1995 Porsche 968 Sport

It's rare: this model is the UK-only Porsche 968 Sport. It was made in limited numbers, 300 cars sold we think. And this 1995 example happens to be one of those. A well-cared-for car, it not just looks good but is also complemented by a rather detailed service record (FSH). The vendor says "of the 300 made there are only 140 still registered and no doubt that number will be decreasing(?). I feel that this car will climb in value. Around 8 years ago you could pick one of these up for around £10k and, with the numbers reducing, it looks like a great investment."

With eight former keepers (excluding the vendor), this 968 Sport has had more than 85,000+ miles on the clock, but the original speedometer was changed at 30,000 miles, which means it’s effectively done a little more than 115,000 miles from new. It also has a valid MoT, which expires in December 2021. The paperwork includes various invoices of the regular maintenance and part replacements, a few old MoT receipts, and a filled service book.

There’s no denying that this manual-gearbox coupe is made to be enjoyed. While the vendor mentions that he’s used the car only on the weekends, it won’t be wrong to say that the next owner will be able to appreciate one of Porsche’s finest and fairly rare cars the way it was intended. With zero frills and no drama!

As a continuation of the 944, the 968 couldn’t be expected to be entirely different; and it most certainly wasn’t. What’s unmistakable is the 968’s front, which moves away from the concealed lights on the 924/944 and adopts a more 928-like setup. Still pop-ups but one can see hints of the 993, too. The rear is new, too, and while like on the 944, the large hatchback offers easy access into the boot, one wouldn’t mistake this for any other Porsche.

The 1995 968 Sport here exhibits decent bodywork (if not the cleanest) on a car that’s covered more than 100,000 miles. There are minor blemishes on the paintwork but otherwise, it looks great for its age. The wheels are spot-free, and the vendor mentions that there’s no surface rust.

The factory-applied Iris Blue paint might not be the brightest of shades, but it complements the car’s styling and its overall appeal — of an understated but highly competent sports car. The added practicality does lend it some GT characteristics. And as a weapon to cover ground quickly, this 968 appears to be a fine choice. Even in the way it looks.

The interior of the Porsche 968 was carried over from the 944. This meant the oval dashboard was retained and so was the overall great quality. The interior has aged well, and can’t be mistaken for anything other than a Porsche’s. The simple styling works wonders here, and it’s safe to say that the 968 Sport’s all-black interior is devoid of distractions.

While anything remotely luxurious was considered superfluous for the Club Sport, the 968 Sport didn’t have to undergo such strict dietary regulations. The Sport didn’t lose out on features like electrically adjustable rear view mirrors, power windows, radio, etc., — and not to forget the longer wiring. There was less sound deadening than the standard car, and a few components were shared with the more focussed modellike a digital dash clock, door cards from the 944, and Club Sport steering wheel, among other things.

This 1995 example has a very well-maintained interior. The usual age-related wear is present, especially on the seats, steering wheel, and the gear knob, but nothing says that the car has been used for over 25 years. The front passenger seat has some marks, one of the door sills exhibits some paint damage, but on the whole, it’s a very inviting cabin. The car was also specced with a sunroof. It also has power windows and a Pioneer radio.

Much like the rest of the interior, the headlining and carpet look decent, and the boot is spotless. It’s easy to access, and underneath a panel, it houses a space-saver spare wheel.

While the 968 shared the monocoque chassis with the 944, it’s not like Porsche didn’t make advancements on the car. Firstly, the 3.0-litre inline-four engine from the 944 S2 was now made more powerful producing about 240 bhp. That was possible due to the adoption of variable intake cam control, or VarioCam, in Porsche speak. A six-speed manual gearbox was standard affair on the car, especially the Sport.

With the engine sat at the front and the gearbox mounted at the rear (in the transaxle unit), Porsche achieved remarkable chassis balance, largely because of the even weight distribution. On the 968 Sport, Porsche installed stiffer springs and a lower ride height (by 20 mm), like on the Club Sport; this further improved the car’s handling. It’s easy to see why the 968 had soon become a welcome inclusion in the Porsche line up — and the short-lived Sport more so.

The vendor mentions that it drives fantastically as a good 968 Sport would. The underside looks good: it’s clean and devoid of rust for the most part. We feel the car drives very well for its age.

Given the less-than-ideal sales performance of the 968 in the UK, there aren't too many cars around. And great examples, even fewer so. The UK-specific Sport had a limited production run, which means finding a good 968 Sport is even more difficult. But most experts suggest that a good 968 with a detailed history shouldn’t be missed. And this 1995 Porsche 968 Sport is just that.

Okay, it’s got eight former keepers (excluding the vendor) and about 115,000 miles on the clock, but it’s backed by full Porsche service history with detailed invoices. But before looking at that, its MoT history needs to be appreciated, too. In the last fifteen years, the car has failed its MoT only once (in 2010, due to faulty position lamps and plate lamps), but otherwise, it sailed through all its tests. The latest one is valid till later this year and was cleared without any advisory.

In its very early years, the car was driven a fair bit — with about 15k miles annually — but that reduced eventually. At 30,292 miles on the odometer and two years after being registered in 1994, it had a speedometer change in 1996. The service book has all the details, including the corresponding yearly and regular maintenance records. The latest service was in 2020, in which, apart from the usual oil filter change, the car got a replacement number plate light and side repeater. It also got new front and rear bumper rubber seals. In 2019, it got new spark plugs, sunroof gears, etc. In 2016, this Sport got new front and rear brakes (both discs and pads).

This isn’t a 968 Sport for those looking at time-capsule examples. It’s instead a well-used and well-cared-for car. Both the exterior and the interior speak volumes about that. What’s worth noting is that the 968 Sport is quite a rare car, but its ability to appeal to sports-car buyers doesn’t need to depend entirely on that.

It’s a great intermediate model for those who want to appreciate the finer handling of the Club Sport but don’t want it to be a letdown and too big a compromise when driven on public roads, at more sensible speeds. Its relative bargain prices (estimated value: £18,000 - £22,000) make it the thinking man’s Club Sport, but without taking away too much from the car itself. And that makes the 968 Sport unmissable.

Viewing is always encouraged, within Govt. guidelines of course, and as stated this car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.