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Porsche 928 Waterproof Half Cover
The Porsche 928 is a grand tourer that was produced and sold by Porsche from 1978 right through to 1995. Throughout most of it's life the 928 was actually one of the most expensive cars offered by the company, and the 1983 928S model with the M28/19 engine was actually the fastest car sold in North America. Once again the Porsche 928 was the fastest road car in the world in 1986 after it managed to reach a whopping 172 mph when tested on the Utah salt flats.
The Porsche 928 was born out of the notion that the company needed to be able to offer a luxury touring car in their line-up. This, coupled with the fact that sales of the 911 were declining and many believed that the 911 had reached the end of its natural life and could not be improved further. Managing Director Ernst Fuhrmann decreed that the new model should combine the best attributes of a sports coupe and a luxury sedan, being able to be driven comfortably for long distances yet packed with power and in possession of fine handling so it can be treated like a sports car.
A design study for the Porsche 928 was launched in 1971 and the team quickly settled on the final specs for the production vehicle, focusing around a rear wheel drive front engine combination that allowed the engine, transmission, catalytic converters and exhaust to be spread out rather than all cramped in a tightly packed rear compartment. Initially a 5.0 L V8 engine was considered for the Porsche 928 but the ongoing fuel crisis forced Porsche to consider a number of smaller engines, eventually the compromise was a 4.5 L 16 valve V8 capable of producing 237 hp, a compromise between economy and performance.
The 928 was well received at the Geneva Motor Show in 1977 but inital sales were slow due to the high price of the vehicle and departure from traditional Porsche stylings, forcing many to opt for the 911 instead. Porsche then opted to sell both the 911 and 928 side by side to give customers the choice and the 928 went on to have an avid following, albeit one slightly smaller than the more popular 911.
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