by many people, edited by Angus Fox
Porsche 928 Model variations and features
These were some of the oldest pages on 928.org.uk. They showed participants cars for almost all model year variations and for a long time we had a locator to match people to cars. In editing the site in 2020 (in a long overdue sort out); the names of contributors have been removed since owners change and we have a responsibility to privacy that wasn't there in 1999 when this page was originally written. Ive added galleries for each model year of 928 as there are zillions of pictures on the website. To download any given picture you have to be logged in to the website as a registered user (which is different to being on the 928uk mail list).
1978 Porsche 928
1979 Porsche 928
1980 Porsche 928 S
1981 Porsche 928
1982 Porsche 928
1983 Porsche 928
1984 Porsche 928 S2
1985 Porsche 928 S2
1986 Porsche 928 S2 and Porsche 928 S4
Run out models of the S2 were still available fitted with S4 running gear. The S4 arrived.
1986 Porsche 928 S2
1986 Porsche 928 S4
How I came to own a 928 - John Speake
I have liked V8 engined cars for many years, and had owned two SD1 Rovers with the 3.5 litre engine. The time came to replace my heavily modified Opel Manta, which I had for 9 years. I wanted a fast sports car, my wife wanted a smooth grand tourer. I reasoned to myself if the car was fast but smooth, she wouldn’t notice I was driving fast !
(I also have owned a v-twin Vincent motorcycle, and a v-twin JAP engined 3 wheeler Morgan)
Jaguar saloons were briefly considered, but poor build quality was a turn off. By chance I bought the "Automobilia" book on the 928GTS, which gave a brief history of the previous 928 models.
Further investigation showed that there were 928’s in my price range (about £10k) but running costs would be high. I reasoned that with a car of the age I could afford, main dealer service stamps were not so important, and I could tackle the routine servicing. My annual mileage would be typically about 6k miles, so running costs would be reasonable.
So much for the theory, how about finding the right car ? A friend of a friend had sourced cars from Exchange and Mart, so I bought a copy for a few weeks to see what was available. The first impression was that the cars were reasonably priced. But after a while it was obvious that these were also the less desirable cars, as they relentlessly appeared week after week.
Eventually I saw a car in the Sunday Times that was in my price range ! Only problem, it was in Blackpool, I was in Cambridge. However, the purchaser sounded genuine and the car the right colour. Found Chris Sanderson advertising pre-purchase inspections in Exchange and Mart, from his STD code found he was in south Lancashire. He made a prompt, and efficient report, also giving his opinion of its value. What he found were minor problems - "a very nice car". I didn’t appreciate at that time how lucky I was !
The usual HPI checks were made on the present private plate and also the previous identity. All was well, so on the fateful day I hired a taxi to Blackpool. I wasn’t disappointed when I saw the car.
Having never driven a 928 before or read the driver’s manual, the return journey down the M6 was "interesting". Had great fun exploring kick down, and seeing everything vanish from the rear view mirror. The inevitable hold ups near Birmgham gave an opportunity to explore the moveable steering column and instrument binnacle, optimise the settings of the electric seat, and fiddle with the aircon controls. It seemed a very short journey !
The rear tyres lasted 10k miles. At the time of writing the one major cost has been a new water pump and cambelt. My main problem is getting a reliable reasonably priced garage within reasonable reach to undertake the jobs beyond my capabilities or facilities. It’s a brilliant car, and I intend to keep it as long as possible. It has 92k on the clock, so should be good for a few years yet !
1987 Porsche 928 S4
1987 Porsche 928 S4 Club Sport
Derek Bell's Club Sport
Derek was given this 928 by Porsche AG, he was and still is, one of their racing drivers. Derek does not know alot about the car. He was apparently reluctant to take the car because it was LHD and in fact initially refused it. Approximately a year later he asked about a white 928 sitting under a tree to be told "oh that's your 928". He then accepted the car and brought it back and registered the car in the UK. It had covered approx 20,000 miles - although Derek had a new "mph" speedo installed.
