CLUB RACER

Club Racer

Driving through London in one of the best preserved club racer 924s still around.

Matt is hard to miss in his Porsche 924 race car - it’s a rare survivor. Most 924s that did race in the era were at an amateur level, rarely worth the trouble of preserving beyond retirement.

When he discovered the car a few years ago it had just emerged from a multi-decade stay in a forgotten storage unit: a challenging place to start with any project car. The sensible thing to do? Put it straight to daily-driving duties of course.

“It’s a 1978 car which raced in the Porsche Club GB championship series,” he explains. “From what I managed to find, it raced until ’90 or ’91 before it went into storage. It then sat there untouched until 2021 when the owner passed away and the car was sold to, of all people, a used lawnmower dealer. He bought it to flip it for easy money which he did, selling to me.

It was a non-runner in need of at least a mechanical rebuild. I got it to good roadworthy condition but retained the bodywork and visual side of it just as it was to keep it as a time capsule. ‘You can buy almost everything, but not the history’, and this car has lots of it. From modifications necessitated by regulations like the bucket seats and roll cage, to small details like scrutineering stickers and bluetack used 30 years ago to stop the interior mirror from rattling.

While I’m trying to preserve the car, it’s not a garage queen. I take it regularly to car shows and on a big road trip at least once a year. Last year I took it to Poland, more recently I took it to Technoclassica Essen and in 2026 I plan to go to Stuttgart with the 924 club to celebrate 50 years of the model.

"I got it to good roadworthy condition but retained the bodywork and visual side of it just as it was to keep it as a time capsule. ‘You can buy almost everything, but not the history’, and this car has lots of it."

"I’d say it handles much better than standard but I have to say that even a regular 924 is incredible to drive, thanks to the transaxle weight distribution and Porsche’s engineering magic."

The car has no sound deadening and the driving position is much lower than stock. It’s lowered and fitted with stiffer, adjustable shocks. I’d say it handles much better than standard but I have to say that even a regular 924 is incredible to drive, thanks to the transaxle weight distribution and Porsche’s engineering magic. One of the best handling cars of the era.”