Refurbishing the Porsche 928 in 2023
Though initially derided as a cumbersome successor to the 911, the 928 quickly earned itself a stellar reputation among drivers as an amazing performer – even setting an unprecedented class record at 234 mph!
Designer Tony Lapine purposely deviated from Porsche convention and the creased styling popularized by ItalDesign’s Giugiaro; today, 30 years later, this approach looks absolutely brilliant.
Design
Custom touches can transform a Porsche 928 into an eye-catching showpiece – take this example from Thierry Nardone for example:
Starting with a donor car, they add carbon fiber bodywork, six-speed manual gearbox, active suspension system and 18″ wheels – the total package is expected to produce 400 horsepower and is intended to beat Porsche 911 models on the road. Unfortunately this won’t come cheap; pricing estimates place its sale between $125,000-130,000 once released onto the market later this year.
This 928 is more than a cosmetic exercise; its overhaul includes an engine management system upgrade and major chassis modifications from AMG Tuning. These changes should enable it to reach 60mph in under four seconds and top 155mph – impressive figures for an almost 30-year-old car! Additionally, its electronic systems should make driving and maintaining easier thanks to state-of-the-art alarms that cancel flashed warning lights in case of faults.
At first glance, the most noticeable change will likely be seen at the front end, where pop-up headlights have been replaced with much simpler units that echo their original designs more closely than ever. Furthermore, these are smaller and more powerful than their predecessors while having circular shapes with LED daytime running lights to match.
Other changes are more subtle. The front grille has been altered slightly while its rear end received a diffuser, as has its cabin which now features modern Porsche technology such as leather and Alcantara seats and an infotainment system specifically tailored for older cars called Porsche Classic Communication Management (PCCM).
There’s also an impressive full-width LED light bar at the tail, adding an eye-catching twist that makes this classic car appear almost futuristic. Anyone interested can experience what this car looks like firsthand at Goodwood this June.
Performance
The Porsche 928 wasn’t meant as a replacement for the 911; rather it was designed to take their brand in an entirely different direction. This front-engined V8 coupe offered far more space than the traditional 911 and was launched into production in 1978, stunning everyone. To this day it remains highly desirable and sought-after among classic car collectors eager to own one for its luxurious feel and agile handling.
The body was a visual treat, featuring smooth curves, slanted rear windows, chrome-lined tail lights and plastic bumpers integrated into its wings to offer maximum protection to occupants. Featuring sweeping curves, slanted rear windows and chrome-lined tail lights. It was also equipped with air circulation slots on its hood for ventilation while lightweight aluminium door and front wings were utilized so as to not add too much mass. Plastic bumpers provided excellent occupant safety.
An all aluminium V8 engine produced 320 horsepower and, combined with an auto’box that made optimal use of its ample torque, gave the 928 its outstanding performance.
The Porsche 928 may not have been as adept at corner-carving, but it certainly held its own on twisty roads. Weighing approximately one ton less than its counterpart, its impressive agility earned a five second acceleration time for zero to sixty acceleration.
An average 928 consumed 21mpg, making long distance trips possible with relative ease. An almost 19 gallon fuel tank could provide up to 400 mile trips between refilling.
The interior was luxurious for a car of this class; in particular, the S 4 version, which was the most popular model sold in North America, featured leather seats with powered height, tilt, recline, two plane lumbar support as well as 2 + 2 seating which enabled small children to be accommodated on short journeys.
Many 928s featured a rear spoiler to give their cars an aggressive appearance and increase downforce and enhance handling capabilities around corners. Owners who purchased these cars for its sports handling might opt for manual transmission; however, in general about 80 per cent were sold with automatic transmission as its large, torquey engine made for a comfortable and enjoyable driving experience.
Technology
The Porsche 928 was intended to mark a new era of front-engine, rear-drive Porsches; unfortunately it never quite did that. For those still fond of its grand tourer design from the ’80s however, French startup Nardone Automotive has come up with a modern restomod solution which should make Stuttgart’s V8 coupe feel new again.
A car that appears as though it could star in Ghost in the Shell has been created, complete with carbon-fiber exterior and modern upgrades. Replicated are its iconic pop-up headlights made from composite materials with LED illumination; taillights have also been reconfigured into one piece that sits within its bumper for a much cleaner, modern appearance.
Under the hood, the original 4.7-liter V8 has been bored and stroked to 5.4 liters and fitted with revised four-valve per cylinder heads resulting in 345 horsepower and an estimated 0-60 time of under six seconds.
Nardone also reworked the chassis to improve handling, stability and ride comfort. His suspension was upgraded with fully-floating coil springs and progressive shock absorbers for increased ride comfort; his steering was refined for more precise feedback; while brakes received upgrades with larger calipers and rotors to increase stopping power while offering linear feel.
Interior modifications feature Foglizzo leather and Alcantara microsuede upholstery in a light mocha hue, along with modernized version of Porsche’s classic Pasha seat pattern trim, while the center console now comes equipped with Porsche Classic Communication Management’s system to provide infotainment, Apple CarPlay connectivity and other features.
One final feature that sets this custom 928 apart from factory versions is its unique set of custom forged wheels, featuring the same 9.5-inch wide rims found on a 911 Turbo. This unique detail helps set this car apart in an otherwise conventional Porsche lineup.
Value
As is often the case with Porsche cars, the 928 has had difficulty finding its audience. With futuristic styling and promises of outdoing the 911 in terms of speed, its futuristic appearance made it a desirable technical must-have for many Porsche drivers; however, not everyone took to it. Even so, its appearance in films such as Weird Science, Scarface and Risky Business helped increase its profile significantly.
Over its 18 years of production, minor modifications were introduced that did not substantially impact performance or efficiency. 1979 brought with it a 2mm overbore that brought up engine capacity to 4.7 litres and power output to 295hp; additionally a higher compression ratio was installed on 4.7 S models to increase horsepower output to 300hp.
In 1991, a major shift took place with the launch of the 5.4-litre GTS model, replacing both S4 and GT models with its unique engine, larger brakes, and revised bodywork design. At that time, this car represented the latest iteration of original design; fast yet expensive at the time (costing over $100,000 fully loaded!). It quickly became the fastest and most sought-after model from Nissan’s range.
Today, a well-maintained 928 is still an outstanding value in terms of price to performance ratio. Its engine is truly outstanding, while its manual transmission can be enjoyable to drive. Plus, its rear-wheel drive layout gives it similar balance and agility as the 911 while offering more torque with larger front wheels.
Porsche cars are famously lightweight constructions made of aluminium that contribute to their outstanding handling characteristics and legendary handling characteristics. One popular phrase among enthusiasts states: If a Porsche has extensive rust damage, stay away!
The 928 is also very straightforward to maintain. While its fuel economy may not be all that impressive – expect 12-15mpg around town – and oil consumption can be somewhat costly, overall ownership costs remain affordable and relatively easy. Unfortunately, parts may not always be readily available but with good aftermarket suppliers most things can still be obtained.