Porsche 928

Power four-wheel disc brakes

Power windows

Climate control air conditioning

Designed as an up-market grand tourer to replace the 911, the 928 offered increased luxury and interior space over the rear-engined 911. With work on such a car beginning as early as 1971, the company spend much of its limited resources producing the finest car their engineering team could devise. The 1975 release of the 911 Turbo dampened enthusiasm for the new car somewhat, but there was still a feeling that the front-engined 928 was the car to take Porsche into the 1980s. A new rear-axle configuration, dubbed the “Weissach axle”, yielded superior traction in high-speed corners. A 4.5L V8 producing over 200hp, coil-over-shock suspension, and large-diameter (for the time) disc brakes offered performance nearly on par with the 930.

Initially released in 1978, the 928 received only minor changes for the 1979 model year. Critical response was exemplary – the car won the 1978 European Car of the Year award (the first sports car to do so) and was described as a “grown-up supercar” by ‘Autocar’. Enthusiasts responded as well, appreciating the car’s sporting abilities in addition to its long-distance comfort. Only ever manufactured as a coupe by Porsche, several coachbuilders offered alternative body styles at great cost. Richard Straman, whose Costa Mesa, California-based shop became renowned for transforming numerous import coupes into bespoke convertibles, was one such outfit. His work attracted international attention, with his creations appearing on the cover of Road & Track on multiple occasions, while his Ferrari Testarossa Spider was famously driven by Michael Jackson in a 1987 Pepsi commercial.

The stunning 1982 Porsche 928 Cabriolet offered here in Dark Olive Green over an impeccably kept Terracotta full leather interior with a bespoke Black folding soft top is a rare example of Straman’s artistry applied to a Porsche. Believed to have been completed in 1990, Straman’s design features a “disappearing top” with a deck that hides the convertible roof when retracted. Remarkably, Straman’s craftsmen managed to retain a portion of the 928 coupe’s ample trunk space. The 928’s aluminum front fenders have been subtly altered to house rectangular pop-up headlights, while the deletion of the hood crest furthers the clean, coachbuilt appearance. Inside, the 928 is largely stock, with leather covering nearly every surface complemented by matching Wilton wool carpeting.

The car’s factory 4.7L V8 is paired with a Mercedes-sourced three-speed automatic transmission for the superb grand touring driving experience these cars are known for. With Porsche never producing a factory 928 Cabriolet, examples such as this remain exceedingly rare. Representing the work of Richard Straman at the height of his coachbuilding career, this 928 Cabriolet offers a rare interpretation of Porsche’s grand touring flagship with the open-air character envisioned by its custom creator. Offered to the most demanding collector, investor, or enthusiast who understands and appreciates the investment potential of this extremely rare and sought-after coach-built 928!