1981 Porsche 924 Coupe

Description

Developed in conjunction with Volkswagen in the early ‘70s as a replacement for the mid-engined 914, Porsche’s 924 eventually became a second model alongside the 911 after VW pulled out of the project. Breaking new ground on several fronts, this was Porsche’s first front-engined design, the first to feature four in-line cylinders and its first water-cooled model. The modern bodywork possessed an excellent aerodynamic co-efficient of just 0.36 and had several ground-breaking features, including a large glass hatchback and pop-up headlamps. Representing a total break with tradition from the 911, the 924 influenced the styling of Porsche’s new flagship, the similarly front-engined 928. With impeccable handling characteristics in the best Zuffenhausen tradition, the 924 was a relatively affordable, well-equipped sports car that came in for plenty of praise from the motoring press when unveiled in 1975. Underscoring just how good the original 924 concept was, Porsche further developed the model into the 944 and ultimately the 968, thus extending the life of its front-engined sports car to almost two decades of production. Now more than 45 years old, the 924s are fast approaching classic status and now is an excellent time to snap one up.