A 1979 Porsche 924, which was used to escort Queen Elizabeth II, has recently been restored and returned to the police corporation in Abu Dhabi. This vehicle marked the beginning of the United Arab Emirates police sports fleet.
The coupe was acquired by the Abu Dhabi police to receive the British monarch during her first visit to the country. The restoration work was carried out by the Porsche Centre Abu Dhabi and Al Ain dealership, which is part of the local group Ali & Sons Holding, with the aim of returning the car to its original factory specifications.
One of the most complex aspects of the restoration was the manual recreation of the police emblems and graphics, in green and white, directly on the bodywork, avoiding the use of contemporary stickers. Furthermore, the 924 was put into full roadworthy condition.
The visit of the Queen and Prince Philip took place in 1979, seven years after the formation of the Emirates as an independent nation. They arrived in the Persian Gulf aboard the royal yacht Britannia and were personally accompanied by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder and first president of the federation, within Emirati territory.
Currently, the Emirates police stand out with high-performance sports vehicles, including the Porsche 911 and the electric Taycan. However, Porsche emphasizes that the 924 was the pioneer in this segment.
Launched in 1976, the 924 represented the brand's entry-level model and introduced the transaxle family, characterized by having a front-mounted water-cooled engine and a gearbox coupled to the rear axle, differing from the rear layout of the 911. The coupe also had police service in Germany, where some units were adapted for patrol duty starting in 1982.
The restored Porsche 924 will be presented to the public for the first time at the Icons of Porsche festival, held in Dubai on November 21 and 22, an event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the transaxle models. Subsequently, it will become a permanent exhibit piece at the Al Maqta Museum, located in Abu Dhabi.
