1983 PORSCHE 924 LUX
Markets expert Russ looks back at his best – and worst – classic buys. This week, a Porsche that was superb – but just didn’t quite hit the mark
WHY DID YOU WANT ONE?
I still had fond memories of the Porsche 924S that I’d previously run for four years as my daily some years earlier. I also needed to part with my non-running Jaguar E-type 2+2 before it broke me (a story for another day). I’d actually driven this very car before, for a Chasing Cars piece in CCW.
On returning to Sherwood Restorations some six months later I was surprised to see it still there because it was in such great condition. I sat down for a cuppa with sales director Charles Smalley (now at Silverstone Auctions) and mentioned this, along with my E-type woes. Suddenly a deal was being discussed. After more tea and biscuits I took possession of the Porsche and a cheque for £6000. How E-type values have leapt since then… Charles came round a week later with the 924 in a covered trailer and left with the Jag squeezed into it. I looked forward to spending time with a car that worked.
WAS IT A JOY – OR A NIGHTMARE – TO LIVE WITH?
It was a joy in many ways, especially after my E-type experience. It simply did its job over two years and more than 9000 miles, always starting on the button, functioning perfectly and even covering some long-distance commuting duties for a while. It was also very cheap to run. I usually reckon to average £1000 a year on servicing, fixing and improving a classic. The 924 barely reached £500 over those two years. Half of that was on tyres; they were old and I should have replaced when them I got the car. That led to its only black mark (mine really) when it started shedding tread blocks from a rear tyre at 70mph on the A14. Lesson learned. The downside for me was its lack of character. It very much lacked the performance of the 924S, despite looking identical – they were even the same Guards Red. It was too good and too Germanappliance efficient. I couldn’t love it.
WHAT’S YOUR ABIDING MEMORY OF IT?
As you might gather, I’m struggling to find any because abiding memories are drawn from emotions – and the 924 simply didn’t trigger any in me. I liked its styling, suited the driving position, appreciated the build quality and was pleased by how well preserved it was. But none of those are emotional words. I guess I’m hooked on the roller-coaster ride of joys and struggles that comes as standard with Italian cars. In comparison the 924 is perhaps the Bosch dishwasher of the classic world. Many will love that, especially if they are not that handy with spanners. The only emotive memory I have of it is trying to sell it. I advertised everywhere for about six months and the phone barely rang. I even left it with a dealer for a month. It was a superb example, too – I couldn’t understand it. In the end I let it go for just £2200. Sadness – now there’s an emotion.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TIPS FOR BUYING ONE?
Given how undervalued these cars still are, I’ll have to first trot out the old adage about buying the best one you can because it will be a much cheaper car in the long run. Even the best still rarely reach £6000 unless they have ridiculously low mileage. Find one with less than 100k on the clock that’s been cared for by enthusiasts and you’ll struggle to spend money on anything but regular servicing. As for the engines, they are tough old things and generally good for at least 150,000 miles if looked after. They’re not complicated, either. There is an issue with them sometimes being difficult to start, commonly due to an engine bay wiring loom that has deteriorated due to heat and/or stretching. They’ve often already been replaced but it’s not a big job for a ‘sparks’.