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Motor Werks Racing büşte turbo Audi-powered 1987 Porsche 944 race car for sale in New Jersey
A heavily modified 1987 Porsche 944 race car, built by Motor Werks Racing around a turbocharged Audi 1.8-liter engine, is offered on dealer consignment in New Jersey without road legality.
By Eleanor Ellington · 5 min read
A race-prepared 1987 Porsche 944 built by Motor Werks Racing (MWR) of Dawsonville, Georgia, is now on sale in New Jersey on dealer consignment. Its heart is a turbocharged Audi 1.8-liter inline-four paired with a five-speed manual transaxle sourced from a 987, a combination that transforms the classic front-engined Porsche into a dedicated track weapon. The car comes with service records and a bill of sale, and it is not legal for road use and carries no title or registration.
The bodywork has been substantially altered. The seam-welded shell was media-blasted during the build and fitted with a single-piece "Trans Am"-style front clip, a GTR/P-style rear spoiler, removable composite quarter panel flares and polycarbonate rear and quarter windows. The car wears a Rothmans-style livery with #1 roundels, while the door glass has been removed. Small details such as an aircraft-style fuel filler and rubber hatch latches underline the purpose-built character of the machine.
On the chassis side, the front strut towers were reinforced and billet camber plates were installed. MWR two-piece adjustable control arms, custom Delrin bushings and Moton remote-reservoir adjustable coilovers feature at all four corners. Braking is handled by unassisted discs with Wilwood four-piston calipers and cross-drilled rotors. The 18-inch alloy wheels are finished in white with red lettering and wrapped in Hoosier R7 tyres.
Inside, the cabin has been stripped and rebuilt for competition. A roll cage with door bars surrounds an OMP fiberglass racing seat fitted with a Schroth harness. A fire-suppression system has been added, alongside an AiM SmartyCam system, an AiM Solo 2 lap timer, an Innovate Pocket Logger, a QuickCar control panel, a short shifter and a panoramic rearview mirror. An NRG steering wheel sits on a quick-release hub ahead of VDO instrumentation, including a central 8,000-rpm tachometer flanked by gauges for oil temperature, oil pressure, coolant temperature and boost pressure. The car has no odometer, and approximately five hours of track use have been added under the current owner.
Under the bonnet, MWR built the turbocharged Audi 1.8T using Integrated Engineering forged connecting rods, ARP hardware and an AEB cylinder head with Integrated Engineering camshafts, a billet adjustable cam gear, dual valve springs and titanium retainers. A four-into-one venturi header feeds a BorgWarner EFR 6758 turbocharger, which sends charge air through 3-inch piping to a Mishimoto air-to-air intercooler. Engine management is handled by a MaxxECU Race ECU, and the engine has an 8,000-rpm rev limiter. Output was reportedly measured at 450 horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque. Power reaches the rear wheels through the 987-sourced transaxle and custom MWR drive axles.
The car's recent history includes further upgrades. Since the current owner bought it in 2022, it has received a revised header, MaxxECU engine management and a Stage 3 clutch assembly installed in 2023. A rear-mounted alternator has also been added. The vehicle's Carfax report lists multiple flood damage, salvage and rebuilt title issuances between 2005 and 2011, as well as Not Actual Mileage title issuances in June 2004 and January 2005, details that prospective buyers will need to weigh alongside the build documentation.
Separately, the Porsche enthusiast world has been following a different development. The latest version of the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system is being rolled out across several models, including the 911, Taycan, Cayenne and Panamera, bringing numerous infotainment enhancements. The update underlines how far Porsche's modern road cars have moved from the era of the 944 that MWR has reworked here, even as the company's racing heritage continues to attract builders and collectors to older models.
Source: bringatrailer.com
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