1987 Porsche 928 S4

The Porsche 928 was unveiled at the 1977 Geneva Salon and voted European Car of the Year for 1978. It had a front-engine layout with a hatchback body style that featured lightweight aluminum doors, front wings, and bonnet. There were impact-resistant 'bumpers' made of color-matched plastic incorporated into the nose and tail. Power was from the company's first V8 powerplant with a 4.5-liter displacement and offering 234 bhp. It was backed by a five-speed transaxle gearbox or optional three-speed automatic.

A 4.6-liter engine arrived in 1979, spawning a new name (the 928S), and then in 1986 additional revisions and restyling occurred, resulting in the 928 S4. The twin-cam, 16-valve cylinder heads engine displaced 4,957cc and developed 320 bhp, giving the S4 a top speed of 160 mph. Porsche continued to refine and develop the 928, resulting in the 928 GT for 1989, which had a top speed of around 170 making it the Stuttgart firm's fastest production car at the time.

The ultimate incarnation of the 928 was the 928 GTS, introduced in 1991 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It came with a 5.4-liter engine offering 345 bhp. Production of the 928 GTS continued until the model's deletion in 1995.

Porsche built a lightweight, low-production version of the 928 in 1988 and 1989 CS or Club Sport. The Club Sport came with twin and straight exhaust tailpipes, a wider track, and CS-type wheels. The bodywork was the same as the European S4 models, but without the mould line on the side. Buyers could select the no-cost option 'CS Club Sport' sticker on the front left wing. However, the Club Sport was not available with a sunroof, cruise control, or a rear screen wiper.

There were minor differences between the 1988 and 1989 CS models. The 1988 versions had a radio antenna integrated into the windscreen, while the 1989 models had it mounted toward the rear of the roof. All CS models had a left-hand drive configuration, a manual gearbox, no leather trim on the dashboard, a black leather interior, and only one rearview mirror. The seats were adjusted manually, there was no cassette box behind the window switches, no rear sun visors, and the door trim panels were sourced from the 928 S.

Prior to the official launch of the 928 Club Sport model, Porsche built five prototypes for their factory drivers (Derek Bell, Jochen Mass, Hans Stuck, Bob Wollek, and Jacky Ickx). These were delivered to the drivers as their 'company car.' These five cars had a more powerful engine (of around 300 bhp), a more tuned suspension, a passenger-side mirror, and a full leather interior.

by Daniel Vaughan | May 2020