The Porsche 968 may not be quite as desirable as 911 models of the day, as evidenced by the fact it was only produced for four years, between 1991 and 1995. Nevertheless, there was at least one variation, apart from the limited-run Turbo S, that was aimed at enthusiasts who wanted a pure driving experience: the 968 Club Sport.
Featured in the video below from Doug DeMuro, the 968 Club Sport could sort of be considered the counterpart to the 911 GT3, although it broke cover way before the latter was launched in 1999. In developing the car, Porsche looked for ways to improve its performance but opted against fitting it with a more powerful engine and instead decided to boost its prowess by stripping away unnecessary weight.
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As DeMuro describes, Porsche went to great lengths to remove weight. This included the fitment of manually-adjustable lightweight Recaro racing seats, less sound deadening, and crank-driven side windows. This particular 968 Club Sport lacks a radio but was optioned with the available climate control system and electric windows.
Porsche also revised the vehicle’s suspension system and lowered the ride height by 20 mm. In addition, enlarged 17-inch wheels were fitted with 225 mm front tires and 255 mm rear tires. Club Sport models weighed 2,910 lbs (1,320 kg), roughly 220 lbs (100 kg) less than a standard 968 Coupe.
As no mechanical changes were made to the engine, the 3.0-liter inline-four produces 237 hp at 6,200 rpm and 225 lb-ft (305 Nm) of torque at 4,100 rpm and is coupled to a six-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels. The 968 CS was good for 0-60 mph (96 km/h) in 5.6 seconds and a 162 mph (260 km/h) top speed.
So, did DeMuro, who found a handful of quirks about it, like the 968 Club Sport? Well, what do you think?