 PM

I stopped in at Ooly/Blackburn in Indy yesterday, looking at a nice collection of cars. On the side was a 1988 1/2 944 Turbo S that looked great. The car had a sold sign on it and I asked what "they" were going for these days. He said it just sold for $30,000 dollars. It was mint, but he said they made only 600 of those models that year, and in 1989, all these were turbo's. What model could this be to command this price? Thanks

MT930 · 08-30-2012, 07:06 PM

I would guess it was well set up.

They get crazy money for stuff, I was in last year in November they had a couple 911SC on in the mid thirties, they were nice cars, the guy said they would not last long, my friend from Indy confirmed it.

biosurfer1 · 08-30-2012, 08:15 PM

One just sold at Mecum Monterey a couple weekends ago for $33,000, but it only had something like 1,900 miles!

Jrboulder · 08-30-2012, 08:16 PM

For a while I've thought that the Turbo S's and S2 Cabs will be worth some significant money someday (for a 944). They didn't make very many, many were abused and modified, and they still offer some awesome performance. The main contributor in this is the fact that they are worth a lot more as parts currently. I've parted out 2 Turbos and there's a Pelican who does one or 2 Turbo S's a month. Eventually most of the dumpy 944's (of all types) will be parted out to keep the nicer ones going.

968's might never reach the high numbers because they were sold to a different crowd from the start and for the most part most haven't been abused too much. There's a lot of nice ones left and they aren't dropping like flies.

strupgolf · 08-30-2012, 08:34 PM

He said this 944 was faster then a 930 Turbo when it came out. ??

speeder · speeder's Garage

Quote:

He said this 944 was faster then a 930 Turbo when it came out. ??

'89 951S? That would be correct, stock vs. stock. It beat the 930 in every single area of measurable performance, IIRC.

Nostril Cheese · 08-30-2012, 08:53 PM

They are god awful cars to work on. Especially if they need a clutch.

911-32 · 911-32's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by strupgolf

What model could this be to command this price? Thanks

88 1/2 is probably a Silver Rose. Most came in Silber Rosa colour (a silver paint with a hint of pink in the clear coat and hence the name) and bordeaux tartan cloth interior, but you could get them in other colours/trim. They are a little special because they were a limited number - about 800 worldwide IIRC, so 600 US sounds in the ballpark. Porsche took most of the good bits off the 944 turbo cup cars and made the Turbo S - so k28/6 (ie., the 250hp) turbo, koni adjustable suspension, different bushings, sway bars, spring rates, 928S4 brakes, LSD, no sunroof, forged 7/9x16 wheels etc etc. The next model year all cars were 250hp and so were TurboS and they got most of these good bits, but not all, so after 88, most have a sunroof and 7/8x16 cast D90 wheels for example.

The Silver Rose cars do command a small premium - one concours car was for sale in the UK recently for £20k, so similar to $30k - but a more normal ask for them here would be c£7-12+k. There are only about 25 showing as registered on the road in the UK, so they are getting rare, but the demand is still not that high. Maybe one day the market realises they are rarer than a 3.2 Club Sport or a 924 Carrera GT and they go up a bit in price, but I am not holding my breath. Of the 924/944 series cars they are IMHO the best drive because the turbo characteristics (boost/lag) give them more character than an S2.

How do I know all this? I bought one 12 months ago as a daily driver. Its lightly modified and makes ~305hp/330lbft on the dyno, so bang on 930 numbers with a touch less weight to drag around and 5 sensible gear ratios. I would guess its fractionally faster than a std 930 particularly over 100mph when the better aero should help. Its a very nice old thing to drive and the old school "coming on boost" feeling is still a buzz. Its a nice contrast to the 911 and is a great long distance tourer being relatively quiet and comfortable and with good luggage space under the hatch. It still looks good (IMHO and it gets lots of positive comments) and the really cool part is that it has pop up headlights! Here is mine - look similar?

speeder · speeder's Garage

Great looking car in that color. Porsche really smoothed the rough edges on that model, very nice!

intakexhaust · intakexhaust's Garage

Market correct for the right car. Rare and well made. Great performance (even for todays standards), very well balanced. Probably could lurk around the 944 forum and sure many will pipe in of values.

BTW: You can still find earlier 944T for not much and build them up to 911 killers.

scottmandue · 08-31-2012, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

They are god awful cars to work on. Especially if they need a clutch.

Or a water pump

Nostril Cheese · 08-31-2012, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Or a water pump

Water pump just involves taking off the timing and balance shaft belts, pulleys and covers.

The clutch involves removing about 8 million items just so you can get the damn bellhousing off.

Racerbvd · Racerbvd's Garage

I owned the only Ocean Blue Metallic Turbo "S", and one of the 62 Black ones. Turns out the guy who bought my Blue one. Has a bad ankle, and has trouble with the clutch, so I still have it, and if anyone is interested, it can be bought

I sold it for $25K
.

I

onewhippedpuppy · 09-01-2012, 04:48 AM

Great cars, but that sounds a bit nutty. I have noticed prices for good 951 and 968 creeping up, you can no longer find a really nice one for $7000 like I did with mine 6 years ago. Most of them were trashed or converted for track use, the nice ones are getting scarce.

fastfredracing · 09-01-2012, 05:33 AM

Mine was one of 3 With Zermatt silver, over black Script seats. Really nice shape overall with a few small issues. I sold it for 10 k two years ago, and I see the current owner is trying to sell it right now, through Rundschau, for 11K. There are probably about 85,000 miles on it now.
This was a really nice car, it had street manners, and was super nice to road trip in, but it was also seriously fast . It was bone stock, and I did manage to resist the urge, and not mod it.
I really wanted to keep it, but the urge to have a 930 was overwhelming, and I felt guilty trying to support a family, and keeping two turbo cars on the road .
I have seen pics of your 951, before, Byron, and that color is awesome on that car.

Tim Hancock · 09-01-2012, 07:12 AM

I still have my '87 944T. I put a clutch in it (not a fun job) and I repainted it several years ago and ended up parking it after buying my 911SC as I really did not need it as a driver or weekend car at the time. Someday it might become my daily driver again or maybe it will sit long enough that it increases in value to a point that I would think about selling it. It has great brakes, power steering, decent power and great handling. I am fairly certain it would eat my SC's lunch in all but possibly the top speed category.