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The Sound of a Classic: Porsche 944

For the most purists of the Porsche brand, it is clear what one of these German sports cars must look like: respectful with the traditional available "All behind", bronco and air-cooled. The truth is that all this sounds very attractive, but most of the time the accountants of a company only have as pleasant the jingle of good accounting. Thus, in the early 70s, Porsche believed that it had to start operating with a more commercial sense.

In this way, models such as the 928 appeared, defined by having the V8 engine under the front hood and be geared towards a type of driver who, although looking for the sportiness typical of the brand's models, was also interested in having a more practical and comfortable GT. As you can imagine… Many purists shook their heads while spewing their complaints about one particular model: the Audi-powered 924.

This was the youngest of the range, somewhat removed from what Porsche had been for decades and also rebound after VW-Audi abandoned the idea of ​​producing it to be a medium sports car in the brand with the four rings. Imagine what the most furious 924 got on poor man "Porschistas", stigma inherited from 944: his improved brother.

porsche 944 sound rally bronco engine sound
Decades and controversies aside, the 944 has been confirmed as a very interesting classic. Source: Porsche.

However, whether or not you are one of those staunch defenders of tradition, We invite you to turn up the speakers and listen to the sound of this Porsche 944 at the top of your lungs on some rally roads. Honestly ... We believe that you have to be very blind -or rather very deaf- not to forget certain prejudices about this charming model and thus fall surrendered to her charms, although it is tea ready to run.

PORSCHE 924: FINANCIAL OPERATIONS AND SALES VOLUMES

As we have said before, in the early 70s Porsche was at a financial crossroads where, if it did not increase sales, it could disappear. So things, Porsche joined VW-Audi in 1972 in the development of a more or less popular model. It would simply cooperate in the development of the model, charging its respective fees. At the accounting level ... This help looked good. However, both the advent of the Oil Crisis and the fact that VW reconsidered and realized that it was already going to fill that market gap thanks to the 1974 Scirocco… It caused the project to be canceled.

At that point, the Porsche executives made a very bold decision: continue alone with the same. Advantage? Well, they desperately needed an economic model with which to increase their level of sales, and in the end, culminating this project under their own emblem, they would have just that as a result. Disadvantages? Almost the entire car was developed under Volkswagen technology, even equipping a Audi front engine of almost 2 liters, water cooling, four cylinders and 125CV that reached 177 in the conventional turbo version (the GTR is already something else 😉.

porsche 944 sound rally bronco engine sound
It was difficult to accept the front engine at Porsche but… Admittedly its styling is great. Source: Porsche.

Come on, a Porsche ... Which, in the opinion of the most demanding, did not have much of Porsche; the criticisms were served in advance. Still with everything and that, the brand launched the 924 in 1976 obtaining a good commercial reception, demonstrating once again that even if the purists say mass in a company, the accounts have to balance to be able to move forward. Even committing beforehand a delicious sacrilege

PORSCHE 944: DIFFERENT CAR OR 924 EVOLVED?

However, Porsche was perfectly aware that the 924 was born "Rebound", being necessary the development of a model that, continuing the market niche opened by it, would have its own brand mechanics. The result was the 944 of 1982, a sports car with which Porsche created a "little brother" for the 928 and which he equipped with a 2-liter four-cylinder engine capable of delivering 5CV in its simplest versions without turbo (163 or 217 if equipped).

porsche 944 sound rally bronco engine sound
The advertising campaign in which Porsche bragged about "eating" Ferraris and "eating" Corvettes. Source: Porsche.

Although the engine has a reputation for being springy and fun, it was considered by some to be too small with only four cylinders for such a sports car. However, that has its explanation, since the 924 platform had given an excellent result in terms of behavior, being comfortable to drive as well as very reliable and safe in curves and complicated sections. Obviously the Porsche engineers did not do without such an invention for its successor, mounting the 944 on the platform of the 924 with the only problem that the engine had to be small.

For the rest, the truth is that the 944 advanced along the path of good behavior of its predecessor, achieving a almost perfect weight distribution thanks to the system "transxale”Which mounted the gearbox on the rear axle. Little by little, and by virtue of the facts… the front-engine-rear-wheel drive arrangement was seen as something more and more normal at Porsche.

DECADES LATER HAS WON OVER TIME

In the end time puts everything and everyone in their place, also 944. And well, from what it seems it has not aged badly at all. Today it is one of the classics - as long as you have patience to find a good unit - more interesting that you can get for a reasonable price. Its quality, character, manageability and history have made it mature well, being one of those cars that although they were born as a "Ugly Duckling" it has finally settled in in its own right.

Also, to completely get rid of doubts ... Put the video back on and listen to that wonderful sound again. You like the Porsche 944, and you know it.

What do you think?

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Written by Miguel Sánchez

Through the news from La Escudería, we will travel the winding roads of Maranello listening to the roar of the Italian V12; We will travel Route66 in search of the power of the great American engines; we will get lost in the narrow English lanes tracking the elegance of their sports cars; We will speed up the braking in the curves of the Monte Carlo Rally and we will even get dusty in a garage while rescuing lost jewels.

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