1989 Porsche 944

Porsche 944

Porsche’s 944 Cabriolet doesn’t just occupy a rarefied space; it’s the sort of machine you spot once in a blue moon on Joburg’s leafy backroads, and even then, you wonder if you imagined it. On paper at least, R339,900 buys you more than nostalgia—it’s a full-blooded, front-engined, rear-wheel-drive drop-top from the late ‘80s, a time when the classic European sports car was a living, breathing thing rather than just a Cars & Coffee talking point. Forget modern convenience. This car is petrol only, manual only, and that matters, because driving feel is the whole reason it exists. You’re not cross-shopping this with a Polo GTI for your work commute. That lone example on the market? It’s the 1989 S2 Cabriolet, the flagship open-top with Porsche’s oddball 3.0-litre four-pot under the bonnet—a real outlier for the brand back then. It’s done 213,389 km, so it’s seen a fair bit of South African tarmac, but it’s not a battered relic either. Anyone hunting down a 944 here knows it’s not about low mileage or flawless originality. Parts aren’t always easy to find, and you’ll want an insurer who understands what this is. The draw is the balance, the way the gearshift feels alive in your hand, and a silhouette that’s still sharp, even after 30-odd years. No new stock, no factory order—just this one, and that’s the point.