NO RESERVE 1981 Porsche 924 Turbo Safari
Vehicle Details
- Year: 1981
- Make: Porsche
- Model: 924 Turbo
- VIN: WP0AA0931BN151045
- Mileage: 57,663mi (5-digit odometer)
- Transmission: Manual
- Title Status: Clean
- Color: Indiana Red Metallic
- Seller: 6FootPhoto
- Seller Type: Private Party
- Location: Blue Diamond, NV 89004
- Lot #: V-0021289
Available for auction at no reserve is this 1981 Porsche 924 Turbo finished in Indiana Red Metallic. After sitting from 1995 to 2019, this 924 was refurbished and optimized for off-roading with a full engine rebuild, removable 1.5” lift, the addition of a roof rack, lights, and much more. Coming with an extensive maintenance history dating back to its original owner, this safari-style 924 Turbo is now being offered for auction by its seller out of Nevada.
This 924 was repainted in 1995 to Indiana Red Metallic and has recently been paint-corrected. The factory 15” honeycomb alloy wheels come freshly powder-coated and wrapped in BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A KO2 tires. Other rally-inspired additions include a 1.5” lift, roof rack with a full-size spare tire, four Hella Lights, a 924 Turbo skid-plate, shovel, ax, and Hi-Lift jack. This example has also been fitted with new rubber door seals and new window belt rubber. The seller reports no signs of rust. Detailed images are provided in the gallery along with a clean CARFAX report.
This Turbo is finished in a tan and brown partial leather interior. It has been modified with switches for the lights on the roof rack and an aftermarket Bluetooth radio. Recent maintenance has included a new leather-wrapped steering wheel, new leather shift boot, and new A/C belt. The seller notes the dash is currently sporting a black cover and that the cabin remains in good condition relative to its age. All gauges, electronics, and accessories are reported to be working properly including the A/C which was converted to R134a.
The fully rebuilt 2.0L inline 4-cylinder turbocharged engine sends power to the rear wheels by way of a 5-speed manual transaxle. The original turbocharger was replaced before the car was stored away in 1995, and the car retains its original O2 sensor system for California emissions compliance. The seller has provided the following list of services and upgrades performed during the recent overhaul:
- Mahle 931 pistons
- Rebuilt CIS system
- New gaskets, crank main bearings, and connecting rod bearings
- New rubber elbows on the intake manifold
- New Bosch alternator
- New timing belt
- New powder-coat
- Other maintenance and upgrades in this build include:
- New clutch and throw-out bearing
- New water pump
- New front rotors and brake pads
- New front and rear wheels bearings
- New tie rod ends
- New thermostat
- New thermo time switch
- New fuel-sending unit
- New fuel tank purge valve
- New vent hoses and vacuum lines
- New radiator fan motors
- New radiator hoses
- New air filter
- New speedometer cable
- Recalibrated fuel pressure regulator
- Re-indexed rear torsion bars
- Rebuilt fuel metering head
- Custom 40mm lift on front struts
This sale will include extensive documentation, the original toolkit, jack, a full-size spare wheel, and a clean title.
Auction Results
- Sold for: $19,181
- Auction End: Aug 08, 2022 07:00:00PM UTC
- Number of Bids: 38
Comments (78)
Thanks for all who bid! I appreciate all the comments and interest in the car. This is probably the only 924 Turbo that will ever get the safari treatment. Congrats to @wistonavich on the new car!
Sold for $19,181
..this is getting good.. again, love this build!
Bid in the amount of $19,181
Bid in the amount of $18,924
Bid in the amount of $18,181
Bid in the amount of $17,924
Bid in the amount of $17,481
@71gold Exactly! Porsche began racing this platform at LeMans in 1980. In 1981 it was driven successfully in GTS form by legendary Walter Rohrl as his first Porsche in multiple rallies. Perhaps the inspiration for this build? The turbo had many upgrades from the regular 924. Only 13616 were built. I’m sure there are a lot fewer in driving condition today!
This is so cool ….guys do a little history on 924 turbo’s
Some incredible versions off this platform …including the 924 gts
Factory gave one to Derek Bell (1981 ) which he still has ,he loves it .
Best balanced car he has ever driven
Also that model finished 6th overall @ Le Mans driven by Al Holbert
And won the GTP class
This deserves some real bidding…..over $20k for sure
This is a $40,000 car, I wouldn’t be afraid to bid. Where else are you going to find a safari 924 turbo with a rebuilt engine and nice paint?
Dont see many 924 Turbos, let alone one that has been rebuilt and had the “safari treatment “! Very unique. Looks like tomorrow may get interesting…
Res, what's your top dollar?
Unfortunately I am out good luck restncreate! I really wanted this one haha!
@elypsyo right now is about where I thought it would sell..I'm looking forward to see how this ends. Looks a very very solid build. Glad the bidding got high-so I could count myself out early. The transport companies are already bugging the hell out of me.
