1981 928s Euro
11-18-2002, 09:26 PM
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1981 928s Euro
I have just purchased a 1981 928 S Euro model. The car is not currently running. I have accumulated nearly all the parts to get it together including a set of shop manuals. I am starting to get the 928 fever a bit. The car needs a complete paint job but I have a painter renting the paint booth in my cabinet shop. Also parts are no problem as I have a friend who does porsche work for a living and is a renlist sponser. So I want to know from the guys and gals here is what is so cool about about the 928 and what is special or not about having a Euro model. The car has 88,000 miles white with green full leather interior/ good shape except for the dash.
Thanks
Phil Fenter
81 928S Euro auto
1968 Datsun 2000 roadster
1969 Datsun 2000 roadster
Thanks
Phil Fenter
81 928S Euro auto
1968 Datsun 2000 roadster
1969 Datsun 2000 roadster
11-18-2002, 10:17 PM
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Hi Phil,
Welcome to the 928 family. I'm sure there are many here who will more be able to tell you about your car with much more expertise than I, but here are a few of the "bennies" of 928 ownership:
1.) The 928 is one of the most comfortable high-performance cars ever made. I'm 6'1" and 200 lbs, and after a half an hour or so in my wife's Honda I start to feel uncomfortably cramped. In the 928 I can drive for several hours and arrive feeling refreshed.
2.) The 928 is an outstanding piece of engineering. I am constantly amazed (as I go deeper and deeper into the bowels of the car) at how well thought out and ahead of its time the car is. Handling is incredible - I find the car's mechanical threshold is always above that of my own driving ability - a fact made even more remarkable by the fact that it IS all engineering... there is no "stabili-trac", ABS, or computer aided drive-by-wire control - just good ol' fashioned German precision. Ja, Ja.
3.) The car is one of the safest vehicles you can drive on the road. Porsche builds their cars to the highest safety standards, as a rule. The 928 is no exception. There is much anecdotal evidence of this out there (including a story about the filming of a movie scene in which a 928 was supposed to be run over and crushed. After being run over by a monster truck TWICE, the roof still refused to collapse and the car's a-pillars finally had to be cut with a blowtorch to give the desired effect on film) - as well as empirical data available from the usual sources. In a world with highways clogged by soccer moms sliding around in heavy, unwieldy SUV's, it's nice to know you're protected even if your car is only half as big.
4.) The early EURO models were great cars. (Well, all 928's were... but I'm partial!) Beginning in 1980, the S model had a 4.7l engine (up from 4.5) which developed 300 hp and 263 ft/lbs of torque (vs. the US market car with 220 hp and 265 ft/lbs). Even when the S model was introduced in the US in '83, it still had only 234 hp. Your car is one of the CIS cars (K-jetronic), which, although perhaps not as efficient as later LH-jet engines, have the advantage of not suffering brain failure! Other euro perks can include H4 headlamps, rear fog lamps, an adjustable headlight system, all your pod warning lights auf Deutsch geschrieben, and a few other items I can't remember at the moment but I'm sure you'll discover.
5.) By far the second best part of 928 ownership (the first being DRIVING the car!) is the incredible group of people who own and drive these cars. Membership in this exclusive "club" includes technical advice, real world experience, and a chance to socialize with people who share similar interests. I can't even begin to calculate the amount of money I've saved or the knowledge I've gained thanks to the experience and encouragement of other owners. It really is a "family".
That said, welcome to the group - we're here for your questions, and eager to share your success as you bring your newly acquired beast to life!
-Brian
1980 928S 5sp. Euro
Silbermetalic/Blau
928 OC
Welcome to the 928 family. I'm sure there are many here who will more be able to tell you about your car with much more expertise than I, but here are a few of the "bennies" of 928 ownership:
1.) The 928 is one of the most comfortable high-performance cars ever made. I'm 6'1" and 200 lbs, and after a half an hour or so in my wife's Honda I start to feel uncomfortably cramped. In the 928 I can drive for several hours and arrive feeling refreshed.
2.) The 928 is an outstanding piece of engineering. I am constantly amazed (as I go deeper and deeper into the bowels of the car) at how well thought out and ahead of its time the car is. Handling is incredible - I find the car's mechanical threshold is always above that of my own driving ability - a fact made even more remarkable by the fact that it IS all engineering... there is no "stabili-trac", ABS, or computer aided drive-by-wire control - just good ol' fashioned German precision. Ja, Ja.
3.) The car is one of the safest vehicles you can drive on the road. Porsche builds their cars to the highest safety standards, as a rule. The 928 is no exception. There is much anecdotal evidence of this out there (including a story about the filming of a movie scene in which a 928 was supposed to be run over and crushed. After being run over by a monster truck TWICE, the roof still refused to collapse and the car's a-pillars finally had to be cut with a blowtorch to give the desired effect on film) - as well as empirical data available from the usual sources. In a world with highways clogged by soccer moms sliding around in heavy, unwieldy SUV's, it's nice to know you're protected even if your car is only half as big.
4.) The early EURO models were great cars. (Well, all 928's were... but I'm partial!) Beginning in 1980, the S model had a 4.7l engine (up from 4.5) which developed 300 hp and 263 ft/lbs of torque (vs. the US market car with 220 hp and 265 ft/lbs). Even when the S model was introduced in the US in '83, it still had only 234 hp. Your car is one of the CIS cars (K-jetronic), which, although perhaps not as efficient as later LH-jet engines, have the advantage of not suffering brain failure! Other euro perks can include H4 headlamps, rear fog lamps, an adjustable headlight system, all your pod warning lights auf Deutsch geschrieben, and a few other items I can't remember at the moment but I'm sure you'll discover.
5.) By far the second best part of 928 ownership (the first being DRIVING the car!) is the incredible group of people who own and drive these cars. Membership in this exclusive "club" includes technical advice, real world experience, and a chance to socialize with people who share similar interests. I can't even begin to calculate the amount of money I've saved or the knowledge I've gained thanks to the experience and encouragement of other owners. It really is a "family".
That said, welcome to the group - we're here for your questions, and eager to share your success as you bring your newly acquired beast to life!
-Brian
1980 928S 5sp. Euro
Silbermetalic/Blau
928 OC
11-18-2002, 10:45 PM
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Phil - Probably the most compelling reason to own an early Euro can be found here: <a href="http://www.momentoffame.com/snapshot.html?id=24553" target="_blank">928 Tech. Ref. Info.</a>. You'd have to get into an S4 before you started getting numbers like these. The torque curves on the Euro's are peaky but that is half the fun. Congratulations and good luck!
11-19-2002, 07:56 PM
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Thanks for the input guys, I continue to get more excited all the time. I will be diving into the engine next week. Am waiting for the tensioner boot and clamp. As soon as I get in running then to the paint shop ( nice to have one in my shop ) I do cabinets but my booth is big enough to hold a 928 and a datsun 2000 roadster. The 928 is shorter than the datsun!
thanks again
Phil
thanks again
Phil
