Was the 924 the first water cooled Porsche?

scm924s · Mar 9, 2018

Not according to your Register guide notes!

Manufactured from 1976 to 1988, the front-engined water-cooled 924 was a 2-door, 2+2 coupé that replaced the earlier 914 as Porsche’s entry-level sports car. Whilst not the first front-engined water-cooled Porsche (the 928 holds that distinction), it was the first Porsche car to have the option of a fully automatic gearbox.

My understanding is that the 928 was launched at the Geneva Motor Show of 1977, whereas the 924 was launched early 1976.

Don't deny the lowly 924 it's claim to fame[

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clyde · Mar 9, 2018

The type numbers would certainly indicate that the idea of the 924 pre-dated the 928, regardless of when either were actually introduced, released, first sold or whatever.

pse_SC · Mar 9, 2018

Yes, although the water-cooled, front-engined 928 was designed first, the 924 was the first road-going Porsche to have a front engine rear wheel drive configuration (and also the first Porsche to be offered with a fully automatic transmission)... and the saviour of Porsche AG at the time [sm=kiss.gif]

scm924s · Mar 9, 2018

pse_SC said:
Yes, although the water-cooled, front-engined 928 was designed first,

Even that could be mildly debated I would suggest, certainly Porsche were considering the concept of a large GT, to follow the perceived decline of the 911, from 1971, but the commission to design a sports coupe for VW/Audi in 1972 overtook the the GT project, enabling some design features, such as the transaxle layout, to be trialled in the smaller car, all fairly academic though.

Martin924 · Mar 15, 2018

I think the final digit in the type number refers to the number of cylinders rather than which was designed first. That was the 928 although the 924 came on sale first.

geoff Ives · Mar 16, 2018

Martin924 said:
I think the final digit in the type number refers to the number of cylinders rather than which was designed first. That was the 928 although the 924 came on sale first.

Correct!!

scm924s · Mar 16, 2018

So why wasn't the 968 called the 964?[

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scm924s · Mar 17, 2018

Maybe a bit of clarity? The Porsche view of the numbering system, which would indicate that the numbers are sequential and have no relationship to engine size or number of cylinders.
On that basis I would rest my case that the 924 precedes the other models and has justification to be called the first water cooled front engined car.

Respect!

https://newsroom.porsche....type-number-12087.html