1991 Porsche 928 S4

Porsche produced its Model 928 from 1978 through 1995. The oil crisis of the 1970s greatly shaped the designs and configurations of many vehicles worldwide, with many manufacturers trading the heavy, high-horsepower designs in favor of lighter and more fuel-efficient vehicles packed with luxury and numerous standard features. Porsche's managing director Ernst Fuhrmann was concerned that the then-current flagship model, the 911, may have peaked and that its lifespan was coming to an end. These concerns were further fueled by the Chevrolet Corvair's safety issues and the increasing potential for the U.S. government to ban the sale of rear-engine cars. In the wake of these concerns, a new model was needed, and Fuhrmann envisioned a more traditional design with conventional engines.

A design study in the early 1970s yielded the 928, the company's first clean sheet design - the Porsche 356 had been an evolution of the Volkswagen Beetle, and the 911 was an evolution of the 356. The 924 was an abandoned project by Volkswagen and Audi.

The rear-wheel-drive Porsche 928 was powered by a front-mounted V-8 engine. Several designs and configurations were tested and explored, eventually settling on a 4.5-liter, SOHC per bank 16-valve unit delivering 240 horsepower (slightly less in North America, at 220 horsepower).
Porsche unveiled its new 928 to the world at the Geneva Motor Show in 1977, going on sale soon after as a 1978 model. Production would continue for eighteen years, however, it never achieved the sales figures envisioned by Fuhrmann. It offered a greater level of comfort than its 911 sibling, with prices that exceeded those of the 911.

For 1991, Porsche produced 263 examples of the 928 S4 for the United States market. Power was from a dual-overhead-cam V-8 engine capable of producing 326 horsepower. There were a five-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel disc brakes. Base pricing was $77,500.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2009