Martini edition 924

Timmay! · 07-07-2006, 02:49 PM

Hey, guys....
I found one of these buried underneath a car cover and covered with potted plants, bicycle parts, assorted lumber, etc., in a trailer park.
I don't have time to go look it up in my history books right now.
How many were made for the U.S.?
Current market value?

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Current value? With or with out the potted plants?

The Chief · The Chief's Garage

Hi Timmay,

From this site:

Model Year: 1977
Production: 25,596*
Rest of World: 17,675
USA: 7,496
Japan: 425

*Includes 3,000 special edition "Martini" cars

"Excellence" Magazine (April 2006) has valued the 1977 924 (as of 2005) at $3433 (poor condition), $3903 (good condition), and $5225 (excellent condition). I'm sorry, I didn't see the Martini edition specifically mentioned.

Hope this helps a bit!

JivenJim · 07-07-2006, 04:01 PM

What up Timmy,
Helping you with your homework again..

from http://www.924.org/models/Martini.htm

Porsche’s first limited edition 924 was the Martini Rossi, factory order number M426. The cars were built from December 1976 till March 1977. It started selling in the spring of 1977.
The car is distinguished by:
red/white/blue Martini Rossi stripes along the sides
Front and rear sway bars
Leather covered steering wheel
White painted alloy rims
Scarlet red carpet with matching fabric inlays on black vinyl seats along with
Martini Rossi stripes on the headrest
The E19 option which signified the car as a Martini Rossi included:
White rims
Scarlet pile carpet
426 Special Model World Champ
404 Front and rear sway bars
432 Lateral stripes Martini
565 Leather steering wheel
568 Tinted windows and heated rear glass
Of all the 4 speed Audi gearbox 924’s this is the one to have!!
also from http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z9955/default.aspx

1977 Porsche 924 Martini Edition
Year 1977
Make Porsche
Model 924 Martini Edition
Engine Location Front
Drive Type Rear Wheel
Body Material Steel Monocoque
Production Years for Series 1976 - 1988 <http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/series.aspx?modelID=535&seriesID=0>
Price $9,390.00
Weight 2345 lbs | 1063.7 kg

Performance
0-60 mph 12.5 seconds.
Top Speed 110 mph | 177 km/h Similar top speeds <http://www.conceptcarz.com/view/results.aspx?carID=9955&TopSpeed=y>

Engine
Engine Configuration I
Cylinders 4
Water-Cooled
Aspiration/Induction Normal
Displacement 1985.00 cc | 121.1 cu in. | 2 L.
Valvetrain OHC
Horsepower 110.00 @ 5750.00 RPM
Torque 111.00 Ft-Lbs (150.5 NM) @ 3500.00 RPM
Bore 3.41 in | 86.6 mm.
Stroke 3.32 in | 84.3 mm.
Compression Ratio 8.5:1
Main Bearings 5
Fuel Type Gasoline - Petrol
Fuel Feed Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection

Standard Transmission
Gears 4
Transmission Manual

Dimensions
Doors 2
Exterior
Length 170.101 in | 4320.6 mm.
Width 66.301 in | 1684 mm.
Height 50.001 in | 1270 mm.
Wheelbase 94.501 in | 2400.3 mm.
Front Track 55.901 in | 1419.9 mm.
Rear Track 54.001 in | 1371.6 mm.
Vehicles with similar dimensions <http://www.conceptcarz.com/view/results.aspx?carid=9955&lww=y>

Suspension
Suspension Front : MacPherson struts with single lower transverse A-arms, longitudinal torsion bars Rear : Semi-trailing arms with transverse torsion bars

Steering
Rack and Pinion

Tires / Wheels
Tires 156HR14

Price: This one just went for $600

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1977-Porsche-924-Martini-Rossi-Championship-Edition_W0QQitemZ4654052896QQihZ002QQcategoryZ6431 QQcmdZViewItem without the bike parts or plants.

Production cars for 1977 924 had 25,596

***includes 3000 special edition "Martini" cars***

† includes 1030 special edition "Le Mans" cars
‡ includes 1015 special edition "50 Jahre Porsche/Weissach" cars

Timmay! · 05:05 PM

Wow,.........too much information....
But, thanks, Jimmy Jam James!
Wanna go take a look at it this weekend? I don't even know if it's for sale....

Ok so 3,000 total world wide and worth a little more than the other 2.0 924's. Maybe this one could use a 924S's 2.5 liter, drive shaft and 5 spd tranny?
Jim,
Did I tell you I just picked up another 87 924S? I might build another 944 spec car out of it for another customer. That 944 spec class is exploding!

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Later 924S stuff will not fit in the early 924 chassis. Different. Might as well get a 924S and paint it to look alike. Then you should know this.

nynor · 07-07-2006, 07:32 PM

it is very strange that they would say that the top speed is 110 MPH. i had a '77 924 back in '92 and i had that thing going 120MPH, no problem. it wasn't even topped out. no modifications, either.

