Keep thinking about a 944 'racer' project

earlybay · May 13, 2012

So I've had my S2 for a couple of months now and absolutely loving it -it's such a great all round car for so little money -just suffers from the 'it's not a 911' syndrome that many Porsches suffer...

But problem is that as I bought probably one the of the best 944's on the market at the time, it means there's nothing that needs doing to it !

I've always admired the whole early 911 R Gruppe 'hot rod' style (check out some of the US cars) and wonder whether you could do something with an early 944?

The whole style would super-lightened square dash on Fuchs or cookie cutters done in a 'race style' -but also crucially done on a budget !! You've have to start with a cheap car but stick with a sound standard 2.5 engine..maybe model some of the details on the 924 GTR ?

Has anyone done a car like this (not necessarily an actual track car) or have a view on it ?

944 man · May 13, 2012

Ive done it. Early car, fat wheels, plastic windows and hatch, GRP bonnet, stripped interior, gutted doors, race seats. I wouldnt do it to a 'good car', only a fundamnetally good car.

If youre after a racer for the road then Id look for a racer and then refit the lights and whatever else an MOT requires. Cheaper and better.

earlybay · May 13, 2012

That's sounds like the kind of thing I'm thinking -I would never do it to my current car because it's too good, but recently saw a 'B' reg rough car with Fuchs- £250 !

Copperman05 · May 13, 2012

I wouldnt worry too much about the 'Its not a 911' syndrome as ignorance is their loss and our gain. Many have gone down the 924 Carrera GT replica route if that's what you after, some of them are pretty good too. Usually using a 924 turbo rather than 944 as a base car.

Personally I like the idea of a 944 Club Sport, something that Porsche never really did in any numbers, lightening the NA 944 cars is probably the best way to get the most out of the engines. Any slightly lowered 944 on fuchs is going to look pretty good imo, if you can get some for £200 and there genuine I would snap them up!

Edd

earlybay · May 13, 2012

ORIGINAL: Copperman05

I wouldnt worry too much about the 'Its not a 911' syndrome as ignorance is their loss and our gain. Many have gone down the 924 Carrera GT replica route if that's what you after, some of them are pretty good too. Usually using a 924 turbo rather than 944 as a base car.

Personally I like the idea of a 944 Club Sport, something that Porsche never really did in any numbers, lightening the NA 944 cars is probably the best way to get the most out of the engines. Any slightly lowered 944 on fuchs is going to look pretty good imo, if you can get some for £200 and there genuine I would snap them up!

Edd

I've had a 993 before so it doesn't worry me...maybe only a factor in terms of resale as track-prepared 944's don't seem to fetch much...

Yes agreed-I'm not after a replica of a specific model eg a 924 Carreras rep as you say -too many done that, but yes think the idea of 2.5-based Club Sport is a great theme

earlybay · May 13, 2012

944 Man - are there any threads of pics of your early car on here ?

944 man · May 13, 2012

No, it wasnt ever a pretty car, but it worked well. Its the car in my avatar which was bought originally to use on a charity rally. Its now in a garage looking very sorry for itselft, with all of the good buts (wheels, polycarbonate hatch & windows, race seats 968CS rear seat delete, steering wheel, GRP panels) removed. It still has the stailnless exhaust fitted, but thats coming off too.

Whilst it always looked like a sad old track refugee, due to the sponsors decals, it performed well enough. Using an old-type G-Tech Pro it appeared to have the performance of a car which measured 183bhp at the wheels! I came by this result by testing the car using its original weight, rather than the correct lower weight and the device concluded that to accelerate that quickly, for the given weight, the car would have generated 183 'RWH' (as 'Mercins like to say).

Simon