85fortheDrive

The 928 was Porsche's venture into a more comfortable touring car. During its 18 year run, it evolved into a car with more muscle, but never lost its comfort and remarkable long-trip desirability. I tell people that it is a highly regarded "GT" car.

But I really don't know what that means because I can't name other cars that have historically fallen into that classification.

So name droppers, please step forward!

Jim bailey - 928 International

First you have to define what a sportscar is, then how a GT differs from that definition but in the end it often boils down to if it is BOTH fast and comfortable it must be a GT

Richard S

These come quickly to mind:

BMW 8-series
Jag XJS

Rich

bjzorn

Aston Martin DB7
Ferrari 456GT, 599

the flyin' scotsman

M5 with 500 HP.............but its still a BM

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

It gets even more complicated because we have sports coups and sports sedans, both are fast and comfortable. Original GTO (gran tourissimo omolegato (sp?)) was a Ferrari that didn't look very comfortable to me, just fast. Pontiac borrowed the term GTO in the 60's and you have a Pontiac Bonneville with options. Ultimately, as with all definitions, one may choose a general consensus or may specifiy what exactly you mean by GT.
I for one do not know, but I'm sure others do.

ShawnSmith

Ferrari Daytona/412/456/612 probably fit in the GT category.

And the rather more obscure Jensen Interceptor.

Several Astons belong, and probably a few Jags.

Landseer

OK, so its out there a bit, but the Volvo 1800S had a little niche.

bjzorn

I will own a Jensen Interceptor one day just to have one. They have always looked neat to me.

ShawnSmith

The Jensen Interceptor was kind of a weird, slightly awkward but still interesting variant of the rounded 928 shape with a v8 in the nose, wasn't it?

A guy down the street from me when I was in high school had one. Lucky bastard.

Jim bailey - 928 International

Wiki "helps" make it clear...Gran Turismo is Italian for Grand Touring or "Grand Tourisme." in reference to the Grand Tour. The GT naming tradition comes from Italy, eg. Alfa Romeo and Ferrari named often their cars as Gran Turismo. 1951 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT was also one of the first cars to have such name. The GT term has many variations like GTI, meaning Gran Turismo Iniezione (Grand Touring Injection), first used on 1961 Maserati 3500 GTI. The Volkswagen Golf GTI (1975) was first mass produced car to have such name. Other variations of GT are GTE or GT/E (Einspritzung, a German word for injection) used in Germany, GTO (Gran Turismo Omologato) meaning homolagated car for racing (used by Ferrari and Pontiac), GTA (Gran Turismo Alleggerita) meaning lightened GT car, GTAm (modified lightened car) and GTV (Gran Turismo Veloce) meaning a fast GT car.

Today the term grand tourer or Gran Turismo is used to describe long distance or endurance races like 24 Hours of Le Mans, Mille Miglia, Targa Florio, Carrera Panamericana and the high-powered sports cars which compete/competed there. Some examples are the BMW M3, Saab GT750, Ferrari 250 GTO, Porsche 911 GT3, Porsche 904 GTS, and the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640.

After these famous races and cars, several road cars and even computer games adopted the Gran Turismo name:......." I am sure that helps !!

blown 87

Those are neat little cars, (P1800) we did a bunch of resto work on a couple of them.
A modern drive train and this would be on fun little car that only real gear heads would have a clue to what the heck it is.

85fortheDrive

Clear as a bell.

Now throw in the 928's own contribution to the GT terminology. The GT version of the car is introduced in 1990 or 1991, right? And what does it boast beyond its predecessors? More grand touring capabilities or more power?

To me, the sportiest versions of teh 928 are those that have GT in their name.

We're off to a good start here...

heinrich

Here's my opinion:

The 928 was peoduced in an era when there were precious few cars able to muster 24 hours of superspeed driving. Topday this is easily done by most high-end sedans from Audi, Mercedes, BMW, Saab, Volvo, Dodge, Ford, etc.

The 928 has to be something more, or I would buy an Audi.

And to me, the 928 is not a GT anymore, It has become a German Hot Rod, a Muscle Car, a rare and collectoible, fun, beefy, brawny LOUD monster that devours most challengers on the road, off the line to superspeed.

the flyin' scotsman

It's interesting the 928 GT came out in '89 but it was the more radical of the marque which questions the designation...........not that there's anything wrong with that.

"anti-slim Jim"...............very funny WP