hacker-pschorr

It's also a case of who showed up to the party.
Since no other manufacturer bothered to test any of their 1987 specific cars for that very specific claim, Porsche would have won by default even if the 928 only went 150mph.

Isn't marketing fun?

I know where you are coming from, walking up to a group of car enthusiasts and claiming the fasted production car in 1987 topped out at 178mph will lead to more than a few chuckles.

Marine Blue

Pointing out the automatic tranny is critical, otherwise the 959 (albeit not really a true production car in the US) would have killed the 928 in a top speed test.

john bono

I think another factor in the claim was that you could go into a Porsche dealership and buy an S4 off the showroom floor. I don't think you could do that with a TR. Also, 86-87 was right around the end of grey market cars. I'm not sure if there even was a US spec lambo or TR that year. If in late 1986, the only F-cars available in the states were a 328 or a Mondial, then even the 32V 928S would probably have been in the running as "fastest production car sold in America".

The_Remora

cut and pasted from 1987 article:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Europe’s Fastest of the Fast – Porsche 928S4 vs. Ferrari Testarossa vs. Lamborghini Countach vs. Lotus Esprit Turbo
Motor Trend, January 1987
…
Next in line was Porsche’s new 928S 4. Porsche has decided that the 928 needed an image change. The car has always been viewed in this country (by the enthusiast) as an unparalleled cruiser, the perfect car for a weekend in the Napa/Sonoma wine country with your lady friend or a quick run from L.A. to Portland. Its compliant, comfortable ability to cover large distances quickly has few, if any, equals, but now there will be a new emphasis on performance for the 928 from the German car company. The ’87 928S 4 is the spear carrier. As we reported in last month’s issue, it’s not all image. The car has more power, better aerodynamics, and, as a first step for the new “performance” 928, Porsche sent Al Holbert to Bonneville Salt Flats to capture two FIA speed records for the flying kilometer and flying mile, nearly 172 mph. We were slightly slower with our test car at TRC, but the differences are small enough to be explained by preparation of the car for the Bonneville record runs.

Certainly the most civilized of the field, the Porsche was also the least demanding at top speed. Compared to the others, it was compliant, and managed to turn the bumpy west banking into a non-event. The Porsche was also the quietest at speed. The 4-valve V-8 was silky smooth, the only sound was the complaint of the air as the big, red 928 blasted a 170-mph hole through it. The speedometer registered a solid 169 mph at the end of the front straight, and the Porsche seemed totally unconcerned by it all. We tried both high and low lanes of the banking to see if the 928 suspension would react – it did not. We tried different exits from the banking – the Porsche didn’t care. We considered turning the stereo on but decided that would be sacrilegious; after all, this was serious stuff blasting along here at 170 mph on the high banking, and we should be paying attention.
…

The Results

Speedometer accuracy being what it is, we were anxious to see the printouts from the timing equipment. The story of the tape:
Ferrari Testarossa – 177.27 mph
Porsche 928S 4 – 166.94 mph
Lamborghini Countach – 160.27 mph
Lotus Esprit Turbo – 145.79 mph

The surprise of the field was the 928S 4 at 167 mph.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

tv

Everyone showed up and no one is chuckling, this is one of 2 tests done by the top mags of the day that I have had for years on different hard drives but the results were the same. Ferrari a little faster, but the 928 in 2nd with the best handling and most comfortable at high speed and over bumps. That is because good engineering means more than 0-60, the 928 shape was wind tunnel tested to be stable from crosswinds at 150mph + on the autobahn not just top speed for some mag test. (The countach w/o the wing was not stable)


How many times do I have to post these before someone else saves it to their hard drive. Come on remember this stuff! The 928 in summer 86 did 171.9 mph on the salt flats which are slow by about 3mph or so I have heard compared to pavement. 175mph in 1986 is phucking fast. Todays top speed for production cars is around 205 -- 25 years later. (MK once mentioned something about Nardo and 180)


Black & White fact (the 80's production supercars, neutral tester, regular cars)

hacker-pschorr

They left out the Aston Martin of the day which was good to well over 170 and they should have taken the wing off the Countach.

The Ferrari F40 was also a 1987 model, verified by multiple tests to hit 198-200

When you look at this list of cars, only the Aston and 928 make suitable daily drivers which is why they are both considered "GT's" where as the rest of the filed fall more into the exotic car category.......fast and obnoxious but also utterly useless

EspritS4s

Is this true? I've never heard the automatic qualifier before. Also, i thought the Holbert car had a manual transmission?

tv

The288 GTO, F40, and 959 were not production cars. (F40 was also a 90's car) They were limited edition special vehicles.

hacker-pschorr

Nope, they were all certified by the homologation rules of the time, which is all that matters.

The McLaren F1 was produced in fewer numbers than all three, along with the Veyron and they are both considered fastest production cars.

How is the F40 a 90's car when production started in 1986 for the 1987 model year???? I have a photo of myself in July of 1987 standing next to a registered F40 in Wisconsin.

Less than 300 Jaguar XK220's were built, that held the title of fastest production car until the McLaren came along.

pcar928fan

288GTO and 959 were never officially imported to the US, that is why they were not included or considered as US Production cars, because they weren't.

hacker-pschorr

That's a good point.

tv

Hacker I have spent as much time on Fchat and other forums, driven with and spoken to owners of those cars and read all the mags. To get on the list for a 288 GTO or F40 - you had to be somebody, Some body with a history of buying and holding onto ferraris.

That is NOT a production car. A production car is one where anyone can walk in and buy 1 and they are not limited in number.

Ask Bill Gates how easy it was to own a 959.



Todays top production cars 2010 (25 years later)

Ferrari 599 top speed 205

Corvette ZR-1 top speed 204.6

porsche 997.1 turbo top speed 192

porsche 997 top speed 182

porsche carrera gt top speed 204

ferrari 360 CS top speed 186



If the 928 had stayed in production and only gained 1 mph per year since 1986 it would be 197mph today, right in the mix.

hacker-pschorr

Demand out numbering supply does not exclude a car from being a production model.
Hell, by that definition the first two years of the Mazda Miata wouldn't be considered a production car. Friend of mine paid triple MSRP back in 1991 for one.

Demand was so high for the F40 they scrapped the initial count and pumped out a few more. This upset quite a few people that paid 7 figures for one.

As James pointed out, the issue was with the US DOT. Any other country that was a non-issue.

928mac

There is at least 1 nos 928 that claims 207

tv

Not a serious attempt H-P, F-50, Enzo, FXX, 599XX all limited in number to special people, not production cars.