drooman

40 years ago today, on 2-21-77, some guys at the skunkworks in the Porsche factory said farewell the first 12 preproduction press cars. These same guys spent the last few weeks hand building these cars in a single room, in somewhat of a scramble, to meet a pre-arranged deadline for the 928 press launch scheduled at the Mas D'Artigney Hotel in St. Paul France.

The 12 cars were:

9288100011 S CX 2132 white
9288100012 S CX 2133 white
9288100013 S CX 2134 white
9288100014 S CX 2135 white
9288100015 S CX 2136 red
9288100016 S CX 2137 red
9288100017 S CX 2138 red
9288100018 S CX 2139 silver
9288100019 S CX 2140 silver
9288100020 S CX 2141 silver
9288100021 S CX 2142 petrol
9288100022 S CX 2143 petrol

They arrived at the hotel on 2-22-77, and remained there until 3-8-77. these pics are from the hotel and surrounding areas.

Thanks to 928 Classics for researching and documenting this history over the past several years.

928cs

I knew that it was in February but did not know the exact date.

Thanks you for the information!

M. Requin

Great piece of Porsche history, my thanks to you and Mr Doerr for this.

bureau13

So, I notice that these have no side-marker lights, not in the US position nor in the "Euro" location either. Was that normal for the first year models, or only on these preproduction versions? I haven't noticed it on other cars, although I could have simply missed it.

drscottsmith

Thanks for posting these! Great knowing more about the history of our cars!

-scott

928cs

That is the easiest way to identify a very early Euro 928. Up to 928 810 0479 (included), they don't have side-markers lights on the front wing.

Imo000

Nice!

Jadz928

Andrew, thanks for taking the initative to put this together.
What better time than now to celebrate 40 years since the first 928s completion and initial debut!

As an append, here's an article I put together about Leonard Turner's experience at the press launch in France.
http://928classics.com/1/post/2014/0...-april-77.html

Lastly, here's a 928 35th anniversary article I wrote for PCA - a retrospective of the first 928s.
http://928classics.com/1/post/2013/0...first-928.html

V2Rocket

cool photos.

it'd be a lot of fun to build a tube frame to tie all the suspension points together and bolt a seat on top...

Jadz928

Representation of Porsche's past, present and future ca. 1977

KenRudd

The lack of side markers in either location really cleans up the lines IMHO. Funny how so small a detail can have such an impact.

M. Requin

Time for side marker delete!

928cs

Do you know where is the former S-CX 2141?

FredR

Notice how when shown with other Porsches of the same vintage the 928 looks so futuristic -or put another way - like it was from a different generation.

Rgds

Fred

Jadz928

That was the '77 Lemans pace car.

Last I knew it was in Germany owned by a nice guy named Joe. Car had an exterior color change and was cosmetically upgraded to 'S' spec. Interior looked mostly original.