SOLD on Jun 15, 2026

Elite Dealer

1981 Porsche 928

Michigan

$9,495

Vehicle Details

Make

Porsche

Model

928

Year

1981

Mileage

105,000 miles

VIN

AMS47340

Body Type

Coupe

Transmission

Automatic

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Description

1981 Porsche 928 – Classic V8 GT Mileage: 105,000 miles Condition: Runs and looks great Title: [Add if clean] This 1981 Porsche 928 is a classic grand touring coupe that offers unique styling and strong performance. A solid, original example that’s ready to drive and enjoy. Highlights: Strong-running V8 engine New tires New fuel pump and fuel filter Original paint in fair condition Solid body with no rust Interior in fair condition A great opportunity to own a vintage Porsche that’s both fun to drive and increasingly collectible.

Porsche 928 Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Emily Chen

JDM Classics

1978–1995

~4 min read

Updated Apr 2026

The Porsche 928 was the car Porsche's board intended to replace the 911 — a front-engine, water-cooled V8 grand tourer of extraordinary engineering sophistication that 911 purists resisted for 18 years before the market ultimately vindicated them. Today the 928 is finally getting the respect it always deserved.

This guide covers

✓ 9-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 5 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full 928 Buyer's Guide

Porsche 928 Market Overview

Based on 16 Porsche 928 listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$21,718

Avg. Asking Price

1973–1988

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site — Below Average

This car: $9,495

Low: $4,000 High: $39,495

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 38% ◄

Manual 50%

Condition Distribution

Good 19%

Fair 13%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 16 listings →

Porsche 928 Buyer's Guide

Emily Chen here. The 928 is the Porsche I've spent the most time thinking about, because it forces you to confront a question: what is a Porsche for? The 911 answers that question one way — rear engine, air-cooled, inherently treacherous at the limit, demanding of its driver in ways that either frustrate or define you. The 928 answers it completely differently: front-mounted V8, water cooling, a transaxle that almost perfectly balances the weight, a sophisticated suspension, and enough power in the GTS form to embarrass contemporary supercars.

Porsche's board voted in 1972 to phase out the 911 and replace it with the 928. The engineers who built the 928 took that mandate seriously. What they produced was a genuine engineering landmark — arguably more sophisticated in every measurable dimension than the 911 of the same era. The fact that the 928 is no longer with us and the 911 is on its eighth generation tells you more about emotion than engineering.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Timing Belt Service Date — Verify the last timing belt service date and mileage — budget immediate replacement if over 30,000 miles.

✓

Cooling System Configuration — Verify factory-original cooling system — non-factory modifications are the most common cause of overheating.

✓

Fuel Injection Operation — Cold start, warm idle, and full throttle should all be clean — injector o-ring deterioration is common.

✓

Transaxle Service History — Verify correct fluid type and proper level in the rear transaxle — incorrect service causes wear.

✓

Power Window Regulators — Test all windows — plastic regulator components crack with age, a common failure on all 928s.

✓

Air Conditioning — Test AC compressor engagement — compressor failures are common on 30+ year old systems.

✓

HVAC Vacuum System — Test all climate control functions — vacuum system leaks cause HVAC operation failures.

✓

Electrical Accessories — Test all Bosch electrical components — age-related failures are diagnostic indicators of overall care.

✓

VIN Registry Check — Cross-reference VIN against the 928 Owners Club registry for service and ownership history.

Common Issues

Timing belt failure from overdue service — catastrophic engine damage results. Cooling system failures from age or non-factory modifications. LH-Jetronic fuel injection issues from deteriorated fuel injector o-rings causing rough idle. Rear transaxle fluid level maintenance neglect. Power window regulator failures (plastic components age and crack). Air conditioning compressor failures from age. Early cars (1978–1982): distributor cap and rotor corrosion causing misfires. Climate control vacuum system leaks causing HVAC failures on S and earlier cars.

What to Look For

Timing belt service history is the non-negotiable first requirement. Verify the date and mileage of the last timing belt service — on any 928 with more than 30,000 miles since the last service, budget for immediate replacement before driving. On S4 and GTS models, inspect the cooling system for any non-factory modifications — the cooling system is complex and non-standard "improvements" typically cause problems. Check the LH-Jetronic or LH2 fuel injection system for proper operation: cold start, warm idle, and full-throttle response should all be clean. The rear transaxle has specific fluid requirements; verify it hasn't been overfilled or incorrectly serviced. On all 928s, test the air conditioning compressor engagement and all power accessories — Bosch electrical components of this era develop age-related failures that are diagnostic rather than catastrophic.

Price Guide

928 base (1978–1979): $14,000–$28,000. 928 S (1980–1986): $16,000–$32,000. 928 S4 (1987–1991): $22,000–$45,000. 928 GT (1989–1991): $28,000–$55,000. 928 GTS (1992–1995): $40,000–$85,000+. Documented service history adds 20–35% to any configuration. Cars with missing timing belt service history should be priced to include immediate belt service.

Did You Know?

The Porsche 928 won the European Car of the Year award for 1978, the only sports car ever to do so — the first time a non-American car had won the award. Porsche's board had planned for the 928 to replace the 911 entirely by the mid-1980s; customer resistance to the idea was so strong that the 911 survived and the 928 was discontinued in 1995 instead. The 928's galvanized body construction — applied to every car before painting — was nearly unique in the automotive industry in 1977 and explains why original-paint 928 bodies remain rust-free when comparable German cars of the era have corroded.

Elite Dealer

$9,495