944 Turbo Cab sighting in US
12-03-2004 | 06:30 PM
#1
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From: Albany, CA: celebrating 100 years of independence from Berkeley, CA
944 Turbo Cab sighting in US
On my way to work this morning, I see this black 944 cab go by and I'm thinking, "Nice S2". But then I noticed that the rear logo said "Turbo" 
I turned around to chase him down and had a very brief chat with the driver (good thing his top was down and I was on my motorcycle). I couldn't get much out of the conversation, since we were in traffic, but the driver claimed it was a non-US-spec 944 turbo cab.
Does anyone know this car? His license plate bracket said "German Auto Art" which is a local garage in Santa Monica -- I'll have to call up the mechanic there and ask. I'd really like to know if it was a true 944 turbo cab or not.
I turned around to chase him down and had a very brief chat with the driver (good thing his top was down and I was on my motorcycle). I couldn't get much out of the conversation, since we were in traffic, but the driver claimed it was a non-US-spec 944 turbo cab. Does anyone know this car? His license plate bracket said "German Auto Art" which is a local garage in Santa Monica -- I'll have to call up the mechanic there and ask. I'd really like to know if it was a true 944 turbo cab or not.
12-03-2004 | 08:34 PM
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From: Canada, Eh?
If it was never sold in the US, it would be a monster to import.
Im not sure if the rules would be laxer since its a 944 Turbo, or if the Cab counts as a whole different "car" according to the rules...
Im not sure if the rules would be laxer since its a 944 Turbo, or if the Cab counts as a whole different "car" according to the rules...
12-03-2004 | 08:48 PM
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From: Albany, CA: celebrating 100 years of independence from Berkeley, CA
Well, I shot off an e-mail to the Markus at German Auto Art (since it was his license plate bracket that was on the car). Hopefully we'll find out something about the car. It could be some conversion some guy did (or just a decal) -- but it would be cool to know that at least one 944 turbo cab made it to the US.
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12-03-2004 | 09:17 PM
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From: Albany, CA: celebrating 100 years of independence from Berkeley, CA
Tifo: I hope the parts come in handy -- though most it were kinda junky....
In the excitement of it all -- I forgot to look for the side markers or the bumper! Doh!
I'm hoping to see the car again though -- CA plates, local mechanic, cruising around near my neighborhood. Think it was triple black (well, the top was down, but the tonneau cover was black).
In the excitement of it all -- I forgot to look for the side markers or the bumper! Doh!
I'm hoping to see the car again though -- CA plates, local mechanic, cruising around near my neighborhood. Think it was triple black (well, the top was down, but the tonneau cover was black).
12-03-2004 | 09:28 PM
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I didn't think any made it to North America (which includes Canada according to Porsche, those silly Germans! 
)
OK, well I can't wait to see some covert pics, Joe! My money is on the fact that we will see some side-marker lights on the rear quarters, and that it is really a converted car or an S2 with a Turbo badge. But it would be cool to see otherwise!
)OK, well I can't wait to see some covert pics, Joe! My money is on the fact that we will see some side-marker lights on the rear quarters, and that it is really a converted car or an S2 with a Turbo badge. But it would be cool to see otherwise!
Last edited by tifosiman; 12-03-2004 at 09:29 PM. Reason: fat fingers, doh!
12-03-2004 | 09:32 PM
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From: Albany, CA: celebrating 100 years of independence from Berkeley, CA
I guess I have to go driving around the neighborhood with a camera now! I just looked up the street he turned up on -- it's a deadend. So the owner either lives up there or is a friend of someone there. Oh I hope I see the car again.....
12-03-2004 | 11:24 PM
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From: Barcelona
PCNA includes Canada, and AFAIK no 951 cabrios were built by the factory for Canada.
The car you saw was either a conversion or a gray market import. A close family friend in Pacific Palisades, CA tells me he's positive there's one in his neighborhood. Probably another gray market car.
As far as numbers, NZ951 is partly correct since, as far as he is concerned only 100 RHD 951 cabrios were built, all for the U.K. The other 527, including mine, were LLHD RoW.
They are pretty cool cars. I wish Porsche had made a lot more of them so they weren't so hard to see out there.
The car you saw was either a conversion or a gray market import. A close family friend in Pacific Palisades, CA tells me he's positive there's one in his neighborhood. Probably another gray market car.
As far as numbers, NZ951 is partly correct since, as far as he is concerned only 100 RHD 951 cabrios were built, all for the U.K. The other 527, including mine, were LLHD RoW.
They are pretty cool cars. I wish Porsche had made a lot more of them so they weren't so hard to see out there.
12-04-2004 | 12:21 AM
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From: Albany, CA: celebrating 100 years of independence from Berkeley, CA
Originally Posted by Luis de Prat
The car you saw was either a conversion or a gray market import. A close family friend in Pacific Palisades, CA tells me he's positive there's one in his neighborhood. Probably another gray market car.