Bid in the amount of $16,924
Bid in the amount of $16,200
@tannatmadiran I have a feeling this is going to bid up much higher than I believed it was worth. Good luck to the future owner, restncreate ;)
Easy fellas....19+ hours left........ :-)
Bid in the amount of $15,924
Bid in the amount of $15,174
Bid in the amount of $14,924
Bid in the amount of $14,174
Bid in the amount of $13,924
Bid in the amount of $13,500
Bid in the amount of $12,924
Bid in the amount of $12,500
Bid in the amount of $11,924
Bid in the amount of $11,500
Bid in the amount of $9,250
Bid in the amount of $9,000
Bid in the amount of $8,174
Bid in the amount of $7,924
@elypsyo Yes this car is mechanically a gem and most likely better sorted than majority of 924 turbos on the market.
I can supply more photos of the damage but that will be much later today but I just want to be open and honest with everyone. This is not a perfect concourse car, the paint job is from 1995 and has only been corrected not repainted in recent years. This car shows signs of age in certain areas which is why it was converted into a safari car so that you can hit the dirt (which has been done numerous times) without fear. The car has 0 rust and 0 accidents but it does have a few blemishes here and there. I did not photograph it in a way to hide damage, I did my best to showcase every part of this car.
The paint on the roof is in similar condition as the paint on the hood. The mounting points of the rack are probably a little scratched up but the rack has not come off since installation. If you plan to restore the car back to its original look you will most likely have to do some paint work but very minimal. But again that's just to give it that concourse look.
In regards to the dashboard the builder of the car decided a dash cover was a better option than a $3500 dash replacement and majority of 924's and 944's suffer the same fate of cracked dashes. There are no photos prior to gluing the cover on.
The seats were pulled out of a 911 and you are correct they are the wrong color but the original seats were beyond repair and these are in excellent condition.
All the fuel lines from the tank have been replaced, the CIS fuel accumulator has been replaced, and all the other lines (besides injector lines) are hard lines that have all been pressure tested after boiling the tank to make sure there were no leaks. This thing has been driven around in 115 degree weather all this summer and has never had any signs of fuel leakage or overheating.
Bid in the amount of $7,250
Bid in the amount of $7,000
Bid in the amount of $6,450
I have been messaging the seller privately for a few days and he has been a pleasure to deal with. Do I believe the car is a well sorted example mechanically, absolutely. However, its cosmetic condition is hard to tell and the photos have been taken in a way to minimize the state of its paint.
Many large scratches have been photographed in a way that is easy to miss with only one picture showing the damage while photographing a different section of the car. Here's my list of which I would like more photos:
Large scratches on the rear bumper (Photo 28)
Stone chipped front end (Photo 45)
Scratch on the driver-side front fender (Photo 53)
Scratches on the driver-side rear fender (Photo 58)
Deep scratches on the passenger side rear 3/4 panel (Photo 74)
Heavy scuff on front bumper (Photo 85)
What is the paint condition of the roof under the rack? Has mounting the rack ruined the paint on those areas? We still do not know the condition of the dashboard since it has the plastic cover on it, I'm assuming it's cracked, could we please get photos? The seats are in the wrong color and dyeing them gives a weird gritty feel. We're the fuel lines changed? We wouldn't want all this work to go down in flames...
Kudos to the seller for his quick and thorough responses. I find it difficult to bid on a car across the country to get delivered one that might be a 20-footer.
Bid in the amount of $6,200
@Mrosilio For some reason on all 924's/944s/and 968s have an issue where over an extended period of time (years) the glass will start to detach from the steel frame. But that's just because of the stock strut location. If you detach them while they're not in use you can prevent that issue. The pictures of the records will be up later.
1) There's a slightly bigger battery to accommodate but its a 12v switch wired to a relay (came as a relayed setup from Hella so they do not dim) which is run off the battery so there's no draw from the lights.
2) The gearing is stock because the tire size was only increased by 4" and the turbo has plenty of torque to fill whatever gap is needed. You genuinely can't tell that much of a difference with the larger tires on the road/highway. Using the GPS on the phone the speedo only reads 2-3 mph lower than real speed.
3) In order to increase ride height you'd have to machine custom spacers for the front and re-index the rear torsion even more. It's at the optimum ride height for the steering angle and the CV axles. Any taller and you'll cause excessive wear on steering bushings and axles as well as increases tire rub.
4) All cooling and heating components work within factory spec.
5)The lean issue was the CO adjusting for the outside temperature. Turns out it wasn't an issue at all because the car is designed to run 100 degrees above ambient temp. It was 106 at the time so the temps were high but nowhere near overheating. The other day it was driven in 90 degree weather and it was operating at 192 degrees.
@6FootPhoto Thank you for addressing those concerns.
Can you elaborate on Number 5 about the rear struts? What do you mean by de-laminate?
Also, the detailed shots of the service records and compression readings have not been uploaded yet, would you be able to get them up ASAP so that I have time to review and have any further questions addressed prior to the auction ending?
