I believe my gold 1988 944 Turbo to be a lifelong California car. I acquired it back in 2018, and it’s in really, really good shape—champagne gold on the outside, dark chocolate on the inside, a full-on period-correct throwback to 1988. But it’s also a fantastic driving car—just enough power to be spirited, and when that boost hits, it’s pure fun. It’s a momentum car, the kind that makes every drive exciting.

—Magnus Walker

The 1980s were a daunting era for Porsche, but ultimately a transformative one, with Stuttgart rising to the challenges of its rivals with models like the 944 Turbo. To the 944’s balanced chassis, Porsche added a dose of forced induction; the result was a car whose driving dynamics rivaled more expensive offerings from other marques. Its 2.5‑liter inline four-cylinder engine, energized by a KKK turbocharger, dispatched 0–60 mph in just over six seconds—high performance at a price that opened Porsche ownership to a new generation of enthusiasts.

The 944’s front‑engine, rear‑transaxle layout provided near‑perfect weight distribution, while uprated suspension, larger ventilated discs, and aerodynamic refinements—wider fender flares, an integrated front spoiler, and a pronounced rear wing—enhanced stability and confidence at speed. Compact and relatively light, the 944 Turbo remained agile and engaging with its turbocharged engine building boost with a visceral surge that captured the spirit of 1980s Porsche performance.

Reported by Magnus Walker to be a long-term California car, this 944 Turbo is finished in Almond Beige Metallic over brown partial leather trim. Equipped with a five-speed manual transaxle, sliding sunroof, and cruise control, its odometer read 131,913 miles at the time of cataloguing.

Since joining his collection in 2018, this 944 Turbo has sat alongside the rear-engined Porsches for which Walker is so well-known, but it has also been in the company of a well-chosen selection of front-engine transaxle cars. It is not hard to see why: The 944 Turbo offers performance that was, for its time, supercar-grade, all in a balanced and tastefully styled package that evokes the 1980s while still looking fresh. It was, and remains, an appealing way for new enthusiasts to join the Porsche fold.