911 Carrera

Make
Porsche
Segment
Coupe

It wasn't too long ago when you could buy a classic-bodied Porsche 911 for not a whole lot of cash. Today, prices are significantly higher and they're showing no signs of dropping.

But what about those other Porsches like the 914, 924, and 928? They're not rear-engined like the 911 but they still possess their own unique set of qualities. And, oftentimes, they can be more affordable, though there are exceptions. This is one of them. A numbers matching 1981 Porsche 924 Carrera GTS just sold last Friday on Bring A Trailer for $261,000 in change. To put its final auction price into some perspective, a new 911 GT3 can be bought starting at $161,100 - nearly $100k less than this four-decade-old 924. Only 59 924 GTS units were built and this is just one of 15 street-legal examples equipped with the Clubsport option.

Intended as a homologation model for FIA Group 4 sports car racing, this GTS Clubsport was initially a European market car when its original owner purchased it through Porsche Centre Stuttgart decades ago. The seller acquired it in 2014 in California and maintained its perfect condition.

Power comes from a 2.1-liter turbocharged and intercooled inline-four paired to a five-speed manual and a limited-slip differential. Output is around 280 horsepower. Other standout features you won't find on a regular 924 are aluminum body panels, an integrated roll cage, plastic side and rear hatch windows, 16-inch Fuchs wheels, Bilstein coilover suspension, and 930 Turbo-style brakes.

The most obvious exterior changes are the fixed headlights, hood scoop, and flared front and rear panels. Look carefully and you'll also see hood pins. Inside are 935-style seats, racing harnesses, and door pull bars. Notice the lack of a center console, rear seats, stereo, sunroof, and HVAC system; all were removed to shave weight.

Its previous owners clearly took great care of it because it has barely 500 miles on it. This also means they hardly ever drove it, which is kind of a shame. Then again, it's an ultra-rare Porsche that was intended to be special from the get-go.