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The Porsche 924 is often derided because of its humble origins. But it is the cheapest and easiest way into Porsche ownership by far. Because of its simple underpinnings and use of VW/Audi parts it is cheap to buy, cheap to run and easy to maintain. The layout provides a surprising degree of practicality too, with a large boot area and lots of front seat legroom, making it a good tourer.
In its day the 924 was quite a quick car and even now 30 years later can comfortably keep up with modern traffic. Handling is excellent with its near perfect 52% - 48% weight distribution and the car has character by the bucketload!
The engine block is a VW/Audi sourced unit mated to a Porsche designed head and fed by Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection. With routine maintenance and regular oil changes this set up can achieve 150,000 miles without major work.
The 924 marked a radical departure from Porsche traditions. It was the first Porsche to use a water cooled engine, all previous models sporting an air cooled unit derived from the VW Beetle. It was also mounted at the front of the car where previousley Porsche favoured the rear mounted layout. The front mounted engine was connected to the rear mounted transaxle via a torque tube running under the centre of the car and it is this layout that is responsible for the cars excellent weight distribution and its sweet handling.
A number of variations of the 924 were manufactured to suit different markets, the U.S. having the most variations due to the strict emission control laws. However the basic 924 design remained basically unchanged from its introduction in 1976 until 1985 when the 924S was released featuring a new 2.5 litre engine which also powered the 944.
The only major design change was the introduction of a turbocharged engine "924 turbo" and a special racing version with intercooled turbo engine the "924 Carrera GT". Other options included 5 speed transmission and rear disc brakes as well as the usual "luxury" items such as air conditioning and power windows/steering. Most of these item are absent on earlier models but were added as time progressed. Most of the "convenience" items became standard from around 1980 onward.
The 924 was originally a joint venture between VW and Porsche, and development started in 1972 with the designation EA425. After the success of their first jointly produced car, the 914, both companies were keen to work together again. VW wanted a mid market sports car and Porsche needed a "volume" car in their range.
EA425 was developed solely by Porsche using some of VW/Audi's parts bin to take advantage of VAG groups mass production techniques. By 1974 the first prototypes were being built, but the World Oil Crisis had changed the market place and a change of management at VW meant that after spending $50 million EA425 no longer had a place in VW's future plans.
Porsche remained confident, however, and purchased the project back from VW at a bargain price of $40 million. Despite now being sole owner of the project, Porsche did not have the facilities to build 924 in volume and turned to VW/Audi again. An agreement was made that VW would build the car in the old NSU factory at Neckarsulm under strict Porsche quality control. Production proper began in November 1975 with the first cars arriving in dealer showrooms early in 1976.
The porsche 924 was built until 1988 when it was finally retired in favour of the 944. In total over 250,000 units were built in its various guises and, along with its younger siblings the 944 and 968, it accounts for almost a third of Porsche's total production.
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