**Vendor supplied images**

Highlights

One of fewer than 6,000 S2 Cabriolets built
Just five owners from new until November 2022
Fully documented service history from main dealers and specialists
Freshly serviced
MoT with no advisories until August 2023

The Appeal

A front-engined Porsche? “Heresy!” they cried when the Porsche 924 débuted in November 1975. Understandably, loyal fans of the marque which had built its reputation on rear-engined, air-cooled sports cars were a bit perplexed when Porsche deviated from its successful formula and presented a water-cooled, front-engined car which shared an engine with a Volkswagen van. The 924 had its teething problems, too, but after a bit more development, the naysayers would find themselves eating their words.

Development eventually resulted in the 944 of 1982, which was faster, better equipped and altogether a more sophisticated car than its forebear. It handled better, stopped better and was more comfortable. It had evolved directly from the 924 GTP Le Mans racer and used the same 2½-litre four-cylinder engine, which was effectively half of the five-litre V8 used in the 928, chosen for its fuel efficiency and compactness. Crucially, it was quick, too, propelling the car from 0 to 60 mph in less than nine seconds. Essentially, the 944 had all the characteristics expected of a true Porsche, just arranged in a more conventional layout.

Things only got better, and in 1989 the 944 S2 appeared, with a dohc three-litre engine – the largest production four-cylinder of its time – and the gearbox revised to suit it. It adopted the smoother front-end styling first seen on the 1986 944 Turbo, so it looked better and went even quicker. Published figures claimed a 150mph top speed and 0-60mph acceleration in six seconds for the manual cars. The first 944 Cabriolet appeared as a variation of the S2 and was destined always to be rarity; only 5,656 were built between 1989 and the end of 944 production in 1991.

Many would say the S2 was an instant classic, and many examples were sold straight into the hands of enthusiasts but, even so, few have survived in such good, original condition as this superb Cabriolet. Its rarity alone means it has always been a sought-after car, and this is reflected in the fact that each of its five owners has obviously cherished it. It’s remarkably well-preserved and original, and you’re unlikely to find another one quite like it.

The History and Paperwork

Originally sold through Parkwood Ltd., a Porsche dealership in Maidstone, Kent, to one Mrs. Mascaranis on 14th March 1991
Serviced by Porsche main dealers or specialists every year from 1991 to 2008
Mrs. Mascaranis kept the Porsche until June 2000, covering 33,000 miles and using it primarily as a weekend pleasure car
Owned by Mr. Peter Scaysbrook from June 2000 to July 2005, who likewise used it just for holidays, weekends and outings with the Porsche Club GB, and invested in some subtle upgrades
Award Second Place in a 2005 Porsche Club GB Southern Region concours
Acquired by the vendor in November 2022
Sold with paperwork including the current V5, the original service book and a handful of invoices issued between 2007 and 2022

The Interior

Upholstered with Linen leather, a factory special option
Extremely good, original condition
Fitted with a more modern Pioneer radio

We don’t like to get carried away and overstate things, but we’re sure you’ll agree with us when we say that this Porsche’s interior is nothing short of amazing. To the best of our knowledge, everything you see is entirely original and as it left the Porsche factory (with the exception of the more modern Pioneer radio) and you can see for yourself just how well it’s survived.

We’ve had a very close look and really can’t find anything to fault. The leather, which is a special-option colour called Linen, hasn’t suffered at all despite being over 30 years old. It has mellowed a little, and acquired a few nice creases such as one hopes to see on aged leather, but there’s nothing that we have been able to find fault with.

We would say the same of just about everything else – the carpets, the door trim, the dash, centre console, steering wheel and all the other fixtures and fittings. They may have mellowed a little since new, but nothing has come to any harm over the course of the car’s life, and its overall condition is simply phenomenal. There may be one or two small marks in places, but there’s nothing at all that jumps out of us, and we’re sure that once you’ve taken a look through all the pictures you’ll be as impressed as we are.

