Notwithstanding the brief resurrection of the 912 as 1976’s US-only 912 E, the 924 was essentially a replacement for the 914. Porsche’s engineers wanted to adopt a front-mounted engine layout because, amongst other advantages, spreading weight from the front to the rear of the car endowed predictable handling — a higher moment of inertia meant the back would break away more gradually than that of the mid-engined 914/6, which tended to let go suddenly and uncontrollably when grip was lost. The 924’s rear suspension used a Volkswagen-type lateral torsion bar with substantial trailing arms between the hub carriers and the ends of the torsion bar. This proved a cost-effective solution and earned the 924 praise for its balanced handling. The 928, on the other hand, was a different beast requiring an alternative approach.
The V8-powered GT was a ‘true Porsche’ in the sense it used technology and components which the Stuttgart brand itself developed. The 928 also presented a far greater challenge: competition for the 924 was a distinctly mixed bunch, from 1950s-designed MGs and
