1978 Porsche 928
Winning European Car of the Year in 1978 (a distinction no sports car had previously achieved), the 928 arrived as a deliberate departure from everything Porsche had built its reputation on.
The front-mounted, water-cooled 4.5-liter V8 and hatchback 2+2 body were a direct rejection of the rear-engine, air-cooled formula that had defined the brand for decades.
Power output was 219 horsepower for US-spec cars, with European versions rated at 240 horsepower. A rear-mounted transaxle placed the gearbox at the rear axle, yielding a near 50/50 front-to-rear weight balance that contributed to handling agility more typical of a sports car than a grand tourer.
The Weissach rear axle passive rear-steering geometry further distinguished the chassis (introduced for the 1983 model year).
Visually, the 928 was characterized by flush pop-up headlights, a long hood, and a wide rear hatch, a cohesive shape that aged well across the model’s 17-year production run (1978-1995).
Early cars came with either a five-speed manual or a three-speed automatic sourced from Mercedes-Benz. Curb weight for early US cars was approximately 3,300 lbs (about 1,500 kg), depending on equipment.
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