Porsche has a history of proving their point by simply following the rules. The most famous of these displays often occurred in the Porsche Werks delivery yard in the early springtime, featuring row after row of brand-new, identical cars. Precisely aligned, these displays occurred in one place at one time, in stark contrast to other manufacturers displaying half-finished automobiles and spare parts, the most cunning of them playing a shell game with the FIA. A row of 25 complete 1969 Porsche 917 LH is the most famous example, but Porsche demonstrated the might of their motorsport department on multiple occasions, with a group shot of 20 911 SC RS, and in 1981, a photograph of 50 Guards Red 924 Carrera GTS. The Porsche 924 Carrera GTS was developed as a highly specialized, homologation variant of the 924 Carrera GTR.
Porsche planned not only to contest the classic endurance races with the GTR, but also enter the GTS in rally events, the most famous of which saw Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer contest the 1981 Deutsche Rallye-Meisterschaft.
Lurking among the 50 seemingly identical 924 Carrera GTS (Type 937) homologation specials were just 15 924 Carrera GTS Clubsport (Type 939). While outwardly similar looking with modified bumpers, large fender flairs, wide forged aluminum Fuchs wheels, fared-in headlights, and a hood scoop in its fiberglass hood, the Clubsport variant boasted a number of improvements on top of an already impressive platform – not to mention a steeper price. At the time, the standard Carrera GTS would have been the most expensive Porsche street car produced, with a base price of DM 110,000, but the Clubsport version easily eclipsed that at DM 122,091. When introduced, the 924 Carrera GTS Clubsport included an aluminum roll cage, 935-style ‘Lollipop’ seats, plastic door windows with sliding panels, a thinner, lighter front windshield, and an uprated 2.1-liter turbo engine with a larger intercooler producing a surprising 275-horsepower, 30 more than the Type 937. It was quite the impressive group of upgrades, especially when considering that the ‘standard’ Carrera GTS already featured a host of performance parts like coil springs, anti-sway bars, Bilstein shock absorbers, and cross-drilled and vented dual-circuit disc brakes from the 911 Turbo. In fact, weighing in at 2337 lb, 530 lb less than a 911 Turbo, it was quite the performer as well with a 0-60 mph time of 5.2 seconds on the way to a top speed of 162 mph.
While the intent of the GTS Clubsport may have been to homologate the GTR for FIA Group 4 competition, Porsche hoped many would enter their own GTSs in motorsports events, just as many did with the 911 Carrera RS 3.0 of 1974. While it is likely many did, this 924 Carrera GTS Clubsport, chassis number 45 managed to escape from the rigors of competition. Distributed to Traynor Porsche/Audi of Fairfield, Connecticut, it was one of approximately eight 924 Carrera GTS Clubsports imported to the United States. As a dealership showroom piece for Traynor Porsche, it was appreciated by customers for the incredible combination of motorsport development and homologation rarity not usually seen in the U.S. After some time this example was purchased by the co-owner of Traynor Porsche and long-time Porsche collector, Ernst Benzien. While under the care of Benzien, this highly original Clubsport was quietly enjoyed with dealer plates on the bucolic roads across the Northeast. After meeting Ernst Benzien through a mutual friend, an agreement was made to sell his cherished Clubsport to the current owner, and in 2011, for the first time, the car changed hands. The consignor notes it displayed approximately 2000-kilometers at that time, a remarkably low number, but one that speaks volumes about the exceptional care and importance of the car to the original owner.
Once purchased by the second and consigning owner, it was immediately sent for a thorough mechanical recommissioning. A full service was performed, including timing belts, and this low-mileage homologation special was then entered and driven on track, as originally intended, at Porsche Rennsport Reunion V in 2015. Returning from Laguna Seca, it received a thorough post-track inspection with additional attention given to the fuel system, the replacement of its fuel pump and filter, a fuel tank cleaning, and a rebuild of its fuel distributor. Due to a small crack, the windshield was replaced, and taking advantage of the opportunity, portions of the dashboard trim were reaffixed. Notably, the turbocharger received a rebuild at this time as well.
Today, chassis number 45 features just over 3600 km indicated at the time of cataloging with the consignor happy to note that this road-legal example is well serviced, exercised regularly, and enjoyed each and every time the key is turned. One of just 15 GTS Clubsports, this highly original, two-owner example, is brimming with all the exceptional components expected on a factory-built homologation special, and perhaps even more important than build numbers and rarity, the owner reports at the time of cataloging it drives fantastically as well!
1981 
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1980 