Timmay! · 07-07-2006, 07:33 PM

Hugh,
Naw, I shouldn't know it already. I work on the 944/924S's only. Never had a reason to work on the Audi-engined 2.0 liter 924's, though I did crew a little bit on a tube-framed 924 GTR in 1985 or so.......
But, I'll bet we could get creative and get a 2.5 liter in there...

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Guess you could, but why bother?

Tervuren · Tervuren's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by nynor
it is very strange that they would say that the top speed is 110 MPH. i had a '77 924 back in '92 and i had that thing going 120MPH, no problem. it wasn't even topped out. no modifications, either.

120MPH indicated - or verified by other means? I don't trust a speedometer's reading enless I've used other means to verify its accuracy accross several speed ranges. I've only been in ONE car in my life that I would trust that what the speedometer read - it was realy doing. 120MPH in my old 944 would be 105MPH real speed.

Schumi · 07-07-2006, 10:12 PM

The speedometers float a lot. I have been in cases where my 87 924S has read more than what were were doing and also less. Its all about perception anyways. If you're doing over 100 you should be paying more attention to the road and the feel of the car instead of what the gauge says.

As far as the Martini Edition goes...

Not a quick car... but rare and when restored/well kept very good looking IMO.

And what do you mean by 944 spec 924S? Are you talking about changing body panels or some sort of engine tuning? The 924S has the same engine and drive as the early 944 so there is no difference in the 'Spec' there.....

924RACR · 07-08-2006, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SoCal Driver
Later 924S stuff will not fit in the early 924 chassis. Different. Might as well get a 924S and paint it to look alike. Then you should know this.

Actually, the only different part would be the engine - swap in the crossmember and mounts, then it's just a wiring/plumbing problem.

The Martinis are based on a '77.5 car IIRC (check our 924 Register, there's a bunch of Martinis). That would be lighter to start with than a 924S, might save you a hundred or two pounds. It'll have the 4-speed, though... top speed around 112mph.

Haven't seen these fetching a distinct premium over other 924's, but they are rare...

Holler if you have questions about racing a 924, been doing it for 7 years now...

Timmay! · 07-08-2006, 08:58 AM

Thanks for chiming in , Vaughn. I figured the engine swap was easier than that.
Hugh,
The reason would be to give an otherwise attractive car, a cure for it's anemic power level.
Schumi,
The 87-88 924S's are allowed in the 944 spec class in NASA, POC, PCA, SCCA because they are really a 944 with a 924 body. They are more aerodynamic than the 944's but have a narrower track width even with spacers. It's a trade off, so they were allowed into the class.

nynor · 07-08-2006, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tervuren
120MPH indicated - or verified by other means? I don't trust a speedometer's reading enless I've used other means to verify its accuracy accross several speed ranges. I've only been in ONE car in my life that I would trust that what the speedometer read - it was realy doing. 120MPH in my old 944 would be 105MPH real speed.

well, i did get to st. george from salt lake in just under 3 hours, which, IIRC, is right around 300 miles, including stops.

944cabby · 07-09-2006, 05:13 AM

I went to look at one of these last summer and was very tempted it looked really cool with the martini stripes.It was a non-runner (apparently it did run but had an electrical fault).The only thing that put me off was that it had scabs of rust appearing in several places - the guy wanted £750 which i thought was a bit high.

Schumi · 07-09-2006, 08:24 AM

£750 is very high for a non running example with rust.

Go back to the trailer and offer who ever lives there 250$ for it if the body is in good condition with all the glass and if the seats are ok. If you never get it running at least you can part it out and eaily make your money back for the glass and fenders.

Timmay! · 07-09-2006, 08:33 PM

Schumi, Any parts needed for that 87 924S? I'm parting a red one out right now.

Timmay! · 07-09-2006, 08:35 PM

Oh, also, BTW, Vaughn, the 924's have a 20mm drive shaft. The 924S's have a 25mm (944) drive shaft. So the tranny and torque tube need to come over to the 924 Martini along with the engine, right?

924RACR · 07-10-2006, 05:23 AM

Yes, you'd want to swap those over - but that's all bolt-in.

The biggest PITA could prove to be the rear suspension details. Contact me directly (email or PM) for details, but the early cars (till I think 78 or 79) had a hard-mount rear suspension. After that, they went to the same rubber-isolated rear suspension as on the 944/924S/968. Great for racing, since that means less hard mounts to fab, but some cleverness is required in combining the parts. Also, those rear spring plates won't have an eccentric, requiring reindexing of t-bars to adjust height/cornerbalance... unless you can retrofit the newer style spring plates (not sure, haven't tried).

liljon's924S · 07-10-2006, 03:25 PM

I don't get why you would ruin a rare, original car just for racing? Why don't you just restore it to original mint condition. There are many other non-rare 924/944's to ruin, not a classic. In a couple years it will be worth more original seems gay to RUIN it!