If you’re a Porsche enthusiast, and you’re also a Top Gear viewer, you likely have fond memories of the ‘Cheap Porsche Challenge’ episode. In what was effectively a love-in for front-engine water-cooled Porsche models, Clarkson predictably chose a 928, James May nabbed a nice 944, and Hammond showed up in an admittedly less than perfect 924. It was clear that the 924 suffered from a few minor maladies, but it did make it through to the end without exploding or the shortest Top Gear host killing it. The only challenge that the car couldn’t complete, unfortunately, was the final challenge in which the presenters had to try to sell their cars for a profit, or at least as little loss as possible. Hammond was the only one of the three that couldn’t find a single person to purchase his inexpensive and diminutive little sports machine. COYS of London is aiming to change that, as this car has been added to their “Autosport” sale coming up next Saturday.
So what is this car worth now? Hammond’s run on Top Gear has ended after many years, and the show has (ahem) been in the news a lot lately for various reasons. Will that be enough to elevate the 924’s value a few thousand quid? We’ll find out on the 16th when it goes across the auction block. I wonder if it might now be worth a bit more than Jeremy’s busted 928. The Porsche is being sold in the same fashion as it appeared when the show ended. No word made on whether the 924 has had any repairs affected in the handful of years since the show aired.
The Porsche was then, and remains, set up for performance with stiffer shocks, low profile sticky tires, a mostly stripped interior, and racing-style bucket seats, as well as Hammond’s own “Gulf-color” livery flames on the side, blacked out hood, and little non-symmetric hood scoop. The car did not score well with the national level Porsche Club judges, so I wouldn’t plan on taking this to a concours any time soon. That said, it looks like it could still be a decently set-up 924 with some interesting pedigree that could be bought for relatively little cash. What do you think, is this Porsche worth 2000 pounds sterling? More?
In case you have not seen the episode, you can watch a cut down version of the segment here on BBC’s YouTube channel.