1981 Boss 944 Lemans Pictures
08-12-2006, 12:19 AM
#1
Racer
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1981 Boss 944 Lemans Pictures
Thought you guys might enjoy these pics. Some of you may have seen these before, but I haven't seen them until today.
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
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08-13-2006, 05:43 AM
#9
Three Wheelin'
Actually sorry to disappoint you guys but all of these cars are 924's 
One is Carrera GT, others are Carrera GTR's (2.0, 375 hp). Only one (thats with front view) is 924 GTP (320hp, 2.5litre 16v Turbo).
One is Carrera GT, others are Carrera GTR's (2.0, 375 hp). Only one (thats with front view) is 924 GTP (320hp, 2.5litre 16v Turbo).
08-13-2006, 08:26 AM
#10
Technically correct. All the cars pictured are 924 variants, but the LeMans Boss GTP is every bit a prototype 944, with an engine based on the yet-to-be introduced 944 and Tony Lapine penned fender blisters that became the 944 profile in street form, right?
08-13-2006, 10:19 AM
#11
Three Wheelin'
Flared fenders were first still on 924, Carrera GT that was. That very wide rear fenders were modifications for GTR cars that competed in Trans Am series.
And 924 GTP had only the block similar to the regular 944 engine: it had 16v head and twin cam belt pulleys, unlike 944S or S2 that had belt-chain type.
Why Porsche didn't produce 944 Turbo wiht 16v head, you might wonder? My bet is that it was too quick and would be killer not only for the regular 911, but 930 also.
Yet, the only 16v turbocharged inline 4 from the factory was the 924, funny, isn't it?
And 924 GTP had only the block similar to the regular 944 engine: it had 16v head and twin cam belt pulleys, unlike 944S or S2 that had belt-chain type.
Why Porsche didn't produce 944 Turbo wiht 16v head, you might wonder? My bet is that it was too quick and would be killer not only for the regular 911, but 930 also.
Yet, the only 16v turbocharged inline 4 from the factory was the 924, funny, isn't it?
08-13-2006, 04:25 PM
#12
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Raceboy,
The Boss car shared much more in common with the 944 turbo than the 924s. For example, as you had mentioned, the engine was more like the 944 turbo than the 924s. Also the suspension of the Boss shared many more parts in common with the 944 turbo than the 924. As for the body, the Boss was not exacly like any Porsche.
However the Boss 944 Lemans car was later acknowledged, by Porsche, as a 944 turbo prototype. Porsche had refered to the car as the 924GTP, at the time of the race, simply because the 944 turbo had not been officially released to the press at the time of the Boss's racing debut. If you had ever seen the Boss car in person, the phrase "944 Lemans" is stamped on the valve cover.
I believe the reason why the Boss car is not commonly refered to as the 944 Lemans car is because Porsche still refuses to acknowledge the perfectly balanced, evermore stylish, comfortable, race able, increadably tunable, 944 turbo from the 80's.
I wonder why?
Maybe its because, in so many ways, the 944 turbo still outperforms many vehicles in their current line 2006 and soon to be 2007 models.
The Boss car shared much more in common with the 944 turbo than the 924s. For example, as you had mentioned, the engine was more like the 944 turbo than the 924s. Also the suspension of the Boss shared many more parts in common with the 944 turbo than the 924. As for the body, the Boss was not exacly like any Porsche.
However the Boss 944 Lemans car was later acknowledged, by Porsche, as a 944 turbo prototype. Porsche had refered to the car as the 924GTP, at the time of the race, simply because the 944 turbo had not been officially released to the press at the time of the Boss's racing debut. If you had ever seen the Boss car in person, the phrase "944 Lemans" is stamped on the valve cover.
I believe the reason why the Boss car is not commonly refered to as the 944 Lemans car is because Porsche still refuses to acknowledge the perfectly balanced, evermore stylish, comfortable, race able, increadably tunable, 944 turbo from the 80's.
I wonder why?
Maybe its because, in so many ways, the 944 turbo still outperforms many vehicles in their current line 2006 and soon to be 2007 models.
08-14-2006, 08:33 AM
#14
I've heard through third parties that Derek Bell, one of the drivers tapped to compete in the 924 GTP at LeMans is a big fan of 944s.
Despite his considerable accomplishments in Porsche prototypes since those early days in his career, Bell still sings the praises of the 944 at Porsche vintage events and basically agrees with jturbo, that the 944 had more potential as a street and race platform than the company fully exploited...partly because of changing rules in racing and partly because of an internal change of direction that refocused the company on air cooled 911 variants as their performance flagships.
Although we all, quite rightly, revere the "mother company" for its engineering and racing heritage, we should never forget that it was, and still is, a very small industrial concern compared to the world's largest manufacturers and is still privately held. As such, personalities, black sheep and "uncles that no one discusses" still lurk in their closets. The ill fated move in the mid 80's toward water cooled GT based cars was derailed in a coup of significant internal proportions.
Despite his considerable accomplishments in Porsche prototypes since those early days in his career, Bell still sings the praises of the 944 at Porsche vintage events and basically agrees with jturbo, that the 944 had more potential as a street and race platform than the company fully exploited...partly because of changing rules in racing and partly because of an internal change of direction that refocused the company on air cooled 911 variants as their performance flagships.
Although we all, quite rightly, revere the "mother company" for its engineering and racing heritage, we should never forget that it was, and still is, a very small industrial concern compared to the world's largest manufacturers and is still privately held. As such, personalities, black sheep and "uncles that no one discusses" still lurk in their closets. The ill fated move in the mid 80's toward water cooled GT based cars was derailed in a coup of significant internal proportions.
08-14-2006, 09:14 AM
#15
Three Wheelin'
Originally Posted by danny951
oh snap! /vw commercial guy voice
Originally Posted by jturbo
Raceboy,
I believe the reason why the Boss car is not commonly refered to as the 944 Lemans car is because Porsche still refuses to acknowledge the perfectly balanced, evermore stylish, comfortable, race able, increadably tunable, 944 turbo from the 80's.
I wonder why?
Maybe its because, in so many ways, the 944 turbo still outperforms many vehicles in their current line 2006 and soon to be 2007 models.
I believe the reason why the Boss car is not commonly refered to as the 944 Lemans car is because Porsche still refuses to acknowledge the perfectly balanced, evermore stylish, comfortable, race able, increadably tunable, 944 turbo from the 80's.
I wonder why?
Maybe its because, in so many ways, the 944 turbo still outperforms many vehicles in their current line 2006 and soon to be 2007 models.
Actually my point was not to cause confusion but to specify models "official" name.
And btw, I'm currently bulding a 2.5 16v Turbo engine for my 924 daily driver.