Jensen S-V8

[Cbass]

To summarize, buy a 924 Jay, they're cheap, reliable and have about as much potential as you could want in any give direction. You can always swap a fuel injected V8 into one, if you crave blistering speed...

An interesting note, it's not difficult to swap the 5 cylinder from an S4/S6 into one. That engine was capable of hauling a 1700 kilo Audi from 0-100 km/h in about 6 seconds, think of what it could do in a 1000 kilo 924...

[Cbass]

So how does this grab you?

[jsb88]

oooh I like that!

[Cbass]

That would be a completely bolt on/glue on kit for the car in my signature, that would weigh somewhere around 1000kilos with the interior intact, and the air conditioning running.

Let's see the costs, I'll tally it in USD, and then convert it to pounds...

1981/82 931 $2000
Full FG/CF body kit, lexan hatch $5000
Engine rebuild, 300 bhp $2000
Suspension upgrades $2000
Misc updates* $1000

* 968 door handles, mirrors, lightweight seats...

12K all in all, to take a 924 Turbo about as far as it can go. Well, you could rebuild the engine to Carrera GTR specs, which is 375bhp, but I don't know how long it would last. I think that comes out at about 8K pounds sterling (sorry, don't know the right symbol )

Of course, you can do these things 1 by 1 if you'd like, or you could not spend the 12K on it, and instead invest in...

81/82 931 $2000
boost controller intercooler, 250bhp $300
stiffer springs/torsion bars $300
lighten where you can, new seats etc $500

There you have a compently fast car, 0-60 in around 6 seconds, handles like a dream, but is still reliable, for under $3000... that's 2000 pounds I do believe.

[jsb88]

£ <-- Pounds symbol. Very good converting! That is a bargain!

[Cbass]

They're rare too, but not that hard to find. You should buy a few, they might just increase in value... it's not like they can decrease in value anymore...

[jsb88]

mmm.... a couple of bays in the garage with 944's and 924's in them... Then I could clean them all the time.

[tigermiata]

I'll confess to never having driven a front-engined Porsche; my experiences are limited to 914's and 356C's. Did get a short but brisk ride in the RH seat of a 968 last summer....nice.

Never drove a Jensen, either -- but was rooting for the SV8 to succeed, even though I was figuring a curb weight above what I'd accept in a car.

(Trivia note: Tigers were aseembled by Jensen, our cars get two serial # plates, the second with a Jensen Assembly Line #.)

[crayzayjay]

was it a standard 968, a sport, or a club sport?

[tigermiata]

Originally posted by crayzayjay
was it a standard 968, a sport, or a club sport?

Not certain -- but likely a "standard" 968.

[jsb88]

What are the differences?

[crayzayjay]

Standard 968 - popular in the states, high spec equipment

968 Sport - UK only - more spartan accomodation than standard 968, so less weight resulting in better performance & sharper handling

968 Club Sport - stripped out racer, no electronic equipment or luxuries, race seats, no rear bench, lower suspension and much lower kerb weight, all resulting in phenomenal, neutral handling. One of the best handling cars out there regardless of cost. Less than 2000 Club Sports were built, there's a nice yellow one on my street.

968 Turbo S - the most potent of all 968 road cars, a turbocharged homologation special with 305 bhp and a massive 369lb/ft of torque. 175mph+ , phenomenal car in terms of stats & handling.

[Cbass]

It's interesting to note the M030 equipped Club Sports, and even the Turbo S had very weak spring rates, and small torsion bars. With a new set of springs, the 968 quickly becomes one of the best handling cars you can buy. That includes Ferraris, and even Lotus

The 944 isn't too special, except for the 951, and 944S2. The 951 was capable of 400+ hp, and has a very large following of racers. The 968 is also a rare car, they only made about 12,000, and they're really quite reasonably priced these days.

Of course, with your resources, JSB88, you should be looking at a 924 Carrera GTS

[crayzayjay]

Originally posted by Cbass
It's interesting to note the M030 equipped Club Sports, and even the Turbo S had very weak spring rates, and small torsion bars. With a new set of springs, the 968 quickly becomes one of the best handling cars you can buy. That includes Ferraris, and even Lotus

The standard 968 is one of the best handling cars you can buy, before any changes are made. Ferrari & Lotus are by no means as superior as you may think when it comes to great-handling cars. Remember the 348? Some versions of the Esprit leave a lot to be desired too

Originally posted by Cbass

Of course, with your resources, JSB88, you should be looking at a 924 Carrera GTS

No way, 968 Club Sport all the way!

[Cbass]

I was referring to the best cars that Ferrari and Lotus make/have made.

For the record, the GTS is much cooler than the 968 Club Sport, especially since the 924 GTS Club Sport makes 270bhp :P

http://www.mathewscollection.com/Porsche_924.htm