Also sorry to bother with a Few more questions -
1. Was the alternator/battery set up upgraded at all? Auxiliary lighting tends to drain a stock set up.
2. Was the transmission/gearing adjusted to align with the new ride height and tire size?
3. What would it take to raise the ride height a bit more?
4. Hows the heat and ac operating?
5. What was done to adjust the CIS and reduce operating temp?
Thanks
What does everyone think itll sell for?
@peterkaczynski Thanks Peter!
She’s a beauty, glws
Bid in the amount of $5,924
Bid in the amount of $5,555
@LeyPorsche2 Thanks for expressing concern!
1) The spacers were machined here in Vegas but the design is being used by other lifted 924's/944's. It was designed in Germany but can be purchased here in the states by @944Rallye on Instagram.
2) The carpeting is entirely original and has some signs of aging. The car does have new black floor mats now though.
3) I'm not sure how easy the cover is to take off for photos or if any exist with it off already but I will look into it.
4) The original seats were extremely worn and faded so the owner replaced them with seats from a 911. They can easily be re-dyed to match if need be.
5) The springs and shocks are all stock. The stock dampening is suffice for the extra weight on the roof and 2 passengers without bottoming out. The rear torsion has been re-indexed and the bottom shock mount location was moved up an inch to allow for stock travel without over extending.
6) At the time of the video the CIS was running slightly lean causing some heat issues but it never overheated. Since then it has been revised with the the proper Porsche tools.
The car seems to present well. I have a few questions:
1) The 1.5 Inch lift kit seen in photo 149. Were these custom made? If not what manufacturer produced them.
2) The carpeting is dark/faded in photos 111 and 116 by the center console. Is this due to them being dirty or worn out?
3) Can we get photos of the dashboard without the cover? I am assuming it is cracked but would like to see the extent.
4) Were the seats intentionally redone in a different color than the rest of the interior?
5) Are the springs/shocks for the suspension the stock setup or have they been uprated to work better with the increased ride height/tire size.
6) In the Engine Rev Video, the car is reading 206 degrees F at the 3rd white line before overheat. That is hot for idle, does the car remain that hot when driving as well?
Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions.
Bid in the amount of $5,250
Bid in the amount of $5,000
@Mrosilio Also I guess I missed this part but there are no leaks anywhere on this car.
Bid in the amount of $4,500
@Mrosilio 1) Just crossed the 500 mile mark a month ago
2) Its been running the Castrol 20w50 high zinc oil and before it changes owners it will have an oil change with the classic Porsche oil and Porsche filter.
3) Better receipt photos will be posted later today.
4) There were 2 photoshoots done with the car. The photos with the boot installed properly reflect the current state of the interior.
5) The rear struts are brand new and they are not fully installed to make sure that the rear hatch does not de-laminate like most these cars have a tendency of doing.
6) The PSI ratings are regarding the fuel and vacuum pressures for the CIS system. We will have photos of the compression later. But all the pressures for the CIS are within spec of the workshop manual.
7) No! The car has been completely gone-through so that the new owner will have a trouble free experience.
@6FootPhoto I'll hopefully be seeing you soon!
@caleb348 I appreciate the love!
@e36kev Thank you!
i really love this car
why do I love this car so much ! GLWA :)
Hey,
Amazing build - Very interested, but need clarification on a few things to determine how much I can spend on it.
1. How many miles since the rebuild?
2. What kind of oil have you been running? any smoke or leaks?
3. Can you post detailed copies of each of the service records/receipts for the rebuild?
4. Whats up with the shift boot? Looks displaced in some pics (pic 114 vs. 115)
5. Are the shocks for the rear hatch functioning? Looks like it's being propped up with an uninstalled shock?
6. Whats with the inconsistencies in compression being shown in photos 158, 159 and 160? Do you have a reading for the 4th cylinder?
7. Lastly, anything small or large remaining to be done on this build?
Thanks!
What a cool build ! Good luck with the sale.
Bid in the amount of $4,200
@AK9eleven 5 Speed! And yes everything works.
Bid in the amount of $3,950
Sorry. My apologies. I see the answers in the description
Beautiful. 4 speed ? Everything works ?
Bid in the amount of $3,200
Bid in the amount of $2,950
Bid in the amount of $2,424
I rode around in this car with the owner for about an hour earlier this year, solid ride and fun with lots of attention everywhere we went. Definitely unique and all the mechanicals have been addressed, ready for many miles and years to come! GLWTA
Bid in the amount of $2,174
@PinotDino Thanks so much! And I can confirm this car is an absolute blast to rip around on and off-road!
..love the build.. this looks so much fun.. well done on the photography.. keeping an eye on this one.
@jcham1157 The rears do not rub actually. The fronts do slightly when turning but only when hard offroading with no front sway bar
Those front tires - could it be that they somehow don’t rub?
Stardust_944 needs a 924 as a garage buddy
Bid in the amount of $1,924
Bid in the amount of $250
Hello everyone! My name is Trevor and I will be on here frequently to help answer any questions you might have!