In the '80s, endurance racing became synonymous with the Porsche 956 and 962, and the legendary drivers Derek Bell, Jochen Mass, Hans-Joachim Stuck and Bob Wollek. In 1987, as a form of gratitude, Porsche gave each driver a 928 Club Sport for personal use. These automobiles seemed to be the production 928 S4 at first look, but the Club Sport went further.
Only 27 instances of the Porsche 928 S4 Club Sport were ever made, making it a real automotive treasure. Four of these automobiles were prototypes, dressed in Guard's Red and unveiled to the world in 1987. According to rumors, testing may have begun as far back as 1983. As we mentioned above, four more Grand Prix White-painted test mules and PR vehicles were provided to Porsche 962 Le Mans drivers. They were meant to find out if people wanted a version of the company's flagship GT that was more driver-oriented.
These vehicles, each of which was customized to reflect the preferences of its owner, were put through their paces on the way to and from the racetrack, racking up a significant number of miles. In an interview, driver Hans-Joachim Stuck said that he had to replace the rear tires every 10,000 km (about 6,200 miles) since the vehicle was so fun to drive. On the other hand, driver Derek Bell had such a strong attachment to his Club Sport that he maintained ownership of it for almost two decades.
Porsche 928 S4 Club Sport Is Extremely Rare
Returning to the numbers, 19 of the 27 Porsche 928 S4 Club Sports produced were production vehicles. Four of those were designed for use within Porsche, either as press vehicles or corporate cars for top-level management positions within the company. Consequently, there were only fifteen remaining for clients to purchase. This is an incredibly small number, and no one knows this better than Porsche enthusiasts.
In addition, the 928 that you see in the images was one of only seven vehicles produced in the model's final year of production, making it extremely rare. Even more astounding is the fact that it is the only one ever to have been finished in Forest Green Metallic, and it is also the only vehicle to have an interior in Cashmere Beige. To put things in context, remember that 250 examples of the classic 997 Sport Classic were manufactured, a vehicle that sells for over $500,000 today.
This particular Porsche was built in 1989 and features the iconic CS Club Sport sticker on the front left fender, making it one of just two cars to ever carry that special symbol. Compared to the standard Porsche 928 S4, this car is around 243 pounds lighter. No sunroof, no electric seats, a lighter compressor for the air conditioning system, a lighter exhaust, no rear wiper, and no rear sun visors on this vehicle, which is already made of a substantial amount of aluminum. All of these changes helped to reduce the vehicle's overall weight.
Also helping reduce weight is the absence of PVC undercoating and the use of magnesium-alloy wheels that are smaller and lighter. The majority of them lacked a radio and a central locking system at the time. The models differed based on what was in stock at the factory. This specific vehicle, with chassis number 840540, is equipped with a six-speaker Blaupunkt Bremen audio system.
The Engine Of This Porsche 928 S4 Club Sport Is One Of A Kind
In addition to the typical Porsche 928 CS modifications, such as a final drive ratio of 2.72:1 for quicker acceleration, a relatively short-throw shifter, a stock limited-slip differential, a transaxle, a ZF transmission without a vibration damper, sport seats, a broader track, and a reduced ride height, this particular Porsche has a unique engine. It employs a separate control unit and higher-performance camshafts than the original 5-liter V8 with 320 horsepower.
Furthermore, a unique "SP" suffix at the end of the motor number distinguishes it. Some say this motor is a survivor from the early prototypes. The engine provides greater acceleration and engine braking, as well as more responsive throttle response. This specific Porsche 928 Club Sport, which is preserved in excellent condition, can be found at the moment in Berlin, Germany. Its odometer reads about 74,564 miles.
The current, third owner, a collector of exotic automobiles, purchased it from a Swiss dealer. He had bought the automobile from a Swiss owner who had purchased it from the legendary Porsche engineer Bernd Kahnau, the guy behind the 924 GTS. The rare Porsche 928 Club Sport is accompanied by a Porsche AG certificate of authenticity certifying its matching serial numbers, as well as the original service and owner's manuals. All we can say is that whoever ends up owning this car will be really fortunate.