Tony Lapine and the Porsche 928

Anatole Carl “Tony” Lapine left behind an unparalleled design legacy when he designed the Porsche 928. Additionally, he oversaw earlier front-engined models as well as two variations of the 911.

The 928’s design deliberately broke from Porsche convention and ItalDesign’s Giugiaro’s signature creased designs. He proved himself correct as it remains an enduring classic decades later.

Design

Tony Lapine’s passing away has left the world without another visionary designer and was responsible for one of the most beautiful cars ever to grace our roads – the Porsche 928. His work will live on as an inspiration.

He was an influential man with innovative ideas he was never afraid to express to the world. Not one to follow trends blindly, he set new ones himself; with cars like the Porsche 928 as proof. Additionally, he was an excellent storyteller with many humorous tales from his time spent working at Porsche.

After 17 years with General Motors – including working alongside Bill Mitchell on the Corvette and Monza GT/SS models – and six other individuals such as designers Dick Soderburg and Wolfgang Mobius as well as modeller Peter Reisinger plus engineers Jurgen Mayer and Dutchman Harm Lagaay joined Opel, they quickly left to join Porsche.

The new car was to be the successor to the 924 and represent a significant step forward for the company. Lapine led his design team in creating something which, depending on who saw it for the first time, either seduced or discomfited most first time viewers.

In an age dominated by low backs, the 928 stood out with its clean lines and graceful curves – an extremely beautiful car which still looks modern today.

As production continued on the 928, issues began to surface. To promote economy, engine and transaxle were placed slightly rearward for economy reasons; this caused its center of gravity to shift back under speed; not ideal in a tail-heavy car as there are various body-shaping techniques that try to counter this effect but often look ugly or increase drag.

The 928 was also disconcertingly wide; therefore management instructed its design team to reduce this by 15 cm by chamfering wheel corners and rounding off their edges.

Development

Porsche was experiencing declining success in America during the early 1970s as environmental and safety regulations tightened up, while sales for their 911 model neared their expected lifespan and depended upon this market segment for survival. Ernst Fuhrmann, the new CEO of Zuffenhausen-based company wanted a front engined two plus two car to replace it and give Porsche an opportunity to compete in GT categories like GT racing.

Lapine joined Porsche after 14 years with General Motors where he had played an instrumental role on both Corvette and Opel GT models.

Harm Lagaay joined four colleagues from Opel – including design engineer Dick Soderburg and chief modeler Wolfgang Mobius – when they relocated to Porsche and established a new studio there. Together with Harm Lagaay they designed both the 924 and 928, the latter being their most notable creation.

The team worked on developing the concept for the 928 from its conception until its finalization in 1983, marking a radical departure for Porsche that challenged both automotive technology and production car engineering – yet proved immensely popular both commercially and critically. Many drivers at that time saw it as fulfilling their dreams; many still do today!

The 928 was not only a driver’s car; it also offered a luxurious and civilized touring experience, with superb handling in twisty terrain, an astounding top speed of 271 km/h and enough cargo space to carry multiple people or luggage comfortably – something no other car of its time could do! Yet its designers managed to obscure its size by playing with lines, hiding its vast width (186mm wider than the 911), using plenty of curves to make the car appear smaller, and more compact.

Production

The 928 GT sports car from Porsche was one of their finest efforts during its initial decade of production. Boasting an oversized V8 powerplant – with 259BHP at 5.4-litre displacement and producing just 4.7 seconds from 0-60mph – it was considered among one of the fastest cars of its time.

Though powerful, the 928 was designed as an everyday touring car with civilized comfort in mind. Its chassis offered an optimal balance between handling and ride quality while its suspension provided good adjustability. Furthermore, ‘Club Sport’ versions offered even greater capabilities with wider 8x 19″ front and 9x 18″ rear forged Club One alloys as well as higher performance tyres, an upgraded instrument cluster, and leather sports seats – providing for increased capability over its counterparts.

On April 29 – less than two weeks after Ferdinand Piech’s tragic demise – another esteemed designer passed away, this time Latvian-born Anatole Carl ‘Tony’ Lapine. As head of design at Porsche for 21 years between 1967 and 1988, Lapine oversaw the design and creation of both front-engined 924s and 928s as well as two revisions of their iconic 911 models.

Lapine was an immensely talented and charismatic individual, fluent in four languages and wide-ranging interests spanning painter/artist/musician (organ and violin). Additionally, Lapine had a knack for understanding his customers and always kept an eye out for emerging trends.

Lapine made his most significant mark on Porsche with the 928, an innovative supercar designed by Wolfgang Mobius and styled by Lapine that stood out from its predecessors by featuring an unconventional design resembling an intergalactic flying saucer discus among an otherwise wedge-shaped supercar world.

It was very advanced for its time; the V8 used an innovative architecture that reduced weight and improved engine efficiency, such as using high-silicon aluminum block with Nikasil treatment to reduce friction; its oversquare cylinders had 95mm bores and 78.9 mm strokes for an engine that revved to 8,300rpm.

Value

Tony Lapine made an outstanding impactful contribution to Porsche in his 21-year tenure as Chief Designer. As such, he played a significant role in developing the 911 sports car during this period while overseeing key developments as Chief Designer. Furthermore, Lapine oversaw their 924, 944 and 964 models too; his influence can be seen clearly on their simple lines. Originally from Latvia but later moving to America as a refugee youth, Lapine held an impressive resume prior to joining Porsche: snowplough work at first and later GM Corvette before Opel and then Porsche came calling before finally being recruited by Porsche who then helped with further projects before leaving them for good!

Lapine made an indelible mark on Porsche with his work on the 928. One of the first front engined Porsche cars to feature a water-cooled V8, and first attempt at clean sheet design (after VW Beetle with Audi engine, 924 was created by Lapine in 1973). When released for sale in 1977 it proved a hit, even being named Europe’s Car of the Year that year; though never popular enough to unseat its predecessor the 911; nevertheless it remains beloved among enthusiasts today.

One reason behind the 928’s timeless design is Lapine’s innovative paint jobs; one on its prototype being pink with dotted lines in the shape of cuts of pork was even mocked at first, yet now stands as a collector’s item.

An inexpensive 928 is an ideal everyday supercar and an exceptional bargain at auction, yet finding one has become increasingly difficult as demand outpaces supply. Market tastes have also changed significantly over time; variants and year models like this 1982 928 S4 may become harder to locate due to picky buyers who require factory-correct cars like this example finished in champagne gold over black leather with flat disc wheels and an eye-catching two-tone seat center are becoming harder and harder to come by.