The boot opens to reveal an immaculate luggage space which, in all likelihood, probably hasn’t been used on more than a handful of occasions. The carpet lifts to reveal the spare wheel and a boot floor which is just solid, but virtually unblemished.

The Exterior

Special order Tahoe Blue paint
Runner-up in 2005 Porsche Club GB Southern Region concours
Freshly restored wheels with brand-new tyres
Extremely solid bodywork and in excellent condition all over

It’s always nice to have something a little bit exclusive, and this 944 is exactly that on account of it being finished in a special-option colour called Tahoe Blue, a beautiful, strong hue which really does inspire thoughts of driving through California’s National Forests on the way to its namesake lake. The hood, in Cobalt Blue, complements it very attractively.

Once again, as far as we aware, all the paint on the car is original and has survived phenomenally well. It has lost none of its sparkling metallic lustre and is almost unblemished. There is, unfortunately, an area around one of the side lights where the some paint has been chipped, and a similarly small blemish near one of the door handles, but we are not aware of any other defects. If there are any, they are clearly minute. The glass, plastic trim items and decals are exceptionally good.

The hood itself is in very good condition, having been replaced in 2002. There are a few light surface marks here and there, but we can see no evidence of anything tears or frays, so with equally good care we see no reason why the hood shouldn’t easily last another 20 years.

The famous Porsche D90 wheels are a particular highlight. Each one has just been freshly restored, so we will happily take the vendor at his word when he calls them “as new”. Better still, they’re shod with brand-new Goodyear tyres, so you can get plenty of mileage out of them before you have to worry about changing them.

When you get down on your hands and knees to examine the underside of a car, you sometimes feels inclined to suck some air through your teeth in anticipation of potentially discovering some horrors. With this car, you can breathe out and relax – it’s all wonderfully sound. While we can’t go so far as to say that it has never been out in the rain, it has always been a high days and holidays car, so it’s had minimal exposure to wet weather and that really shows in the tremendous condition it’s in all over.

The Mechanics

Fully serviced in December 2022
MoT with no advisories until August 2023
Only 5000 miles covered since 2015

Appearances do not deceive: this looks like a car you could jump in and drive away, and so it is. With regular maintenance throughout its life, this car remains in excellent mechanical health. Receiving its annual service every year up to 2008, it has never been neglected. The servicing only stopped because the car ended up being used so sparingly. Between 2011 and 2015, it covered under 1000 miles, and since 2015 it has only covered 5000 miles. Within those last 5000 miles, it has benefitted from expenditure of £6000 in the way of upkeep and maintenance.

The vendor is satisfied that the Porsche starts, runs and drives exactly as it should, and we have no concerns there. It passed its MoT in August without picking up a single advisory point, so we’re confident that it’s fully roadworthy, and it received a full service by Porsche specialist RSR in December for £1217. Aside from the usual replacement of consumables such as oil, brake fluid, spark plugs and filters, the service involved changing the timing belt and balance belt.

That’s all good to know for when you’re driving the car, but when it’s parked and left unattended, you can enjoy some extra piece of mind from the fact that it’s fitted with a Thatcham Category 2 immobiliser and alarm.

The Summary

To some people, the Porsche 944 will always be dismissed as ‘not a 911’, but it’s their loss if they want to take that attitude. The S2 really represents the 944 at its very best, and performance-wise it really isn’t far off the contemporary 964 version of the 911, but it’s probably the much better car to live with – you could do some light shopping with a 944 in a way that you just couldn’t with a 911.

If we wanted a classic which we could enjoy, but also resort to when our daily-driver is out of action, a 944 would be high up our list, and we couldn’t possibly turn this one down. It’s not just that it’s a super-rare, perfect-for-summer Cabriolet, it’s also in really outstanding original condition and fine mechanical fettle. It’s got absolutely everything going for it.

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