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Beauty comes in many forms. One of my favorites is the 1970-ish Maserati Ghibli. I am also drawn to most mid 60s to mid 70s Italian GT cars.
But, my interests are diverse: I also find beauty in the Austin Healey 100-6/3000 series, Triumph TR250 / TR6, late 50s/early 60s Cadillacs, late 60s full size Chryslers/Imperials, e28 BMWs, current model Volvo V90. The list goes on.
I didn't particularly like the looks of the 928 when I first rode in a new 78 when I was 15 years old - to me it was too far out and odd looking. But, over time, I have really grown to like the design, and today, I find it quite attractive - beautiful. What really drew me to it when I bought mine was the mechanical engineering, build quality, durability, and performance. It was eye opening compared to the 83 911SC I was driving at the time.
Plus Ferrari has an even more common problem with the STICKY BUTTONS that affects all years and all models, they even have a name for it . Enzo's revenge BOTH Hoovie and STG have made a thing of the buttons
Porsche isn't immune to that problem. My Cayenne issues started with the buttons and ash tray covers in the rear doors, eventually front buttons and then the whole center console all around the shifter. Anything coming in contact with that "soft touch" coating (including your fingernail) leaves scrapes or fingerprint indentations. A perfect well cared for interior ends up looking like crap because you and passengers can't help but notice or feel it.
I found that 91% rubbing alcohol takes that trash right off. About 30 minutes with microfiber cloths/Q-tips and everything looked brand new with no more stickiness. It's gloss black now, which looks better than the soft satin imo.
Sir William Lyons designed 3 of the most beautiful cars ever pressed with seemingly no concern for men who ran the metal presses. The Jaguar XK120, the aforementioned E-type and the Jaguar XJ, specifically the XJC is a master piece and his swan song. Jaguar never recovered from his retirement.
When it comes to beauty you have to decide if form overrides function. E-types and most Jags are legendary for their un-reliability and this is not an exaggeration in any way. The 928 by comparison is a Toyota. I'd know becasue I have a 928, two XJ Coupes, a neighbor with a XK120 and a close friend with an E-type. The calamitous stories are many. For example, if I want to take my all original XJ coupe to work I have to make sure it's not raining, if it is there is a good chance I'll be dripped on and my feet will get wet, and the car will stall and restart only at some unknow predetermined point in the future that usually coincides with the arrival of a flat bed, I have to make sure I wont be parking on a hill or the engine will flood with gas as gravity move gallons of fuel past the dodgy floats. A/C fugetta'bout it. the feon leaks past the 24 all metal flare fittings in 45 min. I'd better make sure there is no stop and go traffic becasue the coolant temp needle will start it's slow and torturous journey towards the red line. All this has given rise to the cottage industry of engine swapping Jags which is met with immense distain amongst the masochistic Jag faithful as if having a useable car would somehow spoil the fun.
There is an elegance to design simplicity, performance and reliability that the 928 has spades of by comparison. So you have to consider if you want to find delight in the most beautiful car in the world as static garage art or something else with more dynamism or perhaps both.
Last edited by icsamerica; 06-16-2022 at 10:43 AM.
And beyond the beautiful aesthetic design of the 928, is the beauty that it is a durable, well-engineered high-performance car that that can be driven today as a daily driver. The fact that it is a 40+ year old design that drives as well or better than many new cars, and that many are doing so reliably with 100k - 200k miles on them, is remarkable to me. How many other high-performance cars from that era can that be said of?
I do love the looks of my 1985 Euro 928S 5-speed, and with the sports seats it's also the most comfortable and practical GT car I have ever owned. However, I have two others in the stable that I believe more qualify for this thread's title. Second place goes to my 1989 Ferrari 328 GTS (and BTW there were no Ferrari sticky switch probs prior to the 348 in 1990) and the winner is my Henrik Fister designed 2007 Aston Martin Vantage coupe.
I think people are being harsh on the 928’s interior. From a form/function and aesthetics perspective, it is the ultimate in comfort and a nod to minimalism which is what a cockpit should be like. The way the center console and arm rests flow, position of seats and instruments are just perfect.
