Four Doors and Forced: The Porsche 928 Built For the Convertible King

Posted on 14 April 2014 by George Kennedy 

@ BOLD RIDE

 

With the impressive sales numbers of the Cayenne and Panamera, Porsche has proven that branching out from its iconic, curvaceous coupe formula can be successful. But well before the Panamera was a reality, Porsche had created a four door sportscar, albeit with a very truck-like approach.

In 1977, the Porsche 928 was shown at the Geneva Motor Show. It was presented as a potential replacement for the beloved 911. This created some controversy, internally and externally at Porsche, and the powers-at-be decided to sell both vehicles, and let the public decide. The 911 was still the “people’s champ.”

As a result, the 928 was sold as the 2+2 Grand Tourer alternative to the purist sportscar that was the 911. At first, it was available with a water-cooled 4.5-liter V8 making 234 horsepower (the American version produced 214hp).

1980 brought on the Porsche 928S, and with that, a larger 4.7-liter V8, putting out 310 horsepower. Once, again, the US got a less powerful version, this time making 316hp), but received the same improved aerodynamics as the European version.

When the Porsche 928 S4 arrived, it brought with it a 5-liter V8 making 316 horsepower, but more aerodynamic changes that would make it the fastest 928 ever. And that is where this four-door Porsche enters the story.

Porsche had a pretty good relationship with Mercedes-Benz through the 80s and 90s. The automatic transmission from the first 928 came from Merc, and later in the 90s, Porsche would hand-assemble the 1990-1994 Mercedes-Benz 500E.

 At the time, AMG was still independent from Mercedes, but tied, and went on to build this four-door 928 with Porsche. It featured clamshell half-doors, like the Mazda RX-8, or a compact pickup.

The car was delivered to Heinz Prechter, CEO of American Sunroof Corporation, who had ties to Porsche. ASC was later named to American Specialty Cars and has done cars like the Porsche 968 convertible, as well as the BMW Z4, and Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. But none of those cars are as rare and unique as this “extended cab” style Porsche 928.

Image Source: Conceptcarz.com