Regardless of your feeling about the sanctity (or lack thereof) of air-cooled Porsche 911s, it’s near impossible to feel the excitement of seeing a sports car in a barn. This 1971 Porsche 911 Targa was undoubtedly just a cheap, used car when it was discarded in an Arkansas barn, but now, things have changed. Targas have gone from the red-headed step child to one of the more sought after models, especially among the later 964 chassis cars. This example needs everything but it does come with a locked-up motor that may or may not be numbers-matching. Find it here on eBay with bids to $5,500 and no reserve.
I give the seller a lot of credit for going no reserve here. I know that seems like an obvious statement but the air-cooled 911 market has made sellers do illogical things, especially when it comes to the price they expect to get for a carcass. Back in the middle 80s, the Targa was likely the least desirable 911 in existence, especially absent a convertible model being offered during the long-hood era. The seller notes this 911 rides on magnesium Fuchs wheels, and the fact that they’re still present is mildly shocking given the general state of the car. The listing adds that the interior is gone.
A 911 Targa of this era likely came stock with a 2.2L flat-six that generated around 125 horsepower and 130 lb-ft of torque. As mentioned above, the relatively low values of these cars years ago meant that dead engines were often yanked out and turned into boat anchors; these days, you’d be a fool not to rebuild a known matching engine. The seller simply states that the engine is “….stuck from sitting,” but that it does some with a set of Zenith carburetors. At least, if it’s been sitting, perhaps there’s a snail’s chance this is the original engine as opposed to having been tossed years ago.
Despite being in Arkansas, this 911 is not without its warts. There’s rust, and while it’s in a fairly repairable spot, it’s hard to say whether there’s more lurking. The line seems to match up with where the targa panel would bolt to the roof, so perhaps water intrusion was an issue, or maybe it was poorly repaired back when it was just a used car. These days, it’s a worthy restoration project, so if the bids stay low enough, someone will have a decent project on their hand, and one that will only appreciate further given the current state of the long-hood market.
Rough but a chance to buy it without pawning your kids. One note… this is the second day that “magnesium” has been used to describe aluminum wheels. Magnesium has been banned from wheel construction since the early ’60s because of their chances of catching on fire in a wreck and cracking while mounting tires. Three years ago we lost a great historic car lover to a wheel blowing apart while he was mounting a tire. Piece of the wheel hit his throat and killed him.
Those are Shill bids FAKE to garner interest…no interior seized engine..rotted pan.
40k in parts 15k in labor for a 25k car in PRISTINE condition since its the old 2.2 literally engine no power.
It’d make a Good MUD runner with rear engine 350 set up on a Jacked up suspension w/4wd transfer case.
Light body …
It’s not even a parts car except for the BODY shell & glass + trim pieces.
CRUSHER
Aren’t the gearboxes magnesium? Always got told to run from a VW (and Porche) if it was on fire because of the gearboxes.
:Porsche 911 early ’70s engine cases were magnesium and had problems pulling the head studs out. Never saw a VW mag case.
Nothing much more than a shell of a ‘71 Targa and the seller was wise not to list this with a reserve, because chances are good that there will be a buyer with a date-correct drivetrain out there. I don’t see the bidding going much beyond $7k.
I predict sales above $ 12k could go to 20k .rust will determine final.
Fake bids – no interior seized engine rotted pan …it’s junk to the crusher …it’s cost 40k in parts & 15k in labor for a 25k car
Having a little bit more presentation on the pictures would do this project some help with $ figure. Looks like it was ‘driven hard and put away wet’! I alway think when I see a car like this: At one time this car was brand new!!
No interior seized engine it’s a Shell..with Rot..crusher not worth a dime.
If you want to make something of it.. yank the engine & transaxle & drop in Whatever a Nice Old GM V6 truck engine or a 350 out of a junkyard & new transaxle.
Fab up rudimentary gauges Bolt Bucket seats & slap on a weld of thick sheet metal after Sawzalling the Rotted spot.
Jack up the suspension & add a 4wd transfer case & HUGE MUDDER wheels & Tires …& for fun 2 mock old school WW1 Machine Guns on the hood
Paint it with a Rattle can
Call it BLITZKRIEG
Or part it out before crushing it.
5k$??
No Way ..
It’s Junked already
lol @Beauwayne5000 tell us how you feel about this car…
If it doesn’t go much higher. Buy it, dismantle it, and catalog parts. You will be surprised what you can get.
No one is sending this car to the crusher. Reproductions parts are available for virtually every piece of the body shell.
J Q– you are correct–others should go on line and see what just the split case engine block is selling for , a 911 transaxle a 4 Fuchs wheels–more than $15k collectively–this car is a hidden gem in trim parts also
93% feedback ? I’ll pass….
To be fair, it was one negative rating based on slow shipping. I’d be more concerned if there were multiple negative feedbacks based on misrepresenting the item listed for sale.
Steve R
Winning bid= $15000.50 by a bidder with 313 feedbacks.