1989 Porsche 911 Fire damaged
This silver Coupe is an insurance loss acquired by the leader in air cooled salvage Porsches restoration and used 911 parts, Weekend Rides. We are offering it to an ambitious enthusiast or perhaps someone will wish to continue its chassis use as a race car. We have repaired hundreds of damaged 911s and many with fire damage, once stripped to the bare shell and refinished a fire loss car provides a wonderful starting platform. 1989 Carreras with the 3.2 engine and five speed g50 transaxle are among the most coveted of the G model, representing the last year of the venerable design prior to the 3.6 964 body style. It is being offered less its engine and transaxle.
Carrera 3.2 (1984–1989)
The replacement for the SC series came in 1984 as the 911 3.2 Carrera, reviving the Carrera name for the first time since 1977. This was the last iteration in the original 911 series, with all subsequent models featuring new body styling and new brake, electronic, and suspension technologies.
A new higher-displacement motor, a 3.2-litre horizontally opposed flat 6-cylinder, was utilized. At the time Porsche claimed it was 80% new.[17] The new swept volume of 3164 cc was achieved using the 95 mm (3.7 in) bore (from the previous SC model) combined with the 1978 Turbo 3.3 crankshaft’s 74.4 mm (2.9 in) stroke. In addition, higher domed pistons increased the compression ratio from 9.8 to 10.3:1 (9.5:1 for the US market). New inlet manifold and exhaust systems were fitted. The 915 transmission was carried over from the SC series for the first three model years. In 1987, the Carrera got a new five-speed gearbox sourced from Getrag, model number G50 with proven BorgWarner synchronizers. This slightly heavier version also featured a hydraulically operated clutch. This 3.2 motor has a separate oil tank in the engine compartment, which holds approximately 8 quarts of oil. Combined with the approximate 4 quarts lubricating the motor, the complete oil supply is approximately 12 quarts. When oil is not in the engine, it is cycling through a small oil cooler before returning to the oil tank. The oil tank then supplies the engine with cooled oil. This oil system is responsible for removing significant heat from the engine, assisting the fan with cooling the engine, leading some to call the engine oil-cooled as well as air-cooled.
With the new engine, power was increased to 207 bhp (154 kW; 210 PS) (at 5900 rpm) for North American-delivered cars and to 231 bhp (172 kW; 234 PS) (at 5900 rpm) for most other markets. This version of the 911 accelerated 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 5.4 seconds and had a top speed of 150 mph (240 km/h) as measured by Autocar. Factory times were more modest: 0–60 mph time of 6.3 seconds for the US version and 6.1 seconds for cars outside the American market.
The brake discs were increased in size to aid in more effective heat dissipation and improved oil-fed chain tensioners were fitted to the engine. To improve oil cooling, a finned cooler replaced the serpentine lines in the front passenger fender well. This was further improved in 1987, with the addition of a thermostatically controlled fan.
Driving refinement and motor reliability were improved with an upgrade of the fuel and ignition control components to an L-Jetronic with Bosch Motronics 2 DME (Digital Motor Electronics system). An improvement in fuel-efficiency was due to the DME providing a petrol cut-off on the overrun. Changes in the fuel map and chip programming from October 1986 further improved the power to 217 bhp (162 kW; 220 PS) (at 5900 rpm) for North American delivered cars as well as for other markets mandating low emissions, like Germany.
Three basic models were available – coupé, targa and cabriolet. The Carrera is almost indistinguishable from the SC with the external clue being the front fog lights that were integrated into the front valance. Only cosmetic changes were made during the production of the Carrera, with a redesigned dash featuring larger air conditioning vents appearing in 1986.
In 1984, Porsche also introduced the M491 option. Officially called the Supersport in the UK, it was commonly known as the “Turbo-look”. It was a style that resembled the Porsche 930 Turbo with wide wheel arches and the distinctive “tea tray” tail. It featured the stiffer turbo suspension and the superior turbo braking system as well as the wider turbo wheels. Sales of the Supersport were high for its first two years in the United States because the desirable 930 was not available.
1988 Porsche Carrera CS
The 911 Carrera Club Sport (CS) (option M637), 340 of which were produced from August 1987 to September 1989, is a reduced weight version of the standard Carrera that, with engine and suspension modifications, was purpose built for club racing. The CS had a blueprinted engine with hollow intake valves and a higher rev limit, deletion of: all power options, sunroof (except one unit), air conditioning (except two unit), radio, rear seat, undercoating, sound insulation, rear wiper, door pocket lids, fog lamps, front hood locking mechanism, engine and luggage compartment lights, lockable wheel nuts and even the rear lid “Carrera” logo, all in order to save an estimated 70 kg (150 lb) in weight. With the exception of CSs delivered to the UK, all are identifiable by the “CS Club Sport” decal on the left front fender and came in a variety of colors, some special ordered. Some U.S. CS’s did not have the decal installed by the dealer; however, all CS’s have a “SP” stamp on the crankcase and cylinder head. The UK CS’s were all “Grand Prix White” with a red “Carrera CS” decal on each side of the car and red wheels. Although the CS was well received by the club racers, because it cost more than the stock 911, but had fewer comfort features. According to Porsche Club of America and Porsche Club Great Britain CS Registers, 21 are documented as delivered to the U.S. in 1988 with 7 in 1989, one to Canada in 1988 and 53 to the United Kingdom from 1987 to 1989.
In 1988, Porsche produced 875 examples of the CE or Commemorative Edition 911 Carrera in coupe, targa and cabriolet variants to mark the production of the 250,000th 911. Distinguishing features include special diamond blue metallic paint with color-matched Fuchs wheels, front and rear spoilers, and interior carpets and leather. These cars also featured Dr. Ferdinand Porsche’s signature embroidered on the seats in the headrest area. Of the 875 examples produced, only 300 were imported to the US (120 coupes, 100 cabrios and 80 Targas), 250 were sold in Germany, 50 went to the UK, and the remainder to other countries.
For 1989, Porsche produced the 25th Anniversary Special Edition model to mark the 25th year of 911 production. The 1989 Porsche brochure lists production of 500 U.S. market cars, of which 300 were coupés (240 in silver metallic paint and 60 in satin black metallic, and 200 cabriolet models (160 in silver and 40 in black). All had “silk grey” leather with black accent piping and silk grey velour carpeting. Included were body color Fuchs wheels in 6×16 (front) and 8×16 (rear), stitched leather console with an outside temperature gauge and a CD or cassette holder, a limited slip differential, and a short shifting gear lever, as well as small bronze “25th Anniversary Special Edition” badges
According to the manufacturer, around 150,000 of the 911 cars from the model years 1964 to 1989 are still on the road today.
The 911 Speedster (option M503), a low-roof version of the Cabriolet which was evocative of the Porsche 356 Speedster of the 1950s, was produced in limited numbers (2,104) starting in January 1989 until July 1989 as both a narrow body car and a Turbo-look. The narrow version production was 171. The Speedster started as a design under Helmuth Bott in 1983 but was not manufactured until six years later. It was a two-seat convertible that featured a low swept windshield.
Total production of the 911 3.2 Carrera series was 76,473 cars (35,670 coupé, 19,987 cabrio, 18,468 targas).
At Weekend Rides we have one of the worlds largest inventories of properly stored, catalogued, and guaranteed used air cooled 911 parts. We always have repairable Porsches and flawless documented history 911s for the most discrimination enthusiast’s.
Call Rick Bolus to discuss your next Porsche or Porsche 911 project at 570.503.1700 or by email to
