Porsche 944 S2 Cabrio
Car-ID: OT0128
Vehicle Description
This Porsche 944 S2 convertible with its characteristic retractable headlights is 25 years old – but in terms of body design, it still looks fresh and dynamic.
The 16-valve powerplant was the largest production 4-cylinder engine of its time, with an engine capacity of no less than 2,990 cc. It produces 155 kW (211 hp) of power and is teamed up with a five-speed manual gearbox. The engine compartment of this specimen looks clean.
This 944 runs on the sought-after “manhole cover” rims with only slight kerb scratches.
It has an elecric convertible top, electrically adjustable seats, two airbags and a contemporary radio and equalizer. The champagne-coloured paintwork in combination with the bright leather interior and the bicolour door linings give the convertible a classy look-and-feel. Inside and out, the car is in good condition, albeit not without traces of use. The electrics require a bit of attention. Owner’s manual and service booklet are available.
This is one of only 6,980 units built. Did you know that the chassis of the 944 was made at Audi in Neckarsulm, the convertible body at ASC in Weinsberg, while the engine came from Porsche’s Zuffenhausen plant? Due to the scarcity of these convertibles, appreciation is as good as guaranteed.
The Porsche 944 was presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1981. It was based technically and optically on the 924 which had come out 5 years earlier. The Audi sourced engine of the 924, which had come under criticism by Porsche purists, was replaced by a genuinly Porsche 2.5 litre straight-4, which was effectively half of the 928’s 5.0 litre V8.
A turbo version was introduced in 1985, further power increases came with the 944 S in 1987 and the 944 S2 in 1989. The strongest engine available in a 944 was a 3.0 litre with 184 kW (250 hp) and a top speed of 260 km/h – impressive performance for a 4-cylinder car!
A convertible was only available in 1990 and 1991 only. Owing to its transaxle layout, handling of the 944 was superb, which is why it won the “Best Handling Production Car in America” award in 1984. In 1991, the 944 was replaced by the 968 which retained the characteristic styling cues of the 924 / 944.
