Pasha Undercover: 1979 Porsche 928 Five Speed Project – Listing Expired

October 16th Update: We just confirmed the Craigslist ad for this car expired and with no replacement listing found, we’re assuming this car sold.  This one may have got away, but if you have your heart set on something similar, email us the details of what you’re looking for or call Rudy directly at (908)295-7330

For those neither faint of heart nor light of wallet, we came across a potential diamond in the rough restoration project otherwise known as the 1979 Porsche 928. Listed recently on Craigslist in Hopatcong, New Jersey for $3,000 or best offer is this project car currently suffering from a bad starter checks the right boxes for us:  5-speed manual, “slick top” (i.e. no sunroof), and the (in)famous Pascha cloth interior.   Checking the Hagerty Insurance Online Valuation Tool confirms this private seller has their 928 priced $4,200 below the current #4 “Fair” (Daily Driver) estimate of $7,200.  If you are serious about buying this 928, you can start the conversation by calling Hugh at (862) 432-3961 and when you do, please remember to mention you saw his Porsche featured here on GuysWithRides.com.

When looking at any year Porsche 928, the timeless design makes it hard to imagine the car’s design roots date back to the early 1970s. Shortly after becoming chairman of Porsche AG in the early seventies, Dr. Ernst Fuhrmann commissioned a new flagship grand Turismo (“GT”) model. With sales of the 911 on the decline and ever-increasing emissions and safety regulations already testing the limits of the car’s rear-engine, air-cooled design, Porsche management believed would be the best combination of a sports coupe and a luxury sedan that would appeal to modern buyers.

Porsche designed the new liquid-cooled, front-engine car to address the shortcomings of the air-cooled rear-engine 911. One of the reasons for the front-engine/rear-drive design was to allow room for required catalysts and mufflers. The body shape of the 928 was planned to offer high roof strength and crush resistance. Additionally, all of the body panels were formed out of aluminum which provided superior anti-corrosion protection. One key exterior design element is the 928’s headlights, which lay flush yet exposed when not in use, and when activated, popped up to reveal bullet-shaped “snail-eyes”.

The 928 qualified as a 2+2, having two small seats in the rear. Both rear seats could be folded down to enlarge the luggage area, and both the front and rear seats had sun visors for occupants. The 928 was also the first vehicle in which the instrument cluster moved along with the adjustable steering wheel in order to maintain maximum instrument visibility. While Porsche provided their typical variety of leather and vinyl choices, early cars such as the one featured here had the stylish-at-the-time Pasha interior. Loathed more than leisure suits for many years, this checkered-flag themed cloth interior has come back into favor.

To keep the 928’s weight balance near 50/50, Porsche designed the car to use a rear transaxle connected to the front engine via a torque tube. This was similar in design to the drivetrain layout of the four-cylinder 924, 944, and 968 models and thus Porschephiles today group all of these versions together as “Transaxle Cars.” While Porsche offered a manual transmission, nearly 80% of buyers in the U.S. opted for the Mercedes-Benz based three-speed automatic, thus making the five-speed example featured here even more desirable.  The 928 design incorporated Porsche’s new rear suspension design called the “Weissach Axle”, a simple rear-wheel steering system that provides passive rear-wheel steering to increase stability.

Just a few short years ago, anyone would be nuts to take on a project 928 like this one as it was a guaranteed money-losing proposition.  However, times change and if you have the time and/or resources to restore this desirable example, you’ll be rewarded with a fast and luxurious Grand Tourer.  Good luck with the purchase!

Here’s the seller’s description:

“1979 Porsche 928, V8, 5-speed manual trans. Currently registered, good tires and brakes, solid body, and suspension. For parts or restoration, engine runs, just lost starter motor. My loss your gain. The car needs paint and the interior needs to be done, other than that it is complete have all parts including the wing and front spoiler, grill etc.
Best Offer“

Do you have a Porsche 928 story you’d like to share?  Comment below and let us know!