An overlooked Porsche legend for £11k? It’s time to buy a 968

On sale for just four years with fewer than 13,000 units made globally, the Porsche 968 is a rare bird today, with only around 850 remaining in the UK compared to about 6,000 examples of its predecessor, the 944. Originally intended to be a 944 S3, Porsche gave the revised model its own name, sharing basic dimensions and chassis with the earlier car while adding updated mechanicals and a fresh look. Under the bonnet sits a single engine option: an all-aluminium, 3.0-litre inline four-cylinder with balancer shafts, 16 valves, and VarioCam variable valve timing operating between 1500rpm and 5500rpm. It produces 237bhp, mounted at the front and driving the rear wheels via a transaxle layout. A turbocharged 968 was built for racing only, with just 14 examples made. Transmission options included a six-speed manual gearbox or a dual-mode four-speed Tiptronic automatic. In manual form, the car sprints from 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds, while the Tiptronic is around a second or two slower. Autocar testers praised the handling with five stars for immense grip, composure, and direct steering, noting a firm ride that aids body control. The car launched in 1992 as a 2+2 coupé and two-seat cabriolet. In 1993, Porsche introduced the stripped-back Club Sport, followed by the semi-skimmed Sport at the end of 1994. Buyers should look out for service history, timing belt and water pump changes every four years, balancer shaft belt changes every four years, oil leaks, clutch slip on manual cars, and suspension wear. Independent suppliers like Design911 in Essex and Porsche Classic Genuine Parts help support parts availability, though some interior trim and seat fabrics are harder to source. Pricing ranges from £11,000-£14,999 for good regular 968s, £15,000-£19,999 for Sport-trim cars and nice regular models with around 150,000 miles, £20,000-£34,999 for very clean low-mileage regular cars and Sports around 80k miles, and £35,000 and above for top-tier Club Sport models.