Forgotten Super Cars: Porsche 984 (1984)

Welcome to my Forgotten Super Cars of the 20th Century video series. A new video every day. Playlist: Forgotten Super Cars:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOmdbryxA6VvVhQlLRZDyDrrF9zuPF-BG #forgottensupercars #automotivehistory #classiccars #forgottenicons #carhistories #20thcenturycars In 1993, Porsche unveiled a concept for a small, mid-engine roadster called the Boxster, which went into production three years later. This meticulously executed plan is still bearing fruit today, but it wasn't a perfect first attempt. The German company had been eyeing this segment long before, and the Boxster's predecessor was the 984 prototype, also known as the "Porsche Junior." The 984 Roadster was designed in 1984, and one of its features was a removable hardtop. The car measured only about 375 centimeters long, 158 centimeters wide, and weighed just under 880 kilograms. Squeezed between the driver and passenger seats and the rear axle was the engine from the 944 coupe, which in its basic version at the time was powered by a 2.5-liter inline-four engine producing 163 horsepower. With a little encouragement, the miniature Porsche was said to have exceeded 100 km/h (62 mph) in about 7.5 seconds and reached a top speed of 220 km/h (136 mph). The vehicle originally grew out of a collaboration between Porsche and Seat, in which Volkswagen acquired a majority stake in 1986. In the early 1980s, Porsche was to participate in the development of engines for the Spanish brand's new models, the first to be designed independently of Fiat, one of Seat's founders. The collaboration didn't end there. The companies also found common ground on the design of a small roadster. However, the Spaniards miscalculated the costs and, instead of sticking with the original concept, opted for the Ibiza Cabriolet, which remained a prototype. Porsche continued on this path on its own. The 984 project was derailed by the global dollar crisis, and the vehicle never entered production (plans included the use of four-wheel drive, which had proven successful in the 911 and 959 models at the time). The "Junior" prototype remains hidden in the warehouses of the Porsche Museum.

Added 6 May 2026