Front Engine Porsches At the Cincinnati Concours

Porsche was started and made its reputation by hanging first four and then six cylinder engines on the back of their cars. By the 1970s many in the company thought a change was in order, that the 911 had grown stale and needed replacing. Enter an era of front engine Porsche automobiles. There were quite a few of these on display at the Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance. Among them was a 1990 928 S4. A true GT car, the 928 was the car that was supposed to replace the 911. This version sports a 5.0 L water cooled, four cam, 48 valve, V8 engine that pounds out 320 horse power and can move the car from zero to 60 in 5.6 seconds and hit a top speed of 160 miles per hour.

This 1993 928 GTS was the top of the line trim for these cars. Only 928, fittingly enough, were sold in North America. Only 54 of those had a five speed gear box. This model sports a 5.4 L DOHC V8 that generates 345 horse power.

For their planned entry level front engine car, Porsche developed the 924. This is a 1988 924 S that was one of only 2190 built for the American market for the final year of this model. It has a 2.5 L inline four cylinder engine that puts out 158 horse power. 

The successor to the 924 was the 944. Starting in 1982 they were manufactured for 10 years. In that time over 163,000 were sold. This original condition 1986 944 coupe has only traveled 40,000 miles. It is powered by a 2.5 L inline four cylinder engine that guns out 147 horse power.

The 968 came out in 1991 and was the last of the front engine four cylinder Porsche automobiles. This 1994 model was the next to last year for this car. It has a 3.0 L inline four cylinder engine that generates 237 horse power and can speed the car from zero to 60 in 6.5 seconds and has a top speed of 157 miles per hour.