1987 PORSCHE 944 TURBO - 1 OWNER FROM NEW

This 1987 Porsche 944 Turbo is a cherished one-owner car, which remains in its original specification and is in great condition. It is powered by the 217bhp 2.5-litre M44/51 turbocharged inline-four, driven through a five-speed manual transmission. Showing just 95,596 miles from new - which is relatively low for a classic Porsche of this age - it is ready for the next owner to enjoy immediately and tick the odometer over it into six digits.

Purchased 32 years ago by its first and only owner, this 944 Turbo was registered and delivered in March 1987. It was supplied by Porsche dealer Parks Exeter Ltd, and the original sales invoice totalling £35,360.30 remains with the car. The original dealer sticker is also still present in the rear window.

The invoice also confirms the factory specifications, which include the optional limited-slip differential, cloth door panel inserts and matching seat inlays, cruise control, and a graduated windscreen tint with Sekuriflex lamination. The interior features a factory-fitted tilting and removable sunroof, a partial leather interior and sport seats with electric height adjustment.

At launch, Gordon Cruickshank of Motor Sport magazine called the 944 “an easily-guided missile which now threatens the pedestal on which sits its own relative, the 911 Carrera”. The engine had been extensively reworked to manage the increase in heat and load, while the ventilated disc brakes and four-piston Brembo calipers were taken straight from the 911.

This car has always been properly garaged, which has been of particular importance during periods when the owner has had to work overseas. As such, the bodywork remains in good condition, with few signs of corrosion. On the nearside, there is some surface rust on the bottom corner of the front wheel arch, as well as blistering over the rear quarter panel. There are also small chips in the paint at the back of the offside door shut. The car sits on a pristine and original set of 16-inch forged alloy wheels, with a 7J width at the front and 8J at the rear.

The vendor reports that the sills and underfloor areas - which are renowned for rusting on 944s - show no signs of corrosion. From the photos in the media gallery, it is also evident that the insides of the door, bonnet and boot shuts are in very good condition. All of the rubbers and seals appear to be in sound order as well.

Inside the car, the full Burgundy interior is in great shape. The trim is all original, and the upholstery remains supple with a rich colour. The leather has evidently been very well cared-for, as there is only the slightest wear noticeable on the driver’s seat bolster and cushion. The front passenger seat and rear seats are in excellent condition as well. Carpets, dashboard trim, door cards and the luggage area are all in superb order. It also retains the retractable load bay cover.

The climate control system is original, which will need some remedial work to make the air-conditioning fully operational again. Its factory-fitted stereo system is still present, which is a Panasonic CQ-F30 radio cassette player with 4x10W speakers and an integral windscreen aerial. With the exception of the air-conditioning, there are no known faults with the car, and all of the electrics currently work as they should.

For the first 18 years of its life - and up to 92,790 miles - this car was serviced exclusively by the Porsche main dealer workshop in Exeter. As you might expect, it was used as intended early in its life, racking up just over 57,000 miles in the first 10 years on the road. It has been used more sparingly since then, but has always been kept in fine mechanical condition. After an extended period in storage between 2005 and 2013, and with 93,496 miles on the clock, the car was fully recommissioned at independent specialist Braunton Engineering, with a spend in excess of £5,000 to ensure the car was ‘on the button’.

It is covered by an MOT certificate until May 2020, with the only advisory being about minor damage to the windscreen that does not affect the driver’s view. With the exception of this and a blown bulb in 2016, every other MOT for the last 14 years has been a clean pass with no advisories. The wheels are shod in N1-rated Continental SportContact tyres - fitted less than 2,000 miles ago - in size 205/55 ZR16 at the front and 225/50 ZR16 at the rear.

The car is accompanied by the complete set of original literature, including the driver’s manual, guarantee and maintenance booklet, period service centre directory and the stereo handbook. There is also a huge history file that includes the original sales brochures, 1987 price list and the supplying dealer invoice for the car. A raft of paperwork dating back to the late 1980s features numerous invoices for servicing and maintenance, period registration documents, 22 previous MOT certificates, and old tax discs and SORN slips.

A tailor-made full car cotton cover in burgundy, and sporting a printed Porsche badge and the registration number, is also included. The car will remain on its cherished registration of ‘944 CPL’ for the next owner, and the original invoice for this number plate is also in the file.

This Porsche 944 Turbo is a superb example of an exciting but usable modern classic. Few cars of this era remain with their original owner, boasting indisputable provenance from new. Some minor repairs and a fresh coat of paint would be all that is needed to bring this car up to show standard, complementing its terrific history with some cosmetic rejuvenation. Of course, it is ready to be used by the next owner straight away, who will no doubt be impressed by its poise, practicality and pace.