IDENTITY CHECKS AND HISTORY
Telling the Series 1 and Series 2 924 Turbos apart from one another can be achieved with ease, but the fact parts between models are interchangeable often leads to confusion. In short, the Series 1 Turbo has its chassis number mounted on the offside suspension turret, whereas the Series 2 has its identity mounted to the offside bulkhead. Series 1 chassis numbers start 93***, while Series 2 numbers start WP0ZZZ***. This is the easiest way to identify which model you’re looking at.
The VIN number can be decoded to glean information on model type and year. For example, on a Series 1 car with the VIN number 93A0141068, ‘93’ represents the 924 Turbo, ‘A’ references the model year 1980, and ‘014’ plus the last four digits are the car’s unique serial number. The engine number can be seen on the left-hand side of the crank case, next to the clutch.
924 Turbos have risen in value in recent years. Consequently, getting hold of a ‘matching numbers’ example, complete with its original engine, should be a buyer's chief concern. Most UK cars will have been through the hands of 924 Owners Club members. A quick check on the club’s online forum (porsche924.co.uk) should reveal pretty much all you need to know about your potential purchase. Don’t be shy — this is an excellent independent owners club and its members are happy to offer guidance and assistance when asked.
Spend a couple of quid at mycarcheck.com, where you can download a history report outlining any insurance claims, change of registration number, recorded mileage and whether there’s any outstanding finance on the car. You should also enter the vehicle’s details into the DVLA’S free-to-use MOT history database, which can be found at bit.ly/dvlamot. The service will return details of all test passes, failures and advisories registered as far back as electronic records are stored, which is helpful in identifying any ongoing mechanical or safety issues. If you have the V5 document number at your disposal, you can even see which test centre carried out each inspection.
It's important to remember the entry-level status carried by the 924 in Porsche model hierarchy. For this reason, as well as high production volume equating to a lack of exclusivity, even the 924 Turbo found itself regarded as an unloved sports car a few years back. The tide has turned, but be aware of the fact many surviving Turbos are likely to have been in the custody of owners who weren't prepared to pay for appropriate servicing and maintenance in accordance with manufacturer instruction. Check the car's paperwork thoroughly.
Full service history, ideally accompanied by invoices for any work undertaken, is desirable when buying any 924. This might be difficult to achieve with cheaper cars — the conventional, front-mounted, four-cylinder engine powering the 924 Turbo is a home-mechanic-friendly bit of kit, meaning it may have been serviced by previous owners. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, providing documentation is available to prove a sensibly observed maintenance schedule and evidence of quality parts used when the work was carried out.