The Porsche 968 broke the mould used by the company from deepest Stuttgart, proving Porsche could kick it with modern rivals by concocting a blend of technology and bravura - adding a top speed of 160mph into the bargain.
Porsche is about tradition - reflections of a man who built a number of exquisite sports cars out of the rubble that was postwar Germany. However, tradition doesn’t bring in young customers. No car company wants to end up like Cadillac - who has an average customer age of 65 years old. To put that into perspective, BMW have an average customer of 49 years old.
Porsche’s answer to the potential age crisis was the splendid 968. Top speed? 160mph. 0-60mph sprint? 5.9 seconds. Gearbox? Six-speed manual. Greatness? Assured.
It didn’t take a nasally Porsche anorak to point out that the 968 presented more than a passing resemblance to the 944 it replaced however, but in reality - for the Coupè form, at least - only the roof and doors were the same. No other car company could get away with that.
However, in a fashion previously unknown to Porsche until now, the 968 featured a fresh lower half with various new parts under the skin. One of the major new pulsating components was the 3.0-litre 4-cylinder engine. 'That was actually used in the 944' (!) I hear you cry - but not quite like this.
The fuel injection system was overhauled, as were the intake and exhaust systems. The cylinder head was also new, to accommodate a new Porsche camshaft timing system - dubbed VarioCam (see what they did there?), while the compression ratio was boosted to 11.0:1. This helped to increase power, reduce emissions and allow for better fuel efficiency. Along with the engine came a chose of two new transmissions and fresh transaxles relay.
Pair these advancements with balanced handling, sweet looks, an interior to cosset you into deluxe submission alongside a great exhaust note and the recipe for success was imminent. The moment the last one rolled off the factory lines in 1995 ‘classic’ status guaranteed. Fast, sleek, desirable, advanced, comfortable – everybody wanted one.
Finding an unmolested example today that hasn’t been driven ‘to the max’ can be difficult - they’re a particular favourite at track days – but luckily CCFS have this fine example for sale.
Registered in 1994 and currently holding 109,000 miles on the clock, this particular 968 has a full MoT and a vast service history - not to mention new tyres, which are ready for you to burn up the tarmac.