Derek knows it was one of 4 unique 928's built. All 4 were given to Porsche racing drivers. All 4 were white and LHD. The car is a 1987 model year prototype S4. This is identified by the VIN number and the folding rear spoiler (which was only fitted to 1987 model year S4's). He was told the car had uprated suspension and engine. The car was also lightened.
Derek knows that one of his colleague's blew up the engine in his 928. He would complain to Porsche that the car was incorrectly geared because "he would hit the rev limiter in top gear" on the Autobahn. Apparently this was 185mph - though we do not know if this was indicated or actual speed. (And we cannot work this out as the production Club Sport had 2 changes over a standard S4 - lower gearing and a higher rev limit - and we do not know if this changes were applied to these 4 cars).
The car features 16" forged light alloy wheels identical to those fitted to the production Club Sport / SE / Early 89 GT cars. The car has no sunroof, no rear blinds and no rear wiper which is also consistent with a CS. However it has a passenger side mirror and full leather interior which the production CS did not have (although the SE did have a passenger mirror).
Whilst Porsche have not officially identified these 4 cars as prototype Club Sports, it seems pretty certain from the VIN number that this is what they are.
Derek was until recently the only driver of the 4 to have kept his 928. He kept it with his other ultra rare Porsche - a red 924 Carrera GTS. He has covered approx 42,000 miles in the car before selling it.
Without a doubt it is a most unique 928.
Andy Elvers, 5th July 1999
1988 Porche 928 S4
1988 Porsche 928 S4 with Sport Equipment -aka the 928 S4 Sport or 928 S4 SE
Contributor: Angus Fox (GDPR permission given!), One of 42 1988 cars.
Registration F501 GWR, VIN: WPOZZZ92ZJS841962.
Date Registered, 1st August 1988
Date Bought, 26 April 1998
- L700 - Black
- 08 - Black Leather with Pinstripe
- Options C16 UK Car, 058 Bumpers with impact absorbers, 220 Locking differential, 302 Type designated on rear end, 330 Radio Blaupunkt Toronto SQR 46, 383 Sport seat - left, 387 Sport seat - right, 474 Sport shock absorbers, 494 2 speakers on back shelf, 567 Windshield green graduated tint
- Modifications, Hayward & Scott Rear Muffler Bypass (RMB) Performance Wheel Supplies Cup 1 Replica 17in wheels.
My first Porsche! Bought in April 1998, Original forged light alloy Wheels in place. These ended up on my 89 GT, After paint and PWS Cups and Hayward & Scott RMB were fitted at Chandler Stewart Official Porsche Body Repair Centre in Croydon. Rear Sticker replaced by them... Spot the difference. I couldn't.
This car is written off. It came to a rather sad end. British Airways Express Parking managed to write it off in a car park while cleaning it. Impressive. Then they wouldnt agree its value so I had to claim it on my own insurance. Marvellous. (Thank you Norwich Union who paid in full and I didnt even lose my no claims.).
I don't recommend valet parking!
1989 'k' model year changes
Many changes were made for model year 1989. Modified pistons were introduced in February 1988 with improved oil drainage. They may be installed retroactively. The fuel pump was modified and pump rollers now run in an elliptically shaped path. An in-tank pump is installed in addition to the fuel pump in order to guarantee delivery rate and avoid cavitation. (If you have a sluggish 1989 928 have the pumps checked out. The in-tank pump can fail causing the main pump to work overtime until it expires). Rubber hoses were replaced with rubber-lined polyamide pipes throughouts the 1988 model year. Polyamide pipes cant be bent or clamped shut for troubleshooting. Loose fitting pipe sleeves are signs of polyamide pipes! (Not a lot of people know that!). The fuel hose on the intake side of the fuel pump is not polyamide so that this hose may be clamped for replacement of fuel filter or removel of fuel tank.
Bosch KTS301 diagnostic tester was introduced for checking fault memories, inputs, system adaption, knock frequency counter and tyre pressure warning system. The tyre pressure warning system originally developed for the 959 was introduced. Pressure loss is automatically detected and notified to the driver by a display in the instrument cluster.
