| If you are already a Porsche buff I | | | | knew it simply as the 944 Turbo. It had |
| don't have to tell you how popular the | | | | the same basic engine but it was the |
| Porsche 944 was and still remains today. | | | | intercooled version and of course it was |
| If you are knew to Porsche's your about | | | | turbo charged so you got a whopping 220 |
| to meet with some fascinating reading. | | | | BHP at 6000 RPM. |
| So what was the 944 all about? | | | | 1987 saw the introduction of the 944S - |
| Porsche has been building great cars for | | | | S standing for Super. This model had |
| years but in 1982 it came up with what | | | | dual air bags and anti lock brakes as |
| was going to be a real winner. This was | | | | standard equipment. It also had the |
| the year the first Porsche 944 hit the | | | | first 16 valve engine with 250 BHP. |
| market. It was originally introduced as | | | | 1989 The S was no more to be with the |
| a replacement for the Porsche 924. | | | | equipment from the S model becoming |
| This eventually did occur but for a few | | | | standard on the 944 model. The engine |
| years both cars were actually on the | | | | was replaced to a 4 cylinder 2.7 liter |
| market side by side. From the get go | | | | engine. |
| the 944 was immediately a very popular | | | | In 1990 Porsche released the 944 Series |
| car available as either a 2 door coupe | | | | 2 known as the S2. It was a revision of |
| or a 2 door convertible. | | | | the 944S which had the aerodynamics of |
| So what was it that made the 944 such a | | | | the 951. It was also the year the 16 |
| hit? Well there were a few things but | | | | valve 3.0 liter engine was introduced |
| mostly it was the high performance and | | | | becoming the most popular engine ever in |
| look of this sports car. It was a | | | | the 944. This 16 valve engine |
| success right from the beginning but | | | | From 1982 to 1989 113,070 were produced |
| over the years several models become | | | | and 25,107 Turbo engines were produced. |
| available including the 944S, 944S2, and | | | | The 944S saw a total of 12,936 cars |
| the 944 Turbo. | | | | produced and the 944S2 had only 6,439 |
| When first produced it had only the 2.5 | | | | produced. In the big picture that's not |
| liter engine but over time there were | | | | a lot of cars which is probably one of |
| options which also included a 2.7 liter | | | | the reasons demand remains strong. |
| and 3.0 liter engine. Both the 94 inch | | | | Late n 1991 the 944 Series 3 was |
| wheelbase and the 2932 curb weight also | | | | released but the model number was |
| made this car very appealing to the | | | | changed to the 968. It was originally |
| sports car enthusiast. | | | | called the 944 S3 but then marketing |
| When the 944 first hit the streets it | | | | opted for a name change in the hope of |
| had a straight 4 cyclinder 2.5 liter | | | | increasing sales. Technically the 968 |
| engine an it had Mitsubishi's patented | | | | was the refined version of the 944 |
| balance shaft technology. And of course | | | | offering the best of the best. It also |
| it had the look of a sports car too. | | | | offered a new nose and rear end as well |
| It wasn't until 1985 that it had any | | | | as circular headlamps. The 3 liter |
| major changes done to it. Those changes | | | | engine had a horsepower increase of 240 |
| included some ergonomic changes to the | | | | HP and performance was optimized using |
| interior, the movement of the antenna, | | | | the Variocam. The 968 was built up |
| and some improvements to the air | | | | until 1995. |
| conditioning. Optional heated seat were | | | | Even though the 944 designation was |
| also added, as were powered seats, a | | | | retired in 1991it didn't mean this was a |
| larger fuel tank, and some technology to | | | | car of the past and it certainly didn't |
| reduce noise. | | | | result in the sales dwindling. Instead |
| They also introduced the Turbo model in | | | | it remains more popular than ever. In |
| 1985. Within the Porsche Corporation it | | | | fact today it remains a "must have" car |
| was referred to as the 951 but the world | | | | in the Porsche world. |