It’s no secret that the ever-expanding Porsche aftermarket universe is constantly being flooded with all sorts of 911 builds you can think of. As a result, there’s a growing number of enthusiasts who are turning their attention to the model that Porsche thought would replace the Neunelfer in the late 1970s, the 928. And, as prolific as the front-engined grand tourer was, this never came in open-top form, at least not from the factory. Well, this 928 Speedster is here to fix that, even if the creation is a mere dream right now.
We’re not kidding about the onslaught of 911 projects. Only in the past 30 days or so we’ve been thrilled to meet high-tier builds ranging from the lifted 911 Safari Sportsman created by an ex-Singer specialist who started his own business to Ken Block’s Pikes Peak-aimed Hoonipigasus.
With that out of the way, we can focus on this 928 Speedster, which is the creation of graphic designer Jim (aka jord8). For starters, we’ll quickly gloss over the 928S name, as, when used with a space between the numbers and the letters, that’s actually the designation used for factory models coming with the standard fixed roof.
With the range comprised exclusively of V8 engines, whose displacement grew over the long lifespan of the vehicle, the 928 was designed as a flagship from the get-go. For the record, Porsche built a little over 61,056 units between 1977 and 1995.
And, with its futuristic design—the integrated bumpers were a massive asset—its impressive performance and exquisite character, the 928 had a lot going for it, even though purists resisted its layout, at least initially.
The 928S (Speedster) in detail
This digital transformation starts well before we get to the greenhouse, as Jim axed the pop-up headlights, replacing them with full hideaway units. Some Porsche fans might not approve of this change, since it reminds one of the 944, the otherwise brilliant four-cylinder (turbo) range mate of the 928, which also happens to mix a front-mounted engine with RWD.
The front bumper gets an extended skirt as part of a presumed aero treatment that would offset the drawbacks of the vehicle’s no-roof form. Serving the same purpose, we have an extended factory rear spoiler. Then there are the wheels, which were borrowed from the 928 S4 version.
Dating back to the 1950s when Porsche introduced the 356 Speedster, this name is currently used for limited editions topping the 911 and the 718 range, so it would appear fitting for the 928 flagship. Admittedly, as an enthusiast aptly mentioned in the comments section of the Instagram post below, the windscreen of a 928 Speedster may need to pack an angle that’s a bit more aggressive.
Perhaps it’s a nod to the Carelli-built 928 Convertible
For one, while the current form of the car is a sight for sore eyes, it does seem to remind one of the 928 Convertible built by Carelli Design—you’ll find images of a 1981 example that showed up on eBay a couple of years ago in the gallery.
As mentioned on the website of the American specialty vehicle manufacturer—it seems the company is still operating—this was a project aimed at drawing attention to the 928. Introduced in 1981, the Carelli 928 two-seater Convertible cost no less than $80,000, which would be $268,777 in today’s money. However, before we end this tale, we need to mention that the aftermarket adventures mentioned in the intro have also started targeting the 928, albeit still in coupe form.
French specialist Nardone Automotive recently announced its carbon 928 restomod
If the sum mentioned above sounds like a lot, try comparing it to the €480,000 ($498,900 currently) starting price French specialist Nardone Automotive is asking for its recent 928 restomod.
That money doesn’t include the donor car or taxes, but you do get a full carbon body with slightly meaner arches and all the tech revisions you could ask for. And this is quite an original way for the world to get excited over a 400 hp release (updated V8 working with a six-speed manual and an LSD) in 2022.
However, we should also mention 2024, since that’s when the first deliveries will take place. There’s no cap on production, but the company initially plans to manufacture just 8 launch edition vehicles. Meanwhile, you’ll find Nardone Automotive’s 928 in the second Insta post below.
