The Porsche 924 was introduced and manufactured by Porsche AG of Germany from 1976 to 1988.
The 924 was aimed at replacing the 914 as the company’s entry level model, and was the model that was also to finally end the production of the 912. It was the first Porsche model powered by a water-cooled, front engine to make production (which went against the grain by Porsche’s past), although the similarly configured 928 was designed before the 924. The front engine, rear wheel drive arrangement was normal for most other manufacturers, but it was unusual for Porsche, who had previously only used mid or rear mounted engines of a boxer configuration, all of which had been previously air-cooled.
The first official unveiling of the 924 took place in November 1975 at the harbour at La Grande Motte, Camargue in the south of France. The model was a success and not only helped to take Porsche out of financial ruin, but created the revenue stream needed to continue building and developing the legendary and controversial 911. The 924 was replaced by the 944 in 1983 in the US market, but continued to be produced until 1985 in other markets.
For the 1986 to 1988 model years the car acquired the powerplant from the 944 model and became known as the Porsche 924S.
The 924 was originally intended to be Volkswagen's flagship coupé sports car. Volkswagen commissioned Porsche to design the car ‘project numbered 425’, which developed a fresh chassis and transmission that would work with an existing Audi I4 engine. They also handled the suspension and the interior and exterior design. Porsche decided on a rear wheel drive layout, and chose a rear transaxle to help provide 48/52 front/rear weight distribution. This slight rear weight bias, despite the front mounted engine, aided both traction and brake balance.
Due to growing concern over the 1973 oil crisis and a change of directors at Volkswagen, they put the ‘425 project’ on hold, eventually dumping it entirely after their decision to move forward with the Volkswagen Scirocco model instead. Porsche, who needed a model to replace the ageing 914, made a deal with Volkswagen, agreeing to buy the design for an undisclosed figure which some suggest was 100 million DM whilst others say 160 million, but can be agreed is that it was less than the amount Volkswagen paid Porsche to design it.
The deal specified that the car would be built at the ex-NSU factory in Neckarsulm located north of the Porsche headquarters in Stuttgart, the Volkswagen employees would do the actual production line work and that Porsche would own the design. It became one of Porsche’s most successful selling models to date, and the relative cheapness of building the car made it both profitable and fairly easy for Porsche to finance.
The original design used an Audi sourced four speed manual transmission for the 924 mated to VW's EA831 2.0 L I4 engine, previously used in the Audi 100 and Volkswagen LT van and producing 95bhp. This was brought up to 110bhp in mid 1977 with the introduction of a catalytic converter, which reduced the need for power starving smog equipment. The four speed manual was the only transmission available for the initial 1976 model. An Audi three speed automatic was offered starting with the 1977 model introduced in August of that year.
European models, which did not require any emissions equipment, made 125bhp. They also differed visually from the US spec model by not having the US cars ‘low speed impact bumpers’ and the round reflectors on each end of the body.
A 5 speed manual transmission, option was available in 1979 with a ‘dogleg’ Porsche configuration, with first gear below reverse. This was troublesome and was quickly replaced in 1980 with a normal ‘H-pattern’ Audi five speed unit. The brakes were solid discs at the front and drums at the rear. The car was criticised in Car and Driver magazine for this braking arrangement, which was viewed as a step backward from the 914’s standard four wheel disc brakes. However, four wheel disc brakes, five stud hubs and alloys from the 924 Turbo were available on the base 924 as an ‘S’ package starting with the 1980 model.
The overall styling was penned by Dutchman Harm Lagaay, a member of the Porsche styling team, with the hidden headlights, sloping bonnet line and grille-less nose giving the car its popular wedge shape. The car went on sale in the USA in July 1976 as a 1977 model with a base price of $9,395. Porsche made small refinements to the 924 each model year between 1977 and 1985 but nothing major was changed.
