1989 Porsche 928 S4 Coupe

Porsche’s radical new flagship 928 model was a complete break with tradition for the Zuffenhausen marque, combining futuristic styling with a front-engine layout, with a water-cooled V8 mated to a rear transaxle for perfect weight distribution.  With an outer structure made from steel, using alloy doors, front wings and bonnet to save weight and a luxurious cabin, the 928 was a grand tourer par excellence and voted European Car of the Year in 1978.  Designed for high speed autobahns cruising, the majority of 928s were specified with automatic gearboxes but the new car was also a very capable performer when the road got a little twisty – it should be noted that a majority of factory test drivers chose the 928 as their company car.  In 1980, Porsche revised the model, the V8 enlarged to 4.7-litres and the camshafts re-profiled to lift power to 300 bhp, along with front and rear spoilers, new alloy wheels and fatter tyres. The 928S underwent a process of continual refinement over the next six years, with the option of ABS added in 1984 (standardised in 1986) and Bosch’s latest LH engine management system raising power to 310 bhp and adding more torque.  Porsche also adopted Mercedes-Benz’ latest four-speed automatic in 1984 and enlarged the capacity to 5-litres in 1986 for the US market (optional elsewhere).  Launched in 1987, the next variation on the 928 theme was the extensively reworked S4, with a 5-litre four-valves-per-cylinder engine, developing 320 bhp at 6000 rpm, with a useful jump in torque as well. The bigger engine, combined with a more aerodynamic shape, significantly raised the top speed of the 928 S4 to 265-270 km/h, the fastest Porsche production car yet. Inside, the cabin was improved and on-board diagnostics enhanced - the S4 was the first car in the world offered with a tyre-pressure monitor.  All this luxury and performance didn’t come cheaply – even by Porsche standards the 928 was an expensive motorcar – but the model was always a strong seller, with in excess of 60,000 built between 1978 and 1995, when production finally came to a halt.  For several years the 928 has been touted as a supercar bargain but values of the best cars – like the example on offer here – are sure to appreciate in years to come.