Modern Classic: The 968, the Forgotten Porsche

The Porsche 968 only appeared from late 1991 to 1995, as it is the ‘ugly duckling’ of the family. Photos: Porsche

We all have our "type" and mine is Porsche! For me the brand is the ultimate expression of over-engineered, lightweight, go-cart like handling around twisting corners.

Personally, I love convertible Porsches so I can hear the engine screaming in full glory, with the throttle planted, and at the same time can have nature and the sky flooding into the cabin. Earlier this year I added a 2020 Porsche 911 S Cabriolet to the Parihoa stable and haven't regretted it for a second.

As I've navigated COVID-19 complexities in my global businesses, a drive in the Porsche reminds me to keep focused but keep things in perspective! Theming of Porsches and my admiration for this brand, my Modern Classic writing today dreamily takes me back to the Porsche 968.

Perhaps best termed as the "forgotten Porsche" as this sweet little duckling only appeared from late 1991 to 1995. Just over 12,700 were ever built, in a very short model run, with a third of these being sold in the US/Canada and the rest globally.

By comparison 150,000 Porsche 924s were sold and over 163,000 944s. The 968 launched at a time when Porsche was in trouble and the world was switching away from sports cars, so the 968 bombed and was an expensive mistake for Porsche. Like a a treasured wine, though the 968 is coming of age 30 years later and enthusiasts are starting to appreciate it quickly.

The 968 ran a long running front engine, water cooled with a 3-litre four cylinder.

The 968 was the tail end of an almost 20 year model run starting with the 924 in 1976 and morphing to the 944 in the early 1980's and tapping out with the 968 which was released at the Frankfurt motor show in September 1991.

The 968 ran a long running front engine, water cooled with a 3-litre four cylinder. It had various cam variable value timing and motronic fuel injection. That made it good for 177kW and with its six speed manual could hit 100km/h in 6.5 seconds. It could also be had with a four speed tiptronic automatic transmission that zapped 1.4 seconds for a 7.9 second accolade to 100km/h.

To some eyes the 968 looked like the 944 but it actually had 83 per cent (to be exact) new components. In fact, originally when it was being planned in 1989 it was supposed to be the named the 944 S3. Spare parts still have the "S3" code to this day and many components on the car include "S3" on them, showing how close Porsche went before it renamed it to the 968 in 1990.

The 968 did away with the 944's pop up headlights and adopted a 928-esque front end and very cool all red tail lights. The 968's goal was to be a "comfortable and engaging GT with everyday reliably and creative comforts" a.k.a an excellent all round sports car. It was a car sold on engineering excellence versus kerb appeal. It would also be the last front wheel drive car until the Cayenne graced SUV shores in 2003. Production switched from Audi's Neckarsulm plant, where the 924 and 944 had been built, to Porsche's Zuffenhausen plant. Harm Lagaay who designed the 924 and 944, oversaw the 968.

The Porsche968 was designed to be an excellent all round sports car.

The 968 introduced the fuba roof mounted antenna, cup style 16in alloys, an updated B-pillar and wider interior colours (grand prix white, black, speed yellow, guards red, riviera blue and maritime blue). A facelift in 1993 saw heated seats for the driver and passenger, larger 17in wheels, improved braking with cross drilled discs and better speakers. A year into the 968's history, the "Club Sport" came on to the scene, weighing 17 per cent less than the standard car. It lost power windows, central locking and only had two seats. Its light-weight recaro seats were 20mm lower. Its mission was to be a car for track days and the occasional run to the office. It didn't sell well and only 179 examples were made.

A Turbo S, with 227kW and an 8 valve cylinder head on the 3l engine, was also produced, based on the Club Sport, but with a 305bhp engine and that managed 14 examples. The race ready Turbo RS with 337bhp sold just 4 examples putting out 252kW (Germany) and 261kW (International). In July 1995, Porsche pulled the 968, after only 1000 global sales. By then the Porsche Boxster was the new kid on the block, and later would come the Cayman.

Those who love their Porsches will enjoy the look back down memory lane fondly at the 968; a Porsche I name "the forgotten Porsche”!

TradeMe has two examples only, neither of which are mint in my view, but they are sensibly priced and both imports. One is 1993 UK spec "Sport" which combined the global Club Sport specs with more features from the standard 968 spec to make it more luxurious (and saleable). With 203,000km, it’s $27,990.

There is also a 1993 convertible that came into NZ in 1999 at 16,056kms and now has 160,853km, with the last owner having for 18 years , and priced at $29,995. Enthusiasts should keep their eyes peeled for the ultimate example that has been well loved, has low kilometres and probably, for investment, is the coupe over the cabriolet and I would go for the facelift model that came mid-cycle for the better spec.

To some the 968 looked like the 944 but it had 83 per cent new components.