Greetings! Just doing research and tapping into the experts. I love the early cars. I know I want a 5 speed. I know that some cars have 219 hp and the euro models have 300 hp. I know that even 300 hp is tame by today standards but the extra horses sweeten the pot for me. My unicorn would be a cork and pascha interior car in an unusual 70s color. What cars should I target? Pros and cons of Euro vs. US cars? Do all "S" cars have more HP? Should I consider the mid 80s cars? I have read plenty of old threads but I am thirsty for more knowledge...

 

Many different varieties of S body cars. Here they are in order of HP:

84-86 Euro S - 310 hp 4.7 LH fuel injection
80-83 Euro S - 300 hp 4.5 CIS fuel injection
85-86.5 USA - 288 hp 5.0 32v LH fuel injection
83-84 USA - 239 hp 4.7 L jet fuel injection
81-82 USA - 228 hp 4.5 L jet fuel injection

 

I would avoid buying a 928 by its spec sheet and instead find a local 928 group and go for a ride in a few. For example, I find the early 5 speed US spec cars with seemingly meager HP exceedingly fun to drive. I've assisted in swapping out the stock 219hp motor with the 300hp euro in a '79, and to be honest I prefered the power delivery of the original power plant-very broad and torquey. The Euro motor felt like it had to be screamed, which it did willingly. Lots of different engines to choose from, all are a little unique in how they deliver their power. Having more HP doesn't necessarily add to the 928 driving experience.

 

Having a 79 USA, I agree with Adam B., this car was not meant to be a stoplight jackrabbit. In real driving I love the effortless power when going up hills. I do notice a degradation in acceleration if I have a fat passenger however. Solo, with only my 160 lbs to tote, it's a peppy old dude. guess that rules out fat chics too.

 

I believe the 80-83 Euro S was a 4.7 CIS...

 

All the 928S cars we have over here in Europe are 4,7 liter. The earlier cars with CIS fuel injection were rated 300 hp. The later cars with LH fuel injection
(1984-86) were rated 310 hp. In practise you will not feel a difference but the LH fuel injected cars are more economical when it comes to fuel consumption.
Most of the cars did not come with a catalytic converter.
The standard 928 cars with a 4,5 liter engine were rated 240 hp and by far not so fast.
Åke

 

I find this to be true of my 1976 Ferrari 308 as well. It is an early fiberglass car that is rated at 240 hp. Some period road tests posted some awful performance numbers (17 second 1/4 miles). It is stock with only the deletion of the smog pump and thermal reactor muffler. I bought the car without driving it. Upon arrival, I discovered that it was a deceptively quick car, capable of a low 14 second 1/4 mile. It was a nice surprise. No one buys these cars to haul tail but a certain amount power is nice.

 

Opps my bad on the CIS Euro S.

For the OP one thing if performance is an important objective is find a 5 speed car, they are tougher to find but give any year of 928 a much more sporty character.

Bang for the buck, and for decent availability are 85-86.5 USA cars with a 5 speed. With Porken chip upgrades these cars really haul ***!

 

If you compare the performance spec sheets of both the 79 928 and the 79 corvette the numbers are surprisingly close. -of course not including the rare big block L models.

 

I admire a man who wants the more interesting interiors and paint colors.

The cars are all fun to drive. I suggest deciding on a few things (auto/manual? S spoilers or no spoilers?) And then look for a car that suits your design tastes. It's hard to find older cars with really good interiors. That'll be a challenge in the search so being less determined in other areas will help you decide on a car.

 

If comparing performance #'s your missing a big one,Torque!

A 5.0 will out pull a 4.5 or 4.7 every time

 

OK, here's my take on the early cars, as that's been my focus on what I look for...

1) Early serial numbers (by this I mean the first 50-100 production cars, not built on the production line, mostly hand built with running changes) – they were all “Euro” cars as the US production started only after 6-700 (EDIT - actual around 300 ROW units before 1st US built!) Euro cars were built.
2) Pascha interior, especially the cork/black/tan as in this example. Highly sought after and literally screams 1970’s. Available in 78-79 US cars (I've never seen a US Pascha car past 1979), Euro until '85-86 (near as I can tell based on cars for sale over past few years. This may vary as Porsche would put anything in any car for a price).
3) Wild colors – Minerva blue, Light green metallic (as in Kermit), Talbot Yellow, Continental Orange, Apple Green, Fern Green, Olive Green. Just as in the 911 world, the colors will attract. Some of the '70's and '80's Browns and Tans are period cool as well but not as 'eye popping'.
4) 5 speed Manual (Although the Automatic cars are finding their way up as well, and may be the better drive..also parts availability is MUCH greater). Manual cars were the majority in the early years, in the minority as the years went along..

Later('80-'84) US cars got the L-Jet Fuel Injection and revised “for better mileage” gearing, and don’t have near the ‘punch’ of the earlier cars. (Euro cars still got the CIS system and performance gearing until I believe ’86). Once the 32 valve cars and the S4 cars came along, power was up, (way up), but the are much heavier on their feet. Drive a well sorted 5 speed ’78 or ’79 and you will know why the magazines of the day claimed the 928 to be the best Porsche (and the best car, period!) ever built.

If you want Pascha AND Extra power, look for an '80-'86 Euro S, as I think they are the only ones that will have that combo.

Some feel that the future 'high dollar' cars will be the early cars and also the high power cars as in the 911 world. In the OB world, early VIN, 5 speeds, cool & rare colors, high power ("S" versions and '85-86 US cars) pascha or unusual interiors, and of course "special" factory versions (only two - Weissach for US and Jubilee for ROW) will all bring a premium, especially with a COA showing these to be original to a particular car. IF you are going to do a high dollar resto or fix/maintain a car as a "keeper", I would do it on a car that has some or all of these features.

 

There's an 83 euro in Dallas Craigslist for $9900. Looks good in the listing. No affiliation.

 

Eman 928 looked into it, reports were not so hot...

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...s-83-euro.html

 

'85 32V manual. Boom. (Drops mic.)