1986 Porsche 944 CS Turbo
12-30-2018, 09:41 PM
#3
Nordschleife Master
It’s an 86 turbo with option code M751/752/637 which made the car in effect a turbo cup car for the street or a “944 Club Sport” The option was available through only a few select dealers on an “Exclusiv” or “Sonderwunsch” program and it is very rare though I don’t think $150k rare, that’s just speculation imo.
12-30-2018, 11:37 PM
#4
Rennlist Member
It was one of the handful of "Escort" Clubsport (US Cup) cars imported by Al Holbert (PMNA) for the SCCA Escort Series. This particular car has been sold at high end auctions in the past few years. I recall it sold for around $75k at Gooding/Amelia Island.
12-31-2018, 10:27 PM
#5
Hates Family Guy
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I checked out photos from the 1986 Longest Day of Nelson Ledges - there were two at least two red turbos with cup mirrors and fiberglass hoods in the field. I wonder if this car was one of them.
Edit: Nevermind, found Oddjob's post from 2012 -
That 86 US Cup/Clubsport/Escort is somewhat unusual.
I had spoke w/ Bob Bogan some years ago about the various Clubsports he owned/raced in the Escort series. That car actually came up in discussion. It was originally sold by PMNA/Holbert to George Follmer, who did not race it. Bogan bought the car from Follmer at the end of the 86 season, preparing to race it in 87. But then the factory introduced the upgraded 87 Cup/Escorts, so Bogan sold the car to Dan Hightower and bought an 87 Turbo Cup and 944S Clubsport (currently ahetzel's car).
This one showed up on ebay several years ago w/ some additional race history. The claim was that it was raced by Hawk Motorsports (Lloyd Hawkins) in the Firestone Firehawk series as an S2. Apparently it had an S2 driveline installed (then the turbo driveline was replaced at some later point).
Honestly, I was very skeptical of that whole story. Why would a pro race shop go to that effort? Unlikely that the IMSA Firehawk rules would have allowed a converted car to run. Claim just made no sense at all. And having watched the races at the time, I am certain that Murry and Hawkins raced a 968 in ’94, not an S2.
Found the old ad for it:
Anyway – the restoration on the car also leaves some questions. The 86 cars did not have strut tower bars, this one does. It also has the 87+ type Matter cage with the additional rear cross bracing (86 Matter cages did not have this). From previous pictures of the car, it does not have the correct M637 Clubsport double adjustable koni suspension parts. It had 968 M030 koni single adjustable rear shocks installed.
Certainly a very clean and probably big $$ restoration. But w/o seeing the car in person, and looking under the carpet and a few other places, hard to tell exactly what is original/correct. And would probably need to talk to Lloyd Hawkins to get some insight or explanation of the previous owner’s claimed race history.
I had spoke w/ Bob Bogan some years ago about the various Clubsports he owned/raced in the Escort series. That car actually came up in discussion. It was originally sold by PMNA/Holbert to George Follmer, who did not race it. Bogan bought the car from Follmer at the end of the 86 season, preparing to race it in 87. But then the factory introduced the upgraded 87 Cup/Escorts, so Bogan sold the car to Dan Hightower and bought an 87 Turbo Cup and 944S Clubsport (currently ahetzel's car).
This one showed up on ebay several years ago w/ some additional race history. The claim was that it was raced by Hawk Motorsports (Lloyd Hawkins) in the Firestone Firehawk series as an S2. Apparently it had an S2 driveline installed (then the turbo driveline was replaced at some later point).
Honestly, I was very skeptical of that whole story. Why would a pro race shop go to that effort? Unlikely that the IMSA Firehawk rules would have allowed a converted car to run. Claim just made no sense at all. And having watched the races at the time, I am certain that Murry and Hawkins raced a 968 in ’94, not an S2.
Found the old ad for it:
Quote:
Original Club Sport, sold by Holbert, Porsche Motorsports. Built for Escort Endurance series. Originally assigned to Bob Bogan of Lee's Garage, but sold to Dan Hightower and raced in SCCA regional and nationals. I am the second owner.
This car is the last year 1994 Firestone Firehawk Championship winner,driven by Murry and Hawkins.Other drivers were John O'Stein,Terry Earwood,Doc Bundy,Boris Said,Peter Cunningham,Shawn Hendricks,Manuel Reuter,Dave White,Nick Ham.Winner of Firehawk,Sebring 12 hours and 6 hours for 3 years.
