1988 Porsche 944 Base Coupe 2-Door 2.5L (Low Reserve)

Did you own a Porsche 944 during the 80's or 90's?  Did you love it and wish you had another?  Here's your chance.   In April of 2010 I was at the Charlotte Auto Fair and happened upon the fair's collector car auction.   There was a large number of beautifully-restored classic muscle cars.   Among all these expensive American classics was one lone foreign car; this 1988 Porsche 944.   Not restored. but in almost new condition with only 45. 00 miles on the odometer.   It was unbelievably clean and had brand-new. up-sized telephone dial wheels and tires.

From reading the auction company's description of the car. I learned it was part of the Maffucci Museum collection out of Lake Norman. NC.   It was purchased for the collection in May of 2000 and kept in a climate-controlled environment; but was also driven on the weekends by the collector's wife to deliver coffee to the caretakers and visitors in the different buildings that housed the cars.   As it was the seventh car to be auctioned that morning I didn't have enough time to purchase a bidder's paddle. but was able to meet the dealer who purchased the car and buy it from him.  

SPECIFICATIONS:
Engine:        2. 5 liter in-line 4 with two countering balance shafts
Horsepower: 158
Max RPM:     6500
Max Speed:   134 mph
Drive:           rear wheel
Brakes:         4-wheel ventilated discs
Ignition:       transistorized w/breaker-less distributor
Suspension:  Independent front---coil/shock absorber struts
                   Independent rear---diagonal arm with torsion bars
Length:        171 inches
Width:           68 inches
Height:          50 inches
Wheelbase:    94. 5 inches
Weight:         2932 lbs.
Turning Circle:  31 feet

FEATURES:
A rear transaxle that helps give the car a near-perfect 51/49% weight distribution.
Engine has two counter-rotating balance shafts which smooth out the operation of its four-cylinder engine.  
The A/C is fully operational and will freeze you ass clean off!
Tires are Yokohama AVS ES100--205-55-ZR16 front; 225-50-ZR16 rear; with 75% tread remaining.
Hand-painted center caps on new 16-inch "telephone dial" factory wheels.
All original paint:  Touch-up paint never used on this vehicle.
Rare "gray" (beige) leather interior as opposed to the common black interior

ABOUT ME:
I am retired and restore cars in my garage as my hobby.   Basically. I buy a car I've always admired. restore it. and sell it to buy my next project.   For me. the reward is to find. buy. own and drive a car for a while that was special. either because of its styling or its performance.  

That is what I have done with this Porsche.   This car required very little actual restoration being part of a museum collection.   I repaired a few things to bring the car back to 100% (see the list below) but it was already well preserved when I bought it. I must stress that this Porsche is as original as you will find anywhere.   Even the sunroof bag. air compressor and tool kit (items that are commonly missing) are still with the car.   It has not been modified performance or body-wise in any manner.   The only change I made to the car was to modify the original speaker covers in the doors to install the dual-cone speakers.   Most all of the original parts are still on the car due to its low mileage.  

All the owner manuals are present and I have every receipt for service work I requested and receipts for the parts I have purchased.   My Haynes Porsche 944 repair manual also goes with the car.   In addition. the car is kept inside my garage at home. under a car cover.   There are no cracks anywhere in the dash as in most driven 944's out there.   The sunshield I use to protect the dash goes with the car as well.   The car has never been smoked in during my ownership.  

SERVICE I'VE DONE OR HAD DONE:
New a/c compressor. drier and expansion valve installed;  a/c system recharged w/R12 Freon (August 2010)
Air Filter (June 2011)
New Porsche Hood Emblem (August 2011)
New battery and disconnect switch (November 2011)
Installed Polk Audio DXI-460 coaxial speakers in both doors (January 2012)
New Timing belt . Balance shaft belt. and all five rollers (tensioners) (June 2012)
New Water pump. Thermostat and Anti-freeze (June 2012)
New Oil pump. Crank shaft and Camshaft seals (June 2012)
New plugs. and distributor cap (February 2012)
Full interior cleaning including carpets and seats (Summer 2012)
Synthetic Oil change and filter at 49. 00 miles.  

HISTORY:
Technically. I am the fourth (not the third) owner of the car as it appears the museum did not title the car while they owned it.   I have ownership history going all the way back and including the original bill of sale showing purchase in April of 1988 for $35. 09.   Required maintenance and warranty work receipts were also in the glove box up to August 1990 with mileage at 22. 00.   I also have a copy of the second owner's title.   As a stand-out. the car was featured and pictured in the "At the Auction" section of Hemmings Motor News September 2010 edition.

Often referred to as "the affordable front-engine Porsche” the 944 was manufactured from 1982 to 1991.   To overcome the unbalanced secondary forces that make other four-cylinder engines feel harsh. Porsche included two counter-rotating balance shafts running at twice engine speed.   Balance shafts carry eccentric weights which produce inertial forces that balance out the unbalanced secondary forces. making a four cylinder engine feel as smooth as a six cylinder.

This Porsche 944 has the 2. 5 liter engine with the 8 additional horsepower for 1988. This second series Porsche is more refined. has better handling. better stopping power and is more comfortable to drive.   There were 6000 944s made in 1988 with only 3700 being imported to the U. S.

By 2010 the number of surviving 944s was only 40%.   However. simple periodic maintenance. such as fluid changes and belt replacement is all that is really needed to insure trouble-free operation of this German-engineered classic.   A well-cared for. low mileage example is a rare find.

OVERALL:

I try to drive the Porsche at least once every two weeks. I've made two or three long drives since I've had it.   I would have no problem in saying that no matter where you live. you can drive this car home safely.  

This is not your average 1988 944 Porsche.   It is an automatic and has been owned by adults; and it shows.   It is in better condition today than when I purchased it in 2010. and it looked pretty awesome even then.   EVERYTHING WORKS!!  I purchased the car with 45. 00 miles on the odometer and it now shows 51. 00. It has NEVER failed to start immediately when turning the key. It idles smoothly and shifts perfectly.   It is actually the only collector car that I own that my wife likes to drive.   It has been a pleasure to own this car and I have enjoyed every minute while behind the wheel. It is tight!

For those of you that know what this car is. all you have to do is look at the pictures.   If you are looking for a fun. all-original. low-mileage Porsche 944 this car is for you.   It is truly like stepping back in time.  

For more information please call Frank O'Donnell at 540-819-5235.

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