Seeing the low production number >200, do the 1985 951 hold any special value for now and going forward?
Opinions?

 

Just from low production numbers it will be but that depends if the model you have is in mint condition other wise it will take longer to rise in value
Mike

 

In Washington State and probably others, a 30 year old car qualifies you for collector plates, so pay only once for the rest of the life of the car. Saves a bundle on annual renewal fees.

You get and need just one plate for the back, but no front (radar-reflecting) plate, which along with a stealth radar-absorbing bra, might help avoid unwanted driving expenses.

And, early cars were lighter than later, and reportedly have forged pistons which were better engineered than later versions. Or so I'm told.

 

The '85 951 may be unique, but probably not very desirable by anyone other than collectors. Similar to the early vs. late 944na comparisons. The '85 951 had:

- square dash
- 15" Phone Dials
- early-offset suspension & wheels

Anyone have any data on AFM & DME? Were they 0-8v unregulated and soldered-on chip like '85 944na?

 

85 turbo had oval dash, 16 fuchs and all or most came with late sport seats. All turbos up to 87 are early offset.

Turbos in 85 were late comers and were much anticipated and sold out long before they were actually made.

My friend has one.

 

There's a rumor that the mythical early turbos MY85 came with thicker engine block and stronger internals cause they were still sort of experimental.

 

i have one of those

 

The early 1985 Turbo was built on same chassis as 85 NA with square dash and early offset suspension and 15" Phone Dial wheels #951.362.104.00. It also had the smaller 944na brakes. Then the steelworker's strike occurred and halted production.

Porsche used this time to update the 951 along with the 944 with oval dash. This updated model was sold as 85.5 944 model while the 951 was sold as 1986 model in North America. It still has early offset suspension, got bigger brakes and was the only 951 that came with 16" Fuchs wheels (951.362.115 & 951.362.117).

I'm not aware of any late 85.5 951s with oval dash like the 85.5 944na. Please post the VIN from your friend's car.

In 1987, the 951 got the late offset wheels.

 

That's a North America model, I think all 1985 951 models were made for European market.

 

I have what I understand to be one of the first 7 944 Turbos brought into the US. It was built in 1985 as a 1986 model with factory installed roll cage deletes of radio sunroof and ac for the SCCA Showroom Stock Playboy Escort Cup series. It has the oval dash.

 

the 85-86 928 blocks have thicker cylinder walls than any other year for some reason so it *might* be possible the contemporary 944 did too.

the 928 block was almost entirely unchanged for 87-91 despite other engine revisions, but the walls went thin again...

 

Jon, Rhen has an 85 with the Matter(?) factory cage, thats a rare bird right there. You two should compare #s.

 

Thanks Dan P. Yes it has a Matter roll cage and was built with a ROW engine which may have the thicker walls mentioned in an earlier post. It was sponsored by Brumos.

 

dan,you have to many cars.haha. glad you posted

 

I believe that is the case jon951