Club Sport mods include factory fiberglass hood with locks, magnesium intake and oil pan, Matter cage, factory Recaro and lightweight passenger seat, original non cat exhaust, original engine is detailed, powder coated and cad plated, fresh head, fresh turbo, sunroof delete and power steering delete, roll up windows, lightweight mirrors, small battery, lightweight door panels, no door beams, cloth interior, club sport sway bars, adjustable shocks, new rotors, undertray, water pump, new radiator, transmission is original and fresh, club sport mounts on suspension and transmission, limited slip with cooler, original calipers back on the car, aluminum space saver spare and scissors jack, lightweight carpet, very correct car with all the original pieces, just restored mechanically, Factory lightweight hollow fiberglass rear undertrays, rolled rear fender lip as delivered, older Glassurit paint in very good condition, not raced on. Original wheels 8+9x16 with new Michelin sports. The weight is 2800 lbs. Street legal. Comes with La. title. The VIN. number is Euro and is accurate, the year model is 1986.
Original Club Sport, sold by Holbert, Porsche Motorsports. Built for Escort Endurance series. Originally assigned to Bob Bogan of Lee's Garage, but sold to Dan Hightower and raced in SCCA regional and nationals. I am the second owner.
This car is the last year 1994 Firestone Firehawk Championship winner,driven by Murry and Hawkins.Other drivers were John O'Stein,Terry Earwood,Doc Bundy,Boris Said,Peter Cunningham,Shawn Hendricks,Manuel Reuter,Dave White,Nick Ham.Winner of Firehawk,Sebring 12 hours and 6 hours for 3 years.
Club Sport mods include factory fiberglass hood with locks, magnesium intake and oil pan, Matter cage, factory Recaro and lightweight passenger seat, original non cat exhaust, original engine is detailed, powder coated and cad plated, fresh head, fresh turbo, sunroof delete and power steering delete, roll up windows, lightweight mirrors, small battery, lightweight door panels, no door beams, cloth interior, club sport sway bars, adjustable shocks, new rotors, undertray, water pump, new radiator, transmission is original and fresh, club sport mounts on suspension and transmission, limited slip with cooler, original calipers back on the car, aluminum space saver spare and scissors jack, lightweight carpet, very correct car with all the original pieces, just restored mechanically, Factory lightweight hollow fiberglass rear undertrays, rolled rear fender lip as delivered, older Glassurit paint in very good condition, not raced on. Original wheels 8+9x16 with new Michelin sports. The weight is 2800 lbs. Street legal. Comes with La. title. The VIN. number is Euro and is accurate, the year model is 1986.
Certainly a very clean and probably big $$ restoration. But w/o seeing the car in person, and looking under the carpet and a few other places, hard to tell exactly what is original/correct. And would probably need to talk to Lloyd Hawkins to get some insight or explanation of the previous owner’s claimed race history.
Last edited by Kurt R; 12-31-2018 at 11:06 PM.
12-31-2018, 11:46 PM
#6
Rennlist Member
That brought up some memories. Anyone know what happened to the car Porschehead was selling?
I checked out photos from the 1986 Longest Day of Nelson Ledges - there were two at least two red turbos with cup mirrors and fiberglass hoods in the field. I wonder if this car was one of them.
Edit: Nevermind, found Oddjob's post from 2012 -
I checked out photos from the 1986 Longest Day of Nelson Ledges - there were two at least two red turbos with cup mirrors and fiberglass hoods in the field. I wonder if this car was one of them.
Edit: Nevermind, found Oddjob's post from 2012 -
Since that 2012 post, I have found some additional information that does confirm that particular '86 Escort/Cup was converted to S2 specs for the Firehawk series. So I still don't understand why that was done, but seems that the description was legit.
01-01-2019, 09:41 PM
#7
Hates Family Guy
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There's a recap of the 1993 Sebring Firehawk race on Youtube. The winner was a red 944, and in the victory lane interview David Murry mentions that it used to be a turbo car.
I'm not able to find much Firehawk and Escort information on the web.
As far as rebuilding a car for another class or series, it seems common. There was the 87 944s on eBay that was converted to a S2, and even the Super 7 car that got the turbo motor so it could run the Bridgestone Supercar series.
My neighbor had a Volkswagen Golf Cup car that he converted to a GTI so he could run Improved Touring. OK, maybe that last one isn't as special. My car was converted to ABS and late offset, although it's getting undone for the restoration.
I'm not able to find much Firehawk and Escort information on the web.
As far as rebuilding a car for another class or series, it seems common. There was the 87 944s on eBay that was converted to a S2, and even the Super 7 car that got the turbo motor so it could run the Bridgestone Supercar series.
My neighbor had a Volkswagen Golf Cup car that he converted to a GTI so he could run Improved Touring. OK, maybe that last one isn't as special. My car was converted to ABS and late offset, although it's getting undone for the restoration.