The big story
Porsche 928 values
Overshadowed by its 911 sibling, the Porsche 928 has always enjoyed a following among those who appreciate a well-engineered GT.
In principle more like a Jaguar XJ-S/XJS than a 911, 928s were great value for many years. Yet the 928’s image has quietly been turning around, and with it has come a subsequent rise in values.
‘Porsches in general performed really strongly in 2016, then had a bit of a dip in 2017, but seem to be coming back again this year,’ says Barons’ Tim Gascoigne. ‘928s appear to have followed this trend, and I would say that prices are currently stable.
‘Like all cars, the best examples and top spec models are the most soughtafter, and will continue to fetch top money. Usable examples and cars requiring attention will sell if they are priced sensibly, but if they are not then they won’t get any interest at all; a 928 with issues can be a money-pit.’
First-class examples have been making strong money off the radar and that rise is set to continue, as Silverstone Auctions’ market researcher, Lionel Abbott, explains: ‘The 928 was Porsche’s answer to plug a gap in the range to cater for the Grand Touring sector. It was an engineering masterpiece and latterly these great coupés are ‘catching the wind’. They are really the thinking man’s slow burn in terms of uplift and will only gradually rise in value.
‘However, investment aside, the fun is in the ownership and effortless driving of these stylish tourers. Best of breed GT & GTS examples can command values into the fifties but it’s still possible to buy great examples for £20,000-30,000.’
Prices, however, are on the march and the right specification and the right condition will be expensive, as H&H auctions’ manager, Damian Jones, explains: ‘The earliest versions were powered by a 4.5-litre
V8, while the last had a 5.4-litre V8, so performance was never an issue. As with many sports cars, there is a preference for the very first and very last incarnations. Manuals are rarer and more valuable than automatics.
‘Low-mileage, manual gearbox GTS models have exceeded £100,000 at auction. The 928 has aged well and is still surprisingly modern to drive. The electrics can be problematic and regular maintenance is essential but as a European GT with an American muscle car edge, it has few rivals.
‘I would expect the prices of best of the best examples to keep increasing.’