Why The Porsche 968 Club Sport Is A Proper 90s Hero

Source: motor-klassik.de

It may be hard to imagine these days, but in the early 90s Porsche wasn't doing that well. Recession was decimating the Stuttgart manufacturer's sales, particularly of its  new 968 model. Well, we say new, but that might be stretching things a bit. The 968 started as a planned set of final revisions for the ageing 944, to create the 'S3', but Porsche decided instead to release it as a new model. Porsche claimed that over 80 per cent of the car was new, but it was difficult to see it as anything other than a rehash of its predecessor. Critics found the 968 dull to drive and pretty dated, and sales of the entry-level Porka were pretty shocking. Something had to be done.

Source: carpatys.com

Porsche's solution to this sales disaster was a simple one: chuck away all the 968's fripperies and create a proper, no-nonsense driver's car; the Club Sport was born. 100kg was shed over the 'Lux' model by putting the car on a crash diet; the rear seats, electric windows, rear wiper, driver's airbag and air-con were all lobbed. Meanwhile, the heavy, leather electric front seats were swapped in favour of a pair of manually adjustable Recaro bucket seats, while the suspension was revised for track use and received a 10mm drop. The look was finished with a set of optional Club Sport decals splashed along the car. Porsche then slashed five grand off the price, a fair chunk of cash in 1993. The 3.0-litre, 240bhp 16-valve four pot first seen in the 944 S2 remained unchanged, though with all that bulk removed the sprint to 60 was trimmed down by a few tenths to 6.1sec.

Source: thehairpincompany.co.uk

It was the way the 968 CS drove that really impressed. The revised suspension and weight loss livened things up behind the wheel and praise was given by the motoring press, most of whom loved the newly sharpened version of the 968.

The Club Sport wasn't quite the sales hit Porsche wanted, but it did a damned good job of restoring its reputation for building epic sports cars. It also created a cult classic in the process and that's what makes the 968 CS a 90s Hero Car. 

You just have to look at the used market for 968s to realise just how justifiably revered this car is. Prices for normal 968s start as low as £6000. But if you want a Club Sport? You'll need to be packing anything from £15-20k. Is it worth the dough? For us, the answer is a big fat yes. 

Specifications

Built: 1993-1995Engine: 1990cc, 16-valve, inline 4-cylinderPower: 240bhpTorque: 225lb/ft0-60mph: 6.1 secondsTop speed: 158mphWeight: 1320kg

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