Lot 249¤
1979 Porsche 928 Coupe
Chassis no. 9289101276
Sold for US$ 12,100 inc. premium
Greenwich Concours d'Elegance Auction
31 May 2015, 12:30 EDT
4,474cc SOHC V8 Engine
Bosch K-Jetronic Fuel Injection
4-Wheel Power-Assisted Hydraulic Disc Brakes
*A watershed front engine, rear wheel drive Porsche
*One of only 4,706 built in 1979
*Unique and desirable Pasha interior fabric
*Euro-spec example
THE PORSCHE 928
The Porsche 928 was a startling departure for Porsche. For a tradition-laden company controlled by the family its patriarch, developer of lightweight, rear-engined, air cooled sports cars, the Porsche 928 was a complete break from the 356/911 lineage.
Karl Ludvigsen in Excellence was Expected made the insightful observation that "the 928 was the first production car in Porsche's history that the company had been able to design completely from scratch." Nothing would be borrowed, nothing would be determined by the past.
Given a clean sheet of paper the design was proscribed only by then-emerging U.S. safety requirements. In Porsche's biggest market the dominant layout was front-engine, rear wheel drive. Regulations would be written accordingly, so Porsche designed its new range-topping luxury sports car in response to them.
The 928 debuted in 1977 with a 240 hp over-square 4,474cc single overhead camshaft all aluminum V-8 with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection. The 928's 5-speed direct 5th gear transmission was in unit with the differential to optimize weight distribution and maximize interior space. Four-wheel independent suspension was by A-arms and coil springs at the front and coil spring "Weissach" rear suspension. Four-wheel disc brakes with single piston sliding calipers and 11.1 inch front and 11.4 inch rear discs balanced the 928's prodigious power.
This 928 is a private import 1979 with full EPA and DOT releases in its file. Finished in Casablanca Beige, it has a wonderful brown leather interior accented by wavy checkerboard brown and black Pasha velour seat inserts that would make M.C. Escher proud. It is equipped with Porsche's Mercedes-Benz sourced 3-speed automatic transmission, air conditioning and a Blaupunkt cassette stereo.
Its private import status illustrates just how enthusiastically Porsche's first front-engined V-8 powered car was received; there weren't enough available for U.S. buyers. Its odometer displays under 125,000km, 77,670 miles. It has a quality clearcoat repaint but otherwise is in clean, orderly original condition appropriate to the displayed mileage.
As Porsche has pushed further into wider markets the V-8 powered 928 stands as a watershed moment. Undertaken as a clean sheet of paper project, its influence is felt in the Panameras and Cayennes that today make up the bulk of Porsche's sales.
It is a milestone in Porsche history, increasingly recognized by collectors for its superb handling, performance and comfort.
Please note this Porsche is titled as a model year 1980.
Eric Minoff
Specialist - Motor Cars
New York, United States 10022
WorkTel: +1 917 206 1630
Rupert Banner
Evan Ide
Work Boston, United States
Go to Motor Cars Go
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¤ Without reserve
Lot to be sold without reserve.