The first public debut of the 944 was at Le Mans 1981, coming 7th over all and 4th in class. This might be Porsche’s most auspicious model launch ever? Either way, the 944 in all its variants, went on to be the most successful selling Porsche, until 1998’s Boxster came along.

There’s a few models of the 924 /944/ 968 that every German car fan should experience, those being the 924 Carrera GT, 944 Turbo and 968 Club Sport. They are all very surprisingly different, for something sharing the same monocoque. Of those 3, the 944 Turbo was sold in relatively vast numbers, which makes them the a performance fiends bargain, a title you can’t hang on too many Porsche made cars.

The first batch of 1985 and ‘86 944T’s were quite interesting; They were homologated for Group B in January 1986, so perhaps once that was achieved and SCCA, IMSA etc homologation was also finalised, a lot of motorsport features were deleted on subsequent models. What ever the reason, they were a particularly over-engineered missile and a HUGE departure, from the regular, more 924 oriented 944.

The Zermatt Silver car we have for sale here is an interesting mutt. It’s one of those odd-ball ordered in South Africa, but delivered to New Zealand RHD cars, that had special order red trim, with yellow piping, which makes me think that it must have been a private commission, rather than the usual more conservative trim that a dealer would choose.

Someone at some stage, I’m guessing late 90’s early 2000’s by the style of mods, spent an absolute BOMB on this car. With a heavily modified engine, big Garrett Turbo, adjustable boost, managed by a switch and a custom Autronic SM4 ECU, modified shift and LSD transaxle. I was on a mission to get a new Tarmac Rally car and through a friend, was offered this car. Unfortunately the cars paperwork was lost, but a look underneath, showed a rust and crash free chassis, great mechanicals and a dyno sheet that said FUN.

A deal was struck and I did a “start again” major mechanical service on her with new belts and every fluid, filters, bushes, etc etc, $$$$$$ etc. Once she was mechanically sorted and test driven to great satisfaction, I started pulling it apart, preparing her for Rally duties… Until a lovely red 1986 944 Turbo popped up for sale, fully prepared and log-booked for rally’s and I bought that instead. Doh.

The old Silver Bullet has since been a fun blast through the hills, but she needs a new owner, who wants a mechanically strong, FAST car, they they car put a cool wrap on, or respray and take to the next level. I was hoping that that person would be me, but in the last 8 months I haven’t done anything with her, other than more blasting through the hills.

Car has its original Porsche Books and can be supplied with a tan / beige coloured trim too (I was going to wrap it British racing Green, with the tan trim… Yum!).

Price is slightly negotiable, especially to someone with a cool vision for her.