Originally Posted by 9 Magazine

for the first time, the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany has released one of only two four-door 928 concept cars from 1991 for public viewing

Originally Posted by curve lover

Originally Posted by Forbes

By the early 1970s, Porsche management decided that the 911 would eventually have to be replaced by a more modern design. The new model would feature a water-cooled V-8 front-mounted engine with its transmission and differential combined in a rear-mounted transaxle for excellent weight distribution.

The chassis featured all independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes. The near-equal weight distribution meant that the 928 would have far better straight-line stability than the 911, which has its engine overhanging the rear axle.

The 928 debuted in 1978, but it was never accepted as the true replacement for the 911 by Porsche fans.

Be that as it may, Porsche continued to toy with the idea of expanding its lineup and offering larger cars (witness the forthcoming Cayenne to see how long it's taken for Porsche to truly realize this notion), and in 1986 Porsche and--before Mercedes-Benz bought it in the late 1990s--German aftermarket tuning shop AMG built the prototype pictured here, a custom 928 four-door sedan. One cannot help but conjecture that this variant may have been a prototype for a new 928 that would have created a completely new market niche, further distancing it from the 911.

According to current Porsche designer Harm LaGaay, this rare and unusual car was delivered to Heinz Prechter, founder and chief executive of ASC (American Sunroof Corporation), whose large automotive aftermarket firm, headquartered just south of Detroit, enjoyed a close relationship with Porsche. The workmanship of this conversion is impeccable, being the equal or better of the legendary fit and finish of a new Porsche. The entire cabin, for instance, is lined in sumptuous burgundy leather to match the exterior paintwork.

This unusual factory custom Porsche was offered at no reserve at the RM Monterey auction, Aug. 16, 2002, and sold for $44,000, nearly four times the going rate for same-vintage 928s. --Jim Schrager for Sports Car Market Magazine


Forbes Fact

There is no concern about what all of the other factory four-door 928s will now be worth. There are none. Of course, you have to wonder a great deal about how this contraption will drive. The handling couldn't have been helped by a wheelbase approximately one foot longer than stock and an addition of hundreds of pounds in weight; we think that would make it just like most modifieds and hot rods: mainly for show, not too much go.

It may be that as a true Porsche factory oddity, this four-door creation will always have some value. But it won't appreciate at the head of the market. For someone who wants to get lots of attention at the next Porsche Parade, here is just the ticket. But what do you do with it the other 51 weeks of the year?

Clarification: A previous version of this story stated that this was the only Porsche sedan, which is untrue. In the early 1990s, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche teamed up on the 500E. A previous version of this story also stated that 928s do not handle well, and that parts and expertise are scarce. While handling is subjective, we stand corrected on that score--and on the matter of parts, which are apparently plentiful.