1990 Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet
- Florida Car
- Guards Red Paint
- 3.0L/208hp Front Engine
- 5 Speed Manual

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1990 Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of this vehicle due to website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 150 photographs, please go to our main website: GarageKeptMotors.)

“If you wanted to be the coolest guy on your block in the early 1990s, you drove a 3-liter twin-cam transaxle Porsche with a drop top.” –Bradley Brownell, The Drive, 4/13/2017

Porsche enthusiasts all have their favorite Porsche model. Truth is, most of them have more than one. In the past few years, the 944 Series cars have begun making it onto more and more of those lists, and one 944 in particular has received special attention: the 944 S2. The accolade most often quoted about this model comes from a 1991 Automobile magazine issue declaring the then-new S2 to be the preferred choice across the entire 944 lineup: "And so it is that the 944 S2 is now the better choice for American roads, horsepower figures be damned. The S2 revs more quickly than any Porsche this side of a 928, producing instant power off the line—unlike the Turbo—and demands fewer around-town downshifts in the bargain." While this assessment was based on a road test of a brand-new car, in 2017 the same magazine reviewed a nearly 30 year-old, 125,000-mile 944 S2 Cabriolet. The experience was still special: “At freeway speeds, the 944 is quiet and comfortable and feels much more modern than its model year suggests, passing slower freeway traffic without breaking a sweat.”

The 1990 Guards red-over-black-leather 944 S2 Cabriolet offered here is an excellent example of the breed. It does, however, have a slight mystery in its background. The accompanying Carfax includes a backdated entry noting that the car was declared an “insurance total loss” in 2005. While no other specifics are available from Carfax—and it is certainly possible the entry is wholly or partially in error, as sometimes happens—we can only assess the car as it appears today. In doing just that, our examination revealed no mechanical or cosmetic issues that would account for the Carfax notation. The car does come with a clean, green Michigan title. And of course, interested parties are encouraged to inspect the car in person, and we are happy to accommodate visits to our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom by appointment for that purpose.

According to its factory-applied options-code sticker, the car's features included:
454 – Amplifier system
490 – Sound package
494 – 2 speakers on back shelf
533 – Alarm system
573 – Air conditioning
593 – Anti-lock braking system
946 – Leather/Leatherette seats

The more than 150 high-definition photographs available at GarageKeptMotors.com offer a good look at the car's condition from every angle. The Guards red paint shows beautifully and may have benefitted from a partial re-spray at some point. The car's front valance—identical to the 944 Turbo model—shows no significant chips. The black fabric top and boot cover are in excellent condition. The chrome “Cup” wheels (likely swapped from a 993-series 911) with colored Porsche-logo centers shine beautifully. All glass and lenses are clear and free of cracks. There is no sign of rust on the factory-galvanized body.

Inside, the leather upholstery surfaces show patina consistent with the car's age and mileage, but no sign of abuse or damage. The black dash is free of cracks, and the car's steering wheel, carpeting, console, 5-speed manual transmission shifter and boot, and door card surfaces are in excellent condition. A JVC audio head unit is installed replacing the factory unit. (Factory manuals, period literature, and partial maintenance invoices are also included.)

Under the hood, the 3-liter inline 4-cylinder engine is well detailed. The 944 S2 is the only Porsche model ever to be equipped with this 208-horsepower engine. (The short walk-around video of the car available at GarageKeptMotors.com provides an audio sample of the engine note.) All engine-bay factory stickers are in place. The car's undercarriage is clean and tidy, and here too, there is no sign of damage, even the jacking damage common to many 944 cars.

With just 87,000 miles—under 3,000 miles per year—this classic 944 S2 offers its next owner the joy of many more wind-in-your-hair miles ahead. After all, who doesn't want to be “the coolest guy on the block?” Be sure to check out all the photos and video on our website: Garage Kept Motors. Call if interested or e-mail with any questions. Thank you for looking.