1991 Porsche 928 S4

Little is known about the car prior to 2004 but the extensive invoices for servicing and repairing the car since then shows that its owners have clearly treasured it.

The phrase ‘maintained regardless of cost’ is often used inappropriately but since the previous owners have spent around £20,000 in the past 14 years to keep this example in the condition you see today, we’re confident that the ASA won’t be troubling us in this case!

The current owner has maintained that tradition, spending far too much on it to sort out the bodywork, fettle the interior trim, and give it a service. As a result, it looks fabulous, runs perfectly and is ready to be used or shown as the new owner prefers.   

The metallic blue coachwork is in fabulous condition, as well it might be given the time and money the seller has lavished it. The work comprised a number of small bodywork repairs plus a full, high-quality respray with the doors, boot lid, bonnet, and front and rear bumpers removed. The care that was taken to align each body panel precisely on reassembly is evident as the result is stunning. It looks factory fresh and is a credit to the craftsmen and women that worked on it.

The O/E alloy wheels have been recently refurbished and the tyres they are shod with still have plenty of tread left. The electric sunroof operates as it should, and seals tightly against the wind and rain.

Even after pouring over the photos in the Gallery, you don’t have to take our word for it; like all our cars, you are very welcome to visit while the auction is running. Use the ‘Contact Seller’ button to arrange a time.

The interior is in good/very good condition, hiding its miles well. The simplicity of its design will probably come as something of a shock to anyone stepping into it after driving a modern car but that says more about our obsession with connectivity and button-counting than it does Porsche’s ergonomics in the 1980s and ‘90s.

Suffice it to say, the 928 dates back to a time when cars were built up to a quality rather than down to a price, so everything still works as it should and it looks fabulous having been recently valeted.

Some of the leather on the driver’s seat was worn on the bolster, so the seller had this professionally replaced. The finished job is nigh-on undetectable and what little difference there is in colour will become even less noticeable as the new leather starts to develop a patina of its own.

An aftermarket Alpine head-unit and multi-CD changer has been fitted, which is a bit of a shame but replacement O/E units are still available from the usual sources should you want to refit one of the original radios. Being fastidious, the owner also tells us that the speaker grilles could do with repainting. That this is the extent of his concerns speaks volumes…

The vendor is something of a serial Porsche 928 buyer, so he knows his stuff. He tells us that this example is “very nice and honest”, going on to say that it “drives superbly”, and is a “clean car that feels right”. Never one to exaggerate, we think his understated comments should be read in this vein; if he says it’s a good ‘un, then we think you’ll agree when you see it.

The comprehensive service and repair history since 2004 shows an almost religious fervor to the Porsche servicing regimen. This is a Good Thing as that should mean that all the big expenditure is in the past, hopefully leaving the new owner to enjoy it for a few years with nothing other than routine servicing.

Just as importantly, the car’s online MOT history shows nothing untoward at all, and certainly no trace of the sort of serious structural rot and corrosion that can plague the model. Again, when the owner describes the car as “solid” and “a nice clean straight one” he really does mean exactly that.

UPDATE: The Porsche passed its MOT on 18 May with flying colours - another 12 months without visiting the inspector.

Sadly, the original service book has been lost but the seller is trying to retrace its history with the Porsche dealer network. But, here are some of the highlights from the past few years culled from the invoices (which you can see online) he has to hand:

• 2004 – an invoice for £1117 shows a cambelt replacement at, we think, 61,000 miles. The car was also serviced when it was purchased on this date.

• 2005 - an invoice for £450 on tyres and a track rod end.

• 2006 - Heyes Engineering undertook extensive work to the engine, which resulted in an invoice for a whopping £3,986.

• 2007 – an invoice for £800, again from Heyes Engineering, for new front springs, and brake discs and pads. A later invoice from the same year is included that shows £832.54 was spent on a service, new rear discs and pads, and repairs to the window winder mechanism plus a new battery and rear demist relay for another £210.

• 2009 – two invoices for £1765 and £1042. The former was for repairs to the PSD pump, rear wheel bearings and an ABS sensor in addition to a full service, while the latter was for work to the air-conditioning system.

• 2010 - Heyes Engineering completed work costing well in excess of £500 on general servicing, HT leads and a new radiator.

• 2011 – invoices totaling £840 including new brake pads, hoses, and a full service.

• 2012 - an invoice for £1959 from Heyes Engineering for service work that included new engine mounts, front discs and pads, and a full service including new brake fluid.

• 2013 – shows an invoice for £1160.

• 2014 – two invoices, one for £1349 followed by another for £1250 at 928 Spares Ltd. The work included a new battery, ABS and oxygen sensors, a new air flow meter, a partial service and a replacement ECU.

• 2015 – the owner spent £2021 at 928 Spares Ltd. on a full service, new rear discs and pads (including handbrake shoes), and a new driveshaft,

• 2018 – trim repairs to drivers seat, local bodywork repairs followed by full respray

The car comes with a significant number of old MOT certificates to support the mileage, along with a number of expired tax discs (remember those?).

Please visit the ‘Gallery’ section of this listing where you will find a large number of old invoices and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has an impressively comprehensive service history.

We know that you, like everyone else, think you’d be better off buying a lower mileage Porsche 928, preferably one that comes comfortably under the (entirely arbitrary) 100,000 mile mark. But, with the greatest respect, we would suggest that in the case of something as complex as the 928 your money might be more safely invested in something that’s been regularly used and comprehensively maintained; few things kill cars faster than inactivity and unless you’re looking to buy a museum-quality static exhibit you’re usually better off buying something that’s actually been regularly used.

(You’ll also be more inclined to use it, too. Who was it that said that not driving your car in order to protect its residual value is the same as not sleeping with your husband or wife in order to protect their virginity for their next spouse…?)

Which is not to say that this is an old nag that’s been ridden hard and put away wet, because it most certainly isn’t. It’s clearly been cherished and looked after, something that the next owner will benefit from for years to come.

And, prices of Porsche 928s are low compared to its 911 contemporary, making them possibly the biggest bargains in the classic supercar arena. How much of a bargain? Well, we estimate this example from £13-£15,000, which is a real snip in anyone’s books. And, as always, the reserve is below the estimate.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen in Essex; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.