Is This 944 S Really Worth $40,000?
Crossing the auction block at Bonhams’ Scottsdale auction later this month, the pre-auction estimate on this low-mile 944 S is wild!
Built for two years only in 1987 and 1988, the 944 S was all about a high-revving sports car experience with a 2.5 liter twin-cam four cylinder that produces 190 horsepower at 6000 rpm. It doesn't sound like a whole lot today but in the late 1980s, it was quite a capable car weighing less than 3000 pounds balanced nearly perfectly 50/50. When tested as a new car, the 944 S could sprint from 0-60 in 7.9 seconds, and keep going on to a top speed of 142 miles per hour. All of this was available from your local Porsche dealer for only an 8% price increase over a same-year single-cam 944, and just over half what a new 911 Carrera 3.2 cost. It isn't the most mind-blowing Porsche ever built, but it's certainly no slouch.
The car here is available for auction at the Bonhams Scottsdale sale later this month. This 944 S is possibly the nicest 944 S remaining in the world, as it has only traveled some 15,000 miles since new, and the order sheet for this one had nearly every option box ticked. This one was delivered new to an owner in New Jersey, and it has remained there for its entire life. With a gorgeous period-appropriate coat of Zermatt Silver Metallic paint, this 944 presents quite well and would make a great complement to any Porsche collection. Only just over 7000 944 S were built across the two production years, making this one of the more rare examples. Bonhams has previewed this listing with a pre-auction estimate falling between thirty and forty thousand dollars. It is questionable as to whether this particular car is worth such a sum, but if ever there were a 944 to be worthy of that level of bidding, it would certainly be one in this condition. Collectors are always looking for the very best condition iteration of any certain thing, and the fact that this car is so well preserved will certainly play to its favor when the bidding begins. However, there is no reserve on this lot, so it is possible that the seller will be a bit non-plussed by the outcome.
The Bonhams Scottsdale auction begins on Thursday, January 19th at 11am local time at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa.
