What is the difference between an “early” 944 and a “late” 944?
There are many significant differences between the early car and the “Series II” car that made its debut in the middle of 1985. That is why you may see a reference to a “85.5” or an “85 and a half” 944 – that means that it is a “Series II” car. While the basic car is the same, the dashboard, electrics, and some suspension pieces are different and not easily interchangeable with other models. The early 944 shares a lot of its parts with the 87-88 924S, but the lowly 924S also benefitted from some of the Series II improvements.
