Elegant, almost-unique, with room for your rifles. That's more than you could ask from any classic Porsche. Ace German modifiers CarPoint have not only asked but answered, with the simple, sublime lines of this, the GT-K44 Porsche 944 Shooting Brake. Essentially, they've taken the 1980s 944 coupé and added a load bay with bespoke tailgate to provide the ideal setting for your next quail hunt. Or quest for the big weekly shop.
It began with CarPoint founder Andreas Freund's memory of a cherished encounter with the super-rare 924 Kombi, a shooting brake conversion by coachbuilder Günter Artz in the early 1980s, designed to meet the needs of the driver who fancied a track day weapon that could also be filled with dogs and shopping. Freund had long wanted to build something similar, and better. The GT-K44 is the result and it's far more complicated a piece of engineering than meets the eye.
Roof and supporting structure is new. Distinctive 944 glass hatch goes to be replaced by CarPoint's own tailgate. Two door profile, so typical of the shooting brake style, remains with the 944's signature bulged wheel arches neatly incorporated into the new bodywork. There's nothing that looks bolt-on here: this is a shooting brake in the tradition of the Aston Martin DB5 conversions of the 1960s or that of the 1980s Jaguar XJ-S Eventer by Lynx of Hastings. Superior, in other words, if lacking the factory V12 of Ferrari's FF.
You're in charge
You decide what Porsche power is to be under your GT-K44's bonnet. The demonstrator you see here is based on the 3.0-litre engine producing 208 bhp but clients can elect to choose period 217bhp or 247bhp power units for extra punch when chasing that deer. Interiors are refurbished originals, the striking Porsche Pasha check you see here is obviously a must-have for those keen on the ultimate 1980s feel. Count us in for that.
Four seater practicality remains from the original 944, even if you'll still be a little confined in the rear with the labrador next to you. As for alloy wheel choice, firmness or not of suspension and loud/subtle exhaust note? That's all for the client to decide, along with external colourway, though you've got to admire the Oak Green chosen here, for its ability to hide in the woods.
You certainly won't lose it in the multi-storey, since there simply won't be many others. CarPoint say they will be crafting just 10 GT-K44s. Price? First, remember you'll need to supply your own Porsche 944. Should you not have one handy, that's the first cost: think around £20,000 for a good one, which is what you'll want to pass on to the perfectionists at CarPoint. They'll then get to work, provided that is that you've given them an additional £85,000 first. So that's £105,000 for an as-new practical Porsche? We'll drink to that.
