These days there is no shortage of pristine-condition classic 911s out there; with their continuing rise in popularity they are regularly the focus of specialists who offer ground-up restorations, upgrades and even complete transformations. When it comes to the 928—the car that was at one point in history meant to be its replacement—your choices are rather more limited.
Having been largely ignored for decades, these luxurious GT cars tend to fall into one of two camps: either desperate for an overhaul both inside and out or one of the favored few, kept in pristine condition and rarely used. The latter fate generally applies to such rarities as the desirable 5.4-liter GTS models equipped with a manual gearbox.
Cars like this 928 S4 SE are rarer still. In fact, just 42 were built in right-hand-drive form for the UK market, making them second only to the 928 CS (on which it is based) of which 19 ended up being produced. That 928 GTS that you so desperately crave? At 2078 units it was comparatively mass-produced. Unlike most of its luxurious stablemates, the 928 SE was intended to be a harder-edged offering right from the start, and as such came fitted with lightweight forged alloy wheels, sunroof delete and electrically height-adjustable sport seats in black leather, well perhaps that last item was still more GT than race car.
The 928 may have been a heavy beast compared to the 911 but it did have a big capacity V8 upfront and in the case of the SE it also got a revised exhaust system, limited-slip differential, a close-ratio five-speed manual transmission, sport suspension and a specially tuned 320 hp, 32-valve engine with higher-profile camshafts. The car you see here was the very first of the 42 built and is further differentiated from the other SE models thanks to its reduced soundproofing, rear wiper delete and gearbox type. That is because it was ordered by AFN Ltd from Porsche AG specifically to take part in the Porsche Production Championship in 1988 and 1989, and it also comes with a full roll cage and Recaro racing seats.
So it is rare, fast and thanks to a long and comprehensive maintenance history, ready for the next track day without fear of unexpected mechanical maladies. Unlike most rare Porsches this one has clearly been enjoyed too, so you won’t mind putting a few extra digits on the odometer, which is now showing 139,850-miles. Offered with a fresh MOT, a huge file of servicing and repair invoices as well as numerous period magazines and photos from its racing days, this 1988 Porsche 928 S4 SE will be offered as part of RM Sotheby’s London auction on 24 October at an estimate of between £60,000 and £90,000. A hefty sum for a 928 but still well below anything of similar provenance with a 911 badge on its tail.
Images courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