With regards to the fit/finish, when new (and I remember them clearly growing up with many of them straight out of the showrooms), there was nothing like them on the market in the 80s and early 90s. When compared to anything during that era (new) from BMW, MB, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston, etc. even the high end offerings, the materials used then are a world away from today (and the engineering as well), and the 928 was many many notches above and beyond. The newest car is 27 year old today… can’t look at the interior that has been exposed to the elements for so long and judge - not fair. Also note that the interior engineering jump in quality, design, materials, and detailed focus on the smallest elements (pretty much everything you see today) did not come to play until Audi developed their first generation A4 which was a pinnacle and leapfrog in everything offered mid 90s. That trickled down throughout the industry. That’s my personal experience.
P.S. The Miura is a stunner. Saw a few in real life in a number of colors and wow… pure erotica.
Beauty comes in many forms. One of my favorites is the 1970-ish Maserati Ghibli. I am also drawn to most mid 60s to mid 70s Italian GT cars.
But, my interests are diverse: I also find beauty in the Austin Healey 100-6/3000 series, Triumph TR250 / TR6, late 50s/early 60s Cadillacs, late 60s full size Chryslers/Imperials, e28 BMWs, current model Volvo V90. The list goes on.
I didn't particularly like the looks of the 928 when I first rode in a new 78 when I was 15 years old - to me it was too far out and odd looking. But, over time, I have really grown to like the design, and today, I find it quite attractive - beautiful. What really drew me to it when I bought mine was the mechanical engineering, build quality, durability, and performance. It was eye opening compared to the 83 911SC I was driving at the time.
Design is subjective and I agree one of the best designed interior layouts of all time.
But the quality of a 928 interior is far from superior to much of anything. Warped dashes, center consoles, stitching on the steering wheels etc.... Porsche did a lot of things well in the 70's and 80's but interior quality was not one of them. None of my Audi's, even those that sat outside most of their lives with over 200k miles on them, don't have interiors that look as bad as your typical 928.
The number of cracks in the dash of my 78 is appalling. The 1983 Mercedes sitting next to it with triple the miles looks like new.
For a Porsche, the 928 was lightyears ahead when it comes to interiors. But the bar was pretty low considering the inside of a 70's 911 or 914.
A friend of mine has a similar period Rolls Royce, now that is an unbelievable interior. Few houses have leather seats that nice.
Agreed, for all the things Porsche excelled at I never thought interior quality was one of them. Modern Porsches look spectacular inside, but the old models have as you said warping leather and vinyl, and cheap feeling plastic shells. One could argue that leather and such wasn't the highest priority for a sports car manufacturer, but the 928 was an expensive car designed for luxury and touring. The ergonomics and comfort are fantastic, but the interior quality is nothing like Mercedes-Benz at the time for example.
I think people are being harsh on the 928’s interior. From a form/function and aesthetics perspective, it is the ultimate in comfort and a nod to minimalism which is what a cockpit should be like. The way the center console and arm rests flow, position of seats and instruments are just perfect.
With regards to the fit/finish, when new (and I remember them clearly growing up with many of them straight out of the showrooms), there was nothing like them on the market in the 80s and early 90s. When compared to anything during that era (new) from BMW, MB, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston, etc. even the high end offerings, the materials used then are a world away from today (and the engineering as well), and the 928 was many many notches above and beyond. .
Agree. Curves inside and out. The 928 brought in a whole new look, It was the 1st cockpit. The materials were the best and still are not surpassed. I guess it has to do with how your 928 was specced and what year it was made. My 85 euro leather is THICK as can be and high quality. Because of having that nice dealership near me for 12 years I sat in most everything available - every recent aston, ferrari, porsche plus I always visited the MB and Range Rover dealers. I had an early 90's MB. None of them beat the 928 interior in layout or quality.
I sat in KERMIT in 2004 in New Hampshire. That interior was art and the leather smelled like the best catchers mitt ever, felt as good too.
Clean timeless layout, everything you need and nothing you don't
06-15-2022, 05:32 PM