Roof mounted antenna was introduced instead of windshield based antenna. Car wash immune. Less interference.
Porsche information and diagnosing system (also known as digital dashboard) was introduced. Warnings are displayed in three displays text on the outer ones, pictograms on the centre one.
1989 Porsche 928 S4
The number of teeth on gear sets was changed to make the ratios more harmonic. Transmission identical worldwide for the first time. Engine speed and road speed information now used to initiate kickdown. First —> 2nd at 4950 ±50 Other kickdowns at 5950 ±50. The steel plate brake 3 is nitrated to improve N—R and R—N shifts. Pilot bearing for torque converter became a cylindrical roller bearing to absorb oscillation and be less sensitive to displacements between the torque converter and the automatic transmission. The central shaft was increased from 25mm to 28mm to absorb torsional oscilation.
The 1989 928 S4 has a 235kW / 320 PS (309 US HP) 5 litre engine with the same power output with and without catalytic converter.
1989 Porsche 928 GT
1989 928 GT Press Release Official Pic
1989 Wiessach Test Track, Stuttgart, Germany. 1989 928 GT press pack
In model year 1989 the 928 GT arrived, clearly derived from the 1988 SE / Club Sport. 928 GT cars differ optically from the 928 S4 with forged light alloy wheels, twin pipe exhaust assembly and the 928 GT sign on the rear. Side rubbing strips are optional. Identification of 928 GT cars can be made by finding the option code M 639 - Special model 928 GT.
1989 928 GT's have High power output, 243kW / 330 PS (326 US HP) 5 litre engine with the same power output with and without catalytic converter.
The cars were supplied with sports shock absorbers as standard. Boge Gas pressure shock absorbers could be ordered as an optional extra (M 474) 'for entry of the car in sport racing events'. The M number was reserved additionally for Dunlop Tyres (Goodrich for the USA) Bridgestone tyres were supplied as initial equipment in conjunction with M 474 only when ordered by the customer (Z order)
Wheel rims supplied as standard were forged light alloy rims in Club Sport Design 8 J x 16 front, 9 J x 16 rear offset 60 mm. 17mm spacers are installed for wider track front and rear and rear arches are rolled/folded to ensure clearance.
Important!These spacers must always be removed when mounting the spare wheel or winter tyres on the rear axle
20mm shorter shift lever reduces travel by 10% to the Sporty short ratio five speed manual transmission and multi-plate limited slip differential with 40 % locking ratio
928 GT cars were not been assigned their own range of vehicle identity numbers. Rest of world cars began in model year 1989 in number range WPO ZZZ 92 ZKS 84 0001 . . . 5000 and USA cars in number range WPO JBO 92 - KS 86 0001 . . . 5000.
Other clues are engine numbers beginning, and engine type M28/47 (modified camshafts, 1mm higher cams and new cam shape), and transmission code G28/55 2 (the 2 is for the ZF multi-plate Limited slip differential) (final drive teeth changed to "Klingelnberg" palloid tooth system from motor racing)
Checked and clarified from: 928 GT '89 Information Technik, WKD 495.921 Checked and clarified from: 928 S4 '89 Information Technik, WKD 495 520
1990 Porsche 928 S4
- S4 and GT cars had PSD as standard replacing the mechanical Limited slip differential.
- Design 90 Cast wheels
- GT got modified engine management 330bhp from 320bhp, S4 remained at 320bhp
- Twin Exhaust
- Handbrake rounded design leather trimmed lower position
- Thicker leather covered sterring wheel
1991 Porsche 928 S4
- RDS radio and provision for CD Autochanger
- Somewhere along here the analog clock arrived replacing the pifcoesque digital one. Not a lot of people know that!
- 1991 was the last year of the GT, anything advertised as newer probably sat in a field when new as the GTS arrived in model year 1992
1992 Porsche 928 GTS
1993 Porsche 928 GTS
1994 Porsche 928 GTS
1995 Porsche 928 GTS
There are no images in the gallery.
