The Porsche 924: The VW-Born Sports Car That Saved Porsche
Unlikely Savior - For many car enthusiasts, the name Porsche instantly brings to mind images of the iconic rear-engined 911 slicing through corners with a distinct exhaust note echoing in the distance. But hidden in the brand’s fascinating history is a less celebrated chapter—one that’s equally important to Porsche’s survival. Enter the Porsche 924, a car that didn't start as a Porsche at all, yet became the foundation for some of the most beloved front-engined models the company ever produced.
The Porsche 924 was originally a joint project between Volkswagen and Porsche, created by the Vertriebsgesellschaft (VG), as a two-door 2+2 coupé intended to replace the 912E and 914 as the company's entry-level model. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
The story of the 924 began in the 1970s, during a financially difficult period for Porsche. The company needed more than just the 911 to stay afloat, so it leaned on engineering contracts with other automakers. One of the most significant of these partnerships was with Volkswagen. VW wanted a new, affordable sports car and turned to Porsche for help. The task was to design a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive car using components already in VW’s parts bin to keep development costs in check.
The Porsche 924 Baustufe is the prototype sports car developed by Porsche in 1974 under 'Projekt 425' for Volkswagen, serving as the forerunner to the production 924. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
What Porsche came up with was clever: a transaxle layout for better weight distribution, a four-cylinder engine sourced from a VW van, suspension parts from a Beetle, and a manual gearbox taken from a VW sedan. The prototype showed real promise. But just as the car was ready to move forward, Volkswagen pulled the plug on the project, choosing instead to pursue its own Scirocco coupe. That could have been the end of the 924 story—but Porsche saw potential and decided to take full ownership of the project.
The Porsche 924 Turbo, launched in 1979, brought a significant performance upgrade by adding a turbocharger to the 2.0-liter engine, boosting output to 168 hp and transforming the driving experience compared to the standard model. (Picture from: GridOto)
Production was set up at a VW-run Audi plant in Neckarsulm, Germany, and in 1976, the Porsche 924 officially launched. It was a new kind of Porsche: affordable, practical, and unlike the traditional rear-engined models enthusiasts were used to. Though purists initially scoffed at the idea of a Porsche using so many VW parts, journalists and drivers were pleasantly surprised. The 924’s well-balanced chassis and crisp handling won over many critics, even if its 2.0-liter Audi-sourced engine wasn’t particularly powerful.
The Porsche 924 S, launched in 1986, was powered by a 2.5-liter engine derived from the 944, producing 150 hp, and offered smoother power delivery, improved refinement, and marked a key step in the model’s evolution into a true Porsche. (Picture from: GridOto)
In 1979, Porsche introduced the Porsche 924 Turbo, a much-anticipated upgrade that addressed early criticisms of the standard model’s modest performance. By adding a turbocharger to the existing 2.0-liter engine, Porsche boosted output to 168 hp, significantly enhancing acceleration and overall driving dynamics. This version not only delivered the extra power enthusiasts had been waiting for but also reinforced the 924’s position as a serious contender in the world of entry-level sports cars.
The Porsche 924, shown here as the 1981 2.0 UK model, features a European-spec rear bumper, small wing-mounted side-marker lights, and no rear spoiler. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
In 1986, the Porsche 924 Sfollowed with a 2.5-liter engine derived fromthe 944. Though its 150 hp output was slightly lower than the Turbo’s, the 924 Soffered smoother power delivery, greater refinement, and marked another step in the model’s evolution into a true Porsche.
The Porsche 924, shown from the rear as the 1981 2.0 UK model, features a European-spec rear bumper with an optional spoiler. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
In time, the original 924 also received some of these upgrades. When Volkswagen ceased production of the 2.0-liter engine in the mid-1980s, Porsche swapped in a detuned version of the 944’smore powerful inline-four and rebranded the model as the 924S. This version brought the car closer than ever to Porsche’s engineering standards, while still keeping it as the brand’s entry-level option.
The Porsche 924 interior from the 1981 model showcases a three-spoke Porsche-branded steering wheel, analog gauges, and a manual gear shifter. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
Despite its rocky start and mixed heritage, the Porsche 924 achieved something remarkable: it sold over 150,000 units and kept Porsche alive during a financially unstable period. It bridged the gap between the air-cooled past and the front-engined future, allowing the company to experiment, grow, and eventually thrive. | 6qLwd44C4iU |
What began as a canceled Volkswagen project turned into a cornerstone of Porsche’s history. The 924 proved that performance, innovation, and vision don’t always need to start from prestige—they just need the right team to see the potential. Today, while it may not draw the same attention as its siblings, the 924 holds its place in Porsche's legacy as the car that refused to be forgotten. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | PORSCHE | ID.MOTOR1 | WIKIPEDIA | ]
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The Porsche 924: The VW-Born Sports Car That Saved Porsche
What began as a canceled Volkswagen project turned into a cornerstone of Porsche’s history. The 924 proved that performance, innovation, and vision don’t always need to start from prestige—they just need the right team to see the potential. Today, while it may not draw the same attention as its siblings, the 924 holds its place in Porsche's legacy as the car that refused to be forgotten. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | PORSCHE | ID.MOTOR1 | WIKIPEDIA | ]
