Summer Yellow Stunner: 1987 Porsche 944 – Sold?

July 8, 2022, Update – We just confirmed the listing for this “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found we’re assuming this ride “Sold?” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

June 23, 2022 Update – We just confirmed the seller lowered their asking price by another one thousand dollars to $8,000. That’s the second large decrease in as many weeks.

June 15, 2022 Update – We just confirmed the seller lowered the asking price by one thousand dollars from $10,000 to $9,000.

In some cases, the paint job can make or break a car. It could be that a respray wasn’t done to a high standard and sinks what is otherwise a decent specimen (I owned one like this.) Or, it may be the paint job is an undesirable color regardless of who applied it (try owning a chocolate brown car from the 80s). But in some cases, a color that was produced in extremely limited numbers can lift even the lowliest model, or make a classic sports car more valuable as a result. This is what’s at play with this rare 1988 Porsche 944 that looks resplendent in “Summer Yellow” (also known as “Lemon Yellow”) paint over a black interior, and was once listed in June 2022 on Craigslist in Lexington, Massachusetts for the revised price of $8,000 (the original ask was $10,000). Comparing that price against the Classic.com model guide shows us that the seller is asking for a reasonable price, as the average sales price is just under $20,000 during the past twelve months:

The 944 seems destined to remain an affordable P-car for some time, especially in naturally-aspirated form. While other classic Porsche models have risen dramatically in price, like the 968 and 928 GTS, the non-turbo 944s are very much attainable. Now, eventually, even the 944 will creep upwards and become a pricier specimen if for no other reason than lack of supply, but it hasn’t enjoyed riding the coattails of some of the more iconic Porsche models that have accelerated in price. In some ways, that makes the 944 smart buy, as it almost seems predestined to be worth more down the road, especially if it has rare options like sport seats, or features a one-year-only paint job like Lemon Yellow. This shade of yellow, which wasn’t like Porsche’s “Speed Yellow”, was softer and lighter, almost as if it had some primrose sprinkled in. It’s not unlike the yellow paint that the Audi Coupe Quattro of the early 90s could be spec’d in, but it’s still far lighter than the “Ginster Yellow” of the later MK3 Volkswagen GTI.

The Porsche G50 YouTube Channel features this mid-1980s 944 commercial:

The seller 944 wouldn’t be nearly as compelling were it not for the rare color. I am not knocking the car by any means, but let’s be honest: a red 944 with a dirty interior and almost 200,000 miles would not generate similar feelings of  “Oh, I have to have that one.” But therein lies the appeal of special edition trims and paint-to-sample cars as they are almost impossible to repeat, offering casual collectors a truly exclusive car without having to pay Lamborghini Countach money. The seller hasn’t left the 944 completely stock despite its rarity, a decision I personally struggle with – fortunately, his tweaks are all reversible and not at all offensive.  He’s added the hood and front bumper from the 944 Turbo, along with a new Magnaflow exhaust. The list of recent maintenance is quite healthy, including a new clutch, rebuilt transaxle, and a new alternator, among other improvements. For the 944 collector who has everything, this rare yellow coupe may be one of the harder cars to find to add to a collection of Porsche’s front-engined 80s classic.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“For sale is my 1987 Porsche 944 painted in Lemon Yellow. The 944 is powered by a 2.5L 4 cylinder paired to a 5 speed manual transmission. The 944 has no stains, no rips, and no signs wear on the seats. The dash does suffer from cracking as typical on these cars.

This 944 was factory ordered in “Lemon Yellow” which is often referred to as “Summer Yellow” for the US market. This is a 1987 ONLY color and is extremely rare with less than a handful 944s left. It is a very fun and vibrant color adding to the 80’s charm.

This 944 has been slightly modified. The modifications include:
-944 Turbo Front Bumper
-924 Turbo Hood
-Only944 Shifter
-Momo Steering Wheel
-Rear Wiper Delete
-Magnaflow Exhaust
-LED Headlight Conversion

This 944 is up-to-date on all of its maintenance including:
-New Clutch (170k)
-Rebuilt Transaxle (170k)
-New Hatch & Door Seals (March 2022)
-New Valve Cover Gasket (March 2022)
-New Trans Fluid (Feb 2022)
-New Spark Plugs (Feb 2022)
-New Alternator (June 2021)
-New Tires (Dec 2021)

The 944 does have a few items that would benefit from being fixed:
-AC is Inoperable
-Speedometer is Inop (new sensor included)
-Ebrake is inop (left it on and drove around)

Last timing belt service was at 152,000 miles, but visual inspection shows it is in good condition and does not need to replaced anytime soon. Motor Mounts were done at the same time as timing belt.

I am firm on my price. I am “testing” the waters. If it does not sell, car will be in storage.

This 944 has a clean title and is ready to enjoy this spring!“

Color scheme significance: does the color of a car matter to you as much as the car itself?