About
2.0 L NA- The 924.
The original 924 model stayed in production for nearly a decade. This fantastic little car was, at launch, a very different vehicle to the last versions. So much so that it is best to think of the NA as three distinct variants.
The NA is a superb driver’s car. It is incredibly DIY friendly and most jobs can be completed with non-specialist tools. It carries speed well and, while not the most powerful engine, delivers it well across the range. For a car nearing 40 years old (or more), that it can still keep up with modern traffic without being high maintenance is testament to the original design. In skilled hands, it remains a very hard car to keep up with on twisty B-roads.
1976/1977 models
These earliest of 924s are full of vintage charm. Garish fabrics and chrome screen surrounds scream 1970s. They wear the clean lines of the design unadorned by later extras that simply were not available at the time. Probably in response to VW’s project brief, they use less high quality materials; the carpets are thin, the door seals are too- everything feels a little less refined.
Air conditioning was available as a costly option. More commonly specified was the large tilt or removable roof, often misdescribed as a “Targa”. This large panel both can be tilted at the rear or fully removed to store in the boot (with its own leatherette bag). The fun of top down motoring in a coupe.
These early cars are part galvanised. This is the early car’s main problem as rot has killed many off.
The pinnacle of these early cars is the Championship Edition “Martini”. The value of these has rocketed in the past few years so buy carefully to ensure the car is genuine.
1978-1980 models
For the first time a 5 speed box became available. This was not without its problems but does speed up the standard 924 through better gearing. This gearbox is different to the one used in later cars, coming from Getrag and with a dog-leg first gear almost identical to the 911s but different enough to make most parts incompatible! Light and small but clunky when cold. Bits for this box are expensive and rare.
By 1979 the bullet proof Audi 5 speed box became standard.
Interior quality began to improve now too. A better selection of fabrics materials was used. Leather rimmed 3 spoke steering wheels and leather gear gaiters feel more substantial than the early plastic efforts. Door cards got a more luxurious finish.
1981 onwards
Porsche took the decision to further improve the rust proofing of the cars by fully galvanising the body. This costly process greatly improved the robustness of the cars. Added to that are improvements to the paint procedure using e-coat primers that more evenly distributed protection. The result is a car much less prone to rust than before.
Further improvements were then added to refinement. More sound deadening, better stereo systems, almost standard fitment of electric windows and mirrors plus further improvements to interior materials mean the later 924 NA feels a lot different to the ’76 models.
Towards the end of the NA production run, models began to get some of the refinements destined for the S models. Electric boot release and electric sunroof appeared. Even at the very end, improvements to the roof guttering and window washers were introduced, despite production moving toward the S.
