“… one of the fastest production two-liter cars in the world.”
1982 was the final model year for both the Porsche 924 Turbo and the base 924. The 924 S would return in 1987 and 1988, but the 944 would take over as the entry-level Porsche from 1983 to 1986, with the 944 Turbo coming in 1986.
The 924 Turbo‘s engine was a 154 bhp 2.0 liter/121 ci inline four with a single turbocharger and Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection. 154 bhp isn’t that impressive almost forty years later, but in the early 1980s, it marked a significant upgrade from the base 924’s 110 bhp—enough to drop 0-60 times by about two seconds. Fuel economy ratings were 20 city/33 highway. With a 17.4-gallon gas tank, a 924 Turbo driver could expect a range of about 415 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.
The $21,500 924 Turbo was about $59,000 in today’s dollars or just about exactly what a 2020 718 Caymen costs. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included tinted glass, a four-wheel independent suspension, rack and pinion steering, power four-wheel ventilated disc brakes, and 185/70VR15 tires (a size still available thanks to Pirelli and Vredestein) on 15-inch light alloy wheels. Inside, air conditioning, power windows, and an electric rear window defroster were included. Upholstery features included reclining bucket seats, full carpeting, and a leather-covered steering wheel.
Options for the 924 Turbo included headlamp washers, a limited slip differential, an electric rear window wiper, an alarm system, leather sport seats, a digital cassette radio, and a power antenna.
There is good club support for the Porsche 924, as there is for all Porsches. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1982 Porsche 924 Turbo in #1/Concours condition is an astounding $36,000, with a more normal #3/Good condition car going for $10,300. Porsche 924s frequently show up for sale in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds and on eBay Motors. However, when I checked in May 2020, there were no attractive 924 Turbo examples.
Make mine Diamond Silver Metallic, please. The 924 always looked good in silver.
Other eighties Porsches I have written about include the 1982 928 hatchback coupe, the 1986 944 Turbo hatchback coupe, the 1987 911 3.2 Carrera coupe, and the 1988 944 hatchback coupe.
Eighties Cars 
When the summer of 1982 neared in Charlotte, NC, I was 19 years old. Both my parents were dead by the time I was 14 years old. My Aunt and Uncle had become my guardians with my Uncle being named as the executor of my mother’s estate. I had inherited $80,000.00, which is about $215,000.00 in today’s money. Against my Aunt and Uncle’s advice I demanded my inheritance in full and headed to Myrtle Beach, SC. I had purchased a red with black interior 1964 Corvette Convertible and after becoming bored with that I purchased another Corvette, this time a black/black 1968 Corvette Convertible. Just for an extra get around ride, I also purchased a brand new 1982 Honda V-45 Sabre motorcycle with the famous 1980’s Simpson Darth Vader helmet.
After growing weary of my vintage Corvettes and their leaky convertible tops and seemingly endless nickel and dime repairs, I decided it was time I use my inheritance to buy a brand new car. My plan was to just buy a really cool car and then join the US Army after the summer, before my inheritance ran out completely.
My first idea was the Porsche 944 which was brand new and being advertised all over the Car magazines. My second choice was a BMW 320i Alpina. My first stop was Barrier Beck Porsche Audi on Independence Blvd. in Charlotte NC. I walked into the dealership with my new wave mullet haircut and wearing a surf shop T-shirt, with my sleeves rolled up, Quicksilver surfing shorts and the original Van’s checkered flag slip-ons. By today’s standards, I looked ridiculous. I immediately told them that I wanted to buy a new Porsche. Of course, I was not taken seriously, which only made me mad and wanting to show them by paying cash for a new car.
I loved the Porsche 928, but if I had bought one, I would soon be broke with a depreciating $45,000.00 car (in 80’s dollars). So I wanted to have some cash left over to still enjoy my summer before I headed to the Army recruiter. I asked to see the new 944 but they had none. They said with a $5,000.00 deposit I could order one and it would arrive in November. This just wasn’t going to work. I needed something now, for the rest of the summer at the beach.
So the slick Porsche salesman had an idea. He said what about this loaded Demo we have? It was a 1982 Guards Red, black leather interior, Porsche 924 Turbo with only 1500 miles. The car was loaded. I took it for a test drive and fell in love. During the drive the salesman said, Look, if you are serious, I can sell this car to you for $19K. I had no clue about negotiating. All I thought was, wow, I can get this Porsche for about $20K out the door and that leaves me about $40K to enjoy the summer. So we shook hands and drove the car to my bank so I could cash in my Certificates of Deposit.
I really enjoyed that car living at North Myrtle Beach, Ocean Drive, that summer. Things I remember were the whine the Turbo when it kicked in and every time you inserted the key into the ignition the stereo would come to life and the motorized antenna would deploy making a cool robotic noise. I also liked how everywhere in and outside the car you were constantly reminded you were in a Porsche Turbo with the Turbo branding strategically placed to remind the driver. I spent most of my time at the beach cruising around in my Porsche, trying to look as cool as I could. I washed and waxed it constantly and I spent a lot of money paying for Valet Up-Front Parking at the big nightclubs, The After Deck and 2001 VIP.
Unfortunately, I was a really shy kid, who had been sent to boarding school by my aunt and uncle. And I believed driving a really cool car would be the key to attracting girls. But it had the opposite effect. Having such a nice car and cool 80’s clothes with a wad of cash in my pocket just intimidated the nice girls and scared them away. I knew my funds were limited so didn’t want to blow my cash on gold diggers, so I just got drunk most of the time and ended up somehow making the drive home.
The summer ended too soon and I headed to Boone, NC to rent a room from my oldest sister who was attending Appalachian State and had bought a house with her inheritance. Unfortunately I made the mistake of taking my car-buff friend and stopping at the Porsche dealer, just to check out the cars.
My friend was a huge Porsche fan and he constantly dogged me about buyer a real Porsche, the 911 or 930 Turbo. When we walked into the showroom, there was a pre-owned black/black 1979 Porsche 930 Turbo sitting there. I sat in it and my salesman tried his best to sell it to me at $36,000.00. But after trading my 924 Turbo in and paying the balance, I would have been left with only a few grand. My friend kept egging me on, saying, “…but you will have a 930 Turbo!!!”
So my salesmen said, I have an idea. What about this car? He took me over to a pristine Gulf Blue 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa (with the duck tail) with only 40K miles. With my trade this car would leave me with at least $10K in the bank to party with and it would get my friend off my back and I would own a “Real” Porsche.
So I did it. I left the Porsche Dealer in my 911 like a bat out of hell, getting my full money’s worth from my Escort Radar detector! I made it to Boone, NC and soon ran out of money. Depressed and drunk, I ended up crashing the 911 at 120 mph into a cow pasture, through 5 fence posts on the Blue Ridge Parkway. A few years later I was in the Army driving M1 Abrams Tanks, but that’s another story.