1981 PORSCHE 924 TURBO - CARRERA GT TRIBUTE

This 1981 Porsche 924 Carrera GT Tribute is an eye-catching evocation of one of the rarest road-going models ever to wear the Stuttgart crest, and is presented in excellent condition. It is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four engine, with rear-wheel drive via a five-speed manual transmission. The odometer indicates 83,284 miles from new, and the car comes with a six-month warranty.

The 924 Carrera GT was designed by Porsche to homologate the 924 Turbo for Group 4 racing regulations, with the particular target of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The most obvious cosmetic changes were the wider rear wings, deeper front bumper, and more prominent air box on the bonnet. It also featured larger alloy wheels. Just 400 road cars are understood to have been built, with 75 in right-hand drive.

Given its rarity – not to mention the significant value of genuine cars – it is clear why a recreation of the model has appeal to many enthusiasts. This particular 1981 924 originally left the factory painted green, and was acquired in 2000 by Geoff and Adrian Booth, who set about creating an impressive replica of the Carrera GT. There are now five previous registered keepers on the log book, and the seller has owned the car for the last five years.

The car was completely rebuilt in 2000, initially comprising a full strip to bare metal, with the interior, glass and panels removed to perform a complete respray. Guards Red was chosen as it was a genuine 924 Carrera GT paint colour.

The bodywork restoration was performed by KSM Engineering in St Helens, with all parts either refurbished or with original Porsche parts sourced from a Carrera GT donor car. The wings and wheel arch extensions are genuine, and there are photographs on file showing the process of cutting out the wings and re-profiling them to fit the correct Carrera GT arches. The pop-up headlights were also refurbished, and the correct Carrera GT decals were added. There is a photo diary of 65 images that document the rebuild, which comes with the car.

Today, all of the bodywork and exterior trim is in very good order, and the paintwork is described as being in excellent overall condition. The door, bonnet and boot shuts appear to be in great condition, with only minor paint drips in the jambs. There are some swirl marks in the paint around the body, and a few small stone chips.

Its interior was stripped out during the refurbishment, and modern Recaro heated and ventilated sport seats were sourced and fitted. Southbound Trimmers reupholstered them in black leather, along with the standard rear seats. The original dashboard is in excellent condition, as are the door cards, while the headlining was renewed. Refurbished carpets were added, and the car also has a pop-up sunroof. The boot lining presents well, and the original roller tonneau cover is present.

During the transformation, the engine was given a top-end rebuild, and the suspension was also refreshed, with top mounts from Mittelmotor GmbH installed. The underside was resealed and treated, and new rubbers and stainless-steel screws were installed where needed. A new wiring harness and steering rack were also fitted.

While with the seller, the car has received a new Mittelmotor electronic ignition and coil, as well as a new warm-up regulator, and new front shock absorbers. The car sits on genuine 16-inch Fuchs wheels with the correct offset, finished with satin black centres and polished rims, and with original Porsche wheel nuts and wheel bolts sourced. The recreation was completed in October 2005, and since then it has been driven sparingly, with less than 2,000 miles covered in the last 15 years.

Its last MOT was on 24 October 2018 at 82,870 miles, which resulted in a first-time pass with no advisories or warnings. The MOT certificate has since expired, but the seller has said that the car will be given a fresh 12-month certificate before handing over to the next owner. The wheels are fitted with Pirelli P6000 tyres, in size 205/55 R16 at the front and 225/50 R16 at the rear.

The most recent scheduled maintenance was performed by Banbury-based 944 Restorations in June 2020 at 83,270 miles. This consisted of a major service with renewal of the cam belt and water pump, and the same business is providing a six-month warranty on the car following the work. The warranty covers parts and labour for the engine, gear box and differential, with no excess. Any electrical components are covered with a £250 excess.

Prior to this, the brakes were bled in October 2019, and the car was put through a rolling road tuning session at DW Performance in Wellingborough in January 2019. A printout of the dynamometer report is included.

Accompanying the car are the stamped Porsche guarantee and service book, driver’s manual, and copies of Porsche World and TwoFour magazine articles featuring the car. A raft of receipts and invoices of works completed are also in the history file, along with an itemised parts list and photo record of the refurbishment.

This Porsche 924 Carrera GT Tribute is a very well-documented recreation that boasts excellent attention to detail. While the interior benefits from more comfortable contemporary seats, great care was paid to ensure the bodywork presents correctly. It is certain to draw a lot of attention, and delight its driver, wherever it goes.

Summary of service history:

• 15/04/1981 – 751 miles – JCT600
• 18/03/1982 – 6,211 miles – JCT600
• 17/02/1983 – 11,424 miles – JCT600
• 23/03/1984 – 16,537 miles – JCT600
• 23/08/1984 – 25,535 miles – G. Ramsay Ltd
• 26/03/1985 – 36,585 miles – T. Smirthwaite Ltd
• 03/07/1986 – 48,857 miles – G. Ramsay Ltd
• 19/02/1988 – 63,132 miles – Khartoum Garage
• 10/05/2001 – 81,025 miles – KSM Engineering
• 28/01/2009 – 81,628 miles – KSM Engineering (cam belt)
• 09/05/2017 – 82,591 miles – KSM Engineering
• 01/2019 – 82,967 miles - DW Performance (rolling road tuning)  
• 02/06/2020 – 83,270 miles - 944 Restorations (cam belt and water pump)