Porsche’s transaxle cars—which include the V8-engined 928 and the 4-cylinder 924, 944 and 968 models—seem to be more loved every day. Many Porsche owners cut their teeth in an entry-level car like the front-engined, rear-wheel drive 924 or its successor—the 944. When Porsche created the 944 Turbo, they turned good into great.

The Porsche 944, produced between 1982 and 1991, is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car that became a defining model of the 1980s. It was powered by a 2.5-liter inline-four engine, offering a balanced mix of performance and efficiency, with later models featuring turbocharged versions for enhanced power. The car’s design, characterized by its pop-up headlights and wide, muscular stance, reflected Porsche’s commitment to blending practicality with sportiness.

The 944 was praised for its handling, attributed to its near-perfect weight distribution, achieved by positioning the engine in the front and the transaxle at the rear. This balance made it a popular choice among driving enthusiasts and a formidable competitor in racing. Over its production run, the 944 evolved with various updates, including interior refinements and increased engine output, solidifying its place as a beloved classic in Porsche’s lineup.

In 1986, Porsche launched the 944 Turbo, known internally as the 951. Today’s Good Find Friday car is a 1987 model 944 Turbo, painted in black over a black leather which cuts a bit of a Knight Rider vibe. The car is offered by the selling dealer, Kaiser Kars, at an asking price of $35,000.

Differentiating exterior features of the 944 Turbo included a rear spoiler, aerodynamically smoothed front bumper and a rear diffuser. The paintwork on today’s car looks good considering it’s claimed original, but clearly wears some age from its 36,000 miles with a fair number of small rock chips on the front bumper. Swirls and halos appear in the photos, suggesting the paint could use a correction to bring back its depth and gloss.

The North American version of the 1987 Porsche 944 Turbo was the first production car in the world to be fitted with both driver and passenger side airbags. This particular 944 Turbo appears to have been optioned with very desirable Sport seats with deeper bolstering on the top and bottom to hug you in aggressive cornering. 

While it was a high performance automobile, the 944 Turbo was also quite comfortable and interior amenities included power windows, an adjustable steering column, air conditioning, power seats and power mirror controls. The black interior on this example appears to be in fantastic condition, adding credence to the low mileage.

I do with the selling dealer had a few photos of the dash top. The protective cover is nice if it’s there to preserve the dash, but not if it’s to cover unsightly cracks oh-so-common to these cars.

A few wheel options were available for the 944 Turbo, including the debatably more stylish Design 90 wheels. This car rolls on 16” Teledials with 205/55 tires in front and 225/50 tires in the rear.

The suspension on the 944 originally consisted of alloy front control arms and semi-trailing arms with slightly stiffer springs to accommodate the car’s additional weight. Like the 924 Turbo, the 944 Turbo borrowed brakes from the contemporary 911. This car’s suspension upgrades include tubular chromoly lower control arms, Koni Sport Shocks, adjustable rear sway bar, lowering springs and a 30mm front sway bar.

The engine on the 944 Turbo was the same 2.5 Liter engine as the standard car, but supplemented with a turbocharger and intercooler that boosted power from 147hp to 217hp at 6,000 RPM. The 0-60 time was improved dramatically, from just under 9 seconds to 5.9 seconds for the Turbo. A Lindsey racing ECU chip has been added, along with a fuel rail, fuel pump, mid-pip and a Borla muffler with Magnaflow resonator. This 944 Turbo is sure to make a pretty mean sound at full song.

While my heart will always prefer the 924 Turbo (and the 924 in general), the 944 Turbo or 951 model Porsche is fast becoming a desirable collectible for its competent performance, comfort and practicality. Those attributes are what you expect from any Porsche.

So where does this car fit in the market, and how is the softening market treating 944 Turbos?  As with any collector car, condition is key. Sales prices range from the mid-$20ks up to six figures for ultra-low mileage cars. Given the modifications and overall condition, this seems like a fair price. Black on black is a desirable combination for a lot of buyers, deepening its appeal.

Generally speaking, the market for 944 Turbos is fairly flat with average prices hovering well above where they were in 2020. At this price, I doubt you’d regret your decision. I might knock off a few grand for some paint correction and touch-up, though.

Wolf and Mare provides car finding, appraisal and auction services for sellers and buyers of collector European cars. We also provide importation services. Give us a call or drop us a line!