The 984, Porsche’s diminutive concept from the late 1980s would have come at just the right time to absolutely redefine the small roadster marketplace, beating the new-for-1989 Mazda MX-5 to market by a couple of years. Porsche worked with Spanish automaker SEAT on a variety of projects through the 1980s, including this sub-2000 pound plastic-topped mid-engine two-seater. Porsche was aiming for a $14,000 price tag in 1987 and around 120 horsepower, which would have put it directly in line with Mazda’s long-lived roadster.
The project was originally built around the Seat “System Porsche” watercooled inline four engine found in the Mk1 Ibiza, but after SEAT backed out of the project, Porsche retooled the design with a low-slung aircooled flat four. The prototype made use of an old Type 4 from the old 914, though the company was allegedly developing a new flat four engine for this car and intended for it to be used in small aircraft.
The design of the car is clearly inspired by then-contemporary 928 and 944 shapes, with the interior cribbed almost exactly from the late 944. This was an impressively modern design for the mid-1980s, and much of the details from this car went on to define Porsche designs for the next decade.
Considering how successful the Mazda MX-5 was when it launched in 1989, bringing back the small European roadster formula, selling nearly a quarter million units in its first generation, Porsche could have really had a hit on its hands. When the company did finally build a reasonably inexpensive mid-engine roadster, the Boxster in 1997, it quickly became the company’s best selling model in history (though it has since been surpassed by Cayenne and Macan).
The world needs more inexpensive and lightweight sports cars. If Porsche had debuted the 984 in the late 1980s, it might now be the brand known for approachable entry-level sports cars instead of six-figure SUVs. Or maybe it would be both. Oh, what could have been.