1988 PORSCHE 944 TURBO SE

This 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo SE is a numbers-matching transaxle sports car, which benefits from a full engine rebuild. As a 1988 model year car, it is a genuine sought-after ‘Turbo S’ variant with the 250hp 2.5-litre inline-four engine, coupled to the five-speed manual transmission. The odometer shows 91,313 miles.

An original UK-market car, first registered in June 1988, it is understood to have been a special order vehicle with a unique specification – being the only Turbo SE in Guards Red with Beige ‘Porsche script’ cloth. Beyond the 250hp engine, the Turbo SE features included the M030 sport suspension, uprated brakes, and the M220 option limited-slip differential. It is also a non-sunroof car.

The iconic Porsche colour of Guards Red looks fantastic on just about any of Stuttgart’s finest, but it really does suit the lines of the 944 very well. A HPI check reveals that the car was classified as a Category C insurance write-off in 1998, though the precise nature of this damage is not known. Any panel damage was evidently repaired, and accordingly the paintwork has either had a partial or full respray in the past, which remains in good overall condition today. There is a small hairline crack on the front nearside wing, a minor dent in the roof, and the nearside door and wing have both been repainted more recently. The lightweight forged alloy wheels are all free of any kerbing marks or other damage.

Inside the car, everything is believed to be original barring the aftermarket stereo. The interior presents in very good condition for a car that is nearly 33 years old, with the beige cloth upholstery showing only relatively minor wear, with the exception of a small split in the driver’s seat base. The rear luggage compartment carpet has a few patches of wear, but the rear seats are in superb order. All of the buttons and switches are believed to work as they should.

During the vendor’s ownership, the engine has benefitted from a full rebuild at Porsche specialist Parr; an overhaul of the fuel lines, brake hoses, and cooling systems at Nine Excellence; and new rear drive shafts and front wheel bearings from Noble Restorations in West Sussex. All of the recent work is documented in line-item detail.

The rebuild of the engine at Parr included replacement cylinders and piston rings, along with the cylinder head being skimmed. In addition to this, the car has received a new clutch, new water pump, and various new seals, hoses, and drive belts. The sills - often a problem area on these cars - have also been replaced.

The last service was carried out during May 2019 at 89,443 miles by Noble Restorations, where the engine oil and filter were changed, and the spark plugs, leads and distributor cap were replaced.

The most recent MOT test took place on 24 February 2021, and resulted in a pass, with advisories noting that the power steering is seeping slightly, the service brake is beginning to bind, and there is a minor leak from the central silencer on the exhaust.

Writing about the Turbo SE at launch, Motor Sport magazine’s Gordon Cruickshank concluded by saying: “As usual, the overall package which Weissach’s engineers have marketed is beautifully balanced: there is traction to cope with the huge power, sensitivity to match the tenacious road-holding, and top rank assembly quality to go with the impervious mysteries of black-box engine control.”

With the 944 family starting to finally get the recognition it deserves in the wider car community, the limited-edition Porsche 944 Turbo SE (known as the Turbo S in other markets) is becoming increasingly sought after. It is understood that just 70 examples of the Turbo SE were destined for the UK market, and with this car believed to have a unique specification, it is bound to appeal to both marque collectors and keen drivers alike.

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All UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. This vehicle shows no insurance database markers for theft, and has no finance owing. It is recorded as a Category C insurance write-off, logged in March 1998 when the registration number was E409 HTL.