| If you are already a Porsche buff I don't have to tell | | | | but it was the intercooled version and of course it was |
| you how popular the Porsche 944 was and still | | | | turbo charged so you got a whopping 220 BHP at |
| remains today. If you are knew to Porsche's your | | | | 6000 RPM.1987 saw the introduction of the 944S - S |
| about to meet with some fascinating reading. So what | | | | standing for Super. This model had dual air bags and |
| was the 944 all about?Porsche has been building great | | | | anti lock brakes as standard equipment. It also had the |
| cars for years but in 1982 it came up with what was | | | | first 16 valve engine with 250 BHP.1989 The S was no |
| going to be a real winner. This was the year the first | | | | more to be with the equipment from the S model |
| Porsche 944 hit the market. It was originally introduced | | | | becoming standard on the 944 model. The engine was |
| as a replacement for the Porsche 924.This eventually | | | | replaced to a 4 cylinder 2.7 liter engine.In 1990 Porsche |
| did occur but for a few years both cars were actually | | | | released the 944 Series 2 known as the S2. It was a |
| on the market side by side. From the get go the 944 | | | | revision of the 944S which had the aerodynamics of |
| was immediately a very popular car available as either | | | | the 951. It was also the year the 16 valve 3.0 liter |
| a 2 door coupe or a 2 door convertible.So what was it | | | | engine was introduced becoming the most popular |
| that made the 944 such a hit? Well there were a few | | | | engine ever in the 944. This 16 valve engineFrom 1982 |
| things but mostly it was the high performance and look | | | | to 1989 113,070 were produced and 25,107 Turbo |
| of this sports car. It was a success right from the | | | | engines were produced. The 944S saw a total of |
| beginning but over the years several models become | | | | 12,936 cars produced and the 944S2 had only 6,439 |
| available including the 944S, 944S2, and the 944 | | | | produced. In the big picture that's not a lot of cars |
| Turbo.When first produced it had only the 2.5 liter | | | | which is probably one of the reasons demand remains |
| engine but over time there were options which also | | | | strong.Late in 1991 the 944 Series 3 was released but |
| included a 2.7 liter and 3.0 liter engine. Both the 94 inch | | | | the model number was changed to the 968. It was |
| wheelbase and the 2932 curb weight also made this | | | | originally called the 944 S3 but then marketing opted |
| car very appealing to the sports car enthusiast.When | | | | for a name change in the hope of increasing sales. |
| the 944 first hit the streets it had a straight 4 cyclinder | | | | Technically the 968 was the refined version of the |
| 2.5 liter engine an it had Mitsubishi's patented balance | | | | 944 offering the best of the best. It also offered a |
| shaft technology. And of course it had the look of a | | | | new nose and rear end as well as circular headlamps. |
| sports car too.It wasn't until 1985 that it had any major | | | | The 3 liter engine had a horsepower increase of 240 |
| changes done to it. Those changes included some | | | | HP and performance was optimized using the |
| ergonomic changes to the interior, the movement of | | | | Variocam. The 968 was built up until 1995.Even though |
| the antenna, and some improvements to the air | | | | the 944 designation was retired in 1991it didn't mean |
| conditioning. Optional heated seat were also added, as | | | | this was a car of the past and it certainly didn't result in |
| were powered seats, a larger fuel tank, and some | | | | the sales dwindling. Instead it remains more popular |
| technology to reduce noise.They also introduced the | | | | than ever. In fact today it remains a "must have" car in |
| Turbo model in 1985. Within the Porsche Corporation it | | | | the Porsche world.Wayne has been owned and ridden |
| was referred to as the 951 but the world knew it | | | | Porsches for 15 years. Visit his Porsche site at to learn |
| simply as the 944 Turbo. It had the same basic engine | | | | more about Porsche 944. |