1991 Porsche 944 Convertible S2 (16 Ventiler)

First registered on the 31st of December 1991 in Singapore (believed to be a private import), this UK-spec last-of-the-line example was repatriated in 2000 along with its owner, at which time the odometer was converted from kph to mph.

A long-time Porsche fan, the vendor bought the 944 on a bit of a whim a year ago attracted by the thick service history file that validates the vast amount of servicing and maintenance it has had over the years.

Only now being offered for sale as he’s now got a 911 Convertible to take care of his 1980’s soft-top needs, it is being offered with a very sensible reserve making this your chance to get your hands on one of the best-handling modern classics of them all.

Finished in Glacier Blue, the 944 has been the subject of an unusually comprehensive programme of refurbishment over the years. A brief summery includes taking care of some rust on the offside door in late 2013, at which time the car was partially resprayed. Further remedial work was undertaken in November 2017, while October 2020 saw repairs being made to the nearside outer sill.

This work has, as you can see, left the Porsche looking terrific with good shutlines, ripple- and dent-free panels, and a very good finish to that glorious – and unusual – Glacier Blue paintwork.

The 17-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels are in great shape too, with no kerbing, scuffs or other significant damage and only very minor marks to a couple of the outer rims. The tyres are matching high-quality Continentals, all of which have good tread.

As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The black fabric roof is new and furls and unfurls as it should, manually in this case as the motor is U/S. That said, the 944’s is such a simple mechanism that the lack of a motor actually speeds the whole process up…

Being new, the roof obviously seals tightly and the fabric itself is in good order with no rips, tears, or other damage. The very recent tonneau cover is excellent, too.

Other than the usual stonechips and minor marks, bodywork faults are minimal and are probably restricted to the boot lid, the paintwork of which is a little hazy, and the need for some minor touching-up just above front number plate.

There’s also a small chip in the windscreen, a small dink on the nearside sill, a perished rubber boot lock seal, and some marks/cracks to the rear diffuser. However, all of these are cosmetic and could easily be relegated to the long-term To Do list without guilt or worry.

The leather interior is gently patinated but no more, which means it looks age-appropriate and terrifically of-its-time being simple, uncluttered and ergonomically flawless; it really does demonstrate that less can sometimes be more.

The electrically adjustable front seats are only gently creased and lightly cracked and there are, more importantly, free of any damage. The rear seat is even better, and the matching leather steering wheel is in fine fettle.

The rest of the interior is equally well preserved sporting, as it does, good carpets, pedal rubbers, door cards, and trim panels.

Factory options include air-conditioning, headlamp washers, and central locking, and an aftermarket, modern Blaupunkt Woodstock DAB radio has been fitted.

The boot is fairly clean and completely solid. Home to the original space-saver spare wheel, it still has its tool kit and the Porsche air compressor/tyre inflator.

Work to do? Well, that depends on your attitude towards patination. Other than the usual minor cracks around the air vents on the top of the dashboard (something almost every 944 suffers from) we can see that a lot of folk might want to pop on a new gearknob.

Other than that though, there isn’t much in there that offends us.

The car’s previous keeper had it for five years, during which time he spent around £8,000 on items such as a new alternator, radiator hoses, fog lights, indicator lenses, fuel pump, and a clutch slave cylinder as well as such delightful fripperies as a Dansk performance exhaust.

More historically, it was fitted with a reconditioned engine in 2007 at 74,540 miles. This was fitted by Porsche specialists Hendon Motors at a cost of £3,510 and lasted until the 4th of July 2014 when a snapped cambelt necessitated a refurbished cylinder head by PH Sports Cars.

More recent work includes new Bilstein dampers on the 8th of October 2018, and new front brake pads on the 20th of February 2019, while the 28th of September 2020 saw a new clutch being fitted along with a new starter ring gear plus a good secondhand bell housing and starter motor.

The most recent routine service history includes:

20.05.2016 and 97,957 miles – engine oil service plus fresh coolant and a radiator temp switch

09.05.2015 and 84,589 miles – full service plus fresh brake fluid and coolant, spark plugs and a fuel filter

22.02.2014 and 80,285 miles – engine oil service plus an air filter

02.05.2013 and 77,368 miles - full service including oil, air, and fuel filters, fresh engine oil, and spark plugs

There are many, many service stamps and invoices prior to this, too many, in fact, to list here. So, why not make yourself a cup of tea and take a few minutes to browse through them all in order to appreciate just how well maintained this car is?

We’ve driven it and can confirm that it drives well.

The engine bay is a little scruffy but no worse than that while, more importantly, the underside looks to be strong and solid and well-protected by a good coat of underseal.

The Porsche’s MOT certificate is valid until October 2021. It also has a number of expired MOT certificates plus a thick sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years plus the driver’s manual, a well-stamped service history booklet, the storage wallet, and two sets of keys.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained over the years to a very good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

Many argue that cars like the Porsche 944 are the sweet spot of the classic car world; old enough to be largely analogue in their response and repairability yet still new enough to benefit from the sort of reliability and safety features we’ve all come to take for granted.

Most are still fairly cheap too, adding to their already considerable appeal.

Ah, we hear you ask: but how cheap? Well, at a time when the very best Porsche 944s are going for in excess of £30,000, we think this one will sell for between £12,000 and £14,000.

In the car world that is known as having your cake and eating it; this is, remember, a strong and solid example of a much-loved classic convertible sportscar that drives well and only needs some minor fettling to enable it to fulfil its potential.

Plus, as a last-of-the-line S2, it’s got the power the chassis deserves plus a decade of experience building it, so any production foibles would have been ironed out long before this one rolled off the line.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; 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’.