If you haven’t noticed, air-cooled Porsches are hot these days. Some of the hype is… well… just hype, but they are actually really great cars. They were well built, a blast to drive and unique enough to stand out in a crowd of European sports cars. So, it’s easy to see why people want them so badly. Heck, I’d love to have a 911! I’d even be happy with an E in Targa form like this one, but only for the right price. This example is fresh out of a barn, so it’s rough, but could still be saved. You can take a closer look at it here on eBay in Orange, California.
Air-cooled Porsches have always been desirable, but enthusiasm for them has really reached an all-new high. They are fetching serious money these days, so much so that even the rustiest of examples are being restored. While I’m not a fan of the high prices, I am glad that so many of them are being saved. With a $39,500 asking price this seems a tad overpriced for the condition, but I’m sure there are a few collectors out there that would be willing to take it on.
Restoring a Porsche is never a cheap proposition. Given their popularity, parts are readily available, but certain components are painfully expensive. This one is a midrange E with the 2.4-liter engine and it appears to be complete, which is a huge plus. Unfortunately, there isn’t any word on the mechanical condition of the drivetrain. Hopefully, the engine is in decent condition, as it can easily set you back $20k to do a full rebuild.
When it came to interiors, Porsche’s design ethos at the time was one of simplicity. And that makes restoring the interior easier, as long as all the valuable parts are present and in good working order. Other than a missing door panel, everything else appears to be present, but there’s no knowing what condition of condition the electronics and gauges are in.
Most collectors are on the hunt for 911 Coupes, but even Targas are starting to go for good money. Being an early model with the stainless steel roll bar makes it a bit more desirable, but there is a lot of work to be done here to make this a nice car again. And it really is too bad about the color change, it sure would look great in silver again. So what do our Porsche fans think of this project? Would you take this Targa on?
Early bumper short hood cars command a high price. I’m sure someone will buy this in the low 30’s.
I know most ‘in the know’ are looking for coupes; personally I’ve always liked the stubby look of early Targas equipped with the brushed trim on the roll bar. I like any early 911/12 cars but as I’m never gonna get one I’m not too informed – 20k(!) for an engine rebuild…is that what it costs…?
Obviously it depends on the year, condition of the engine to begin with and the quality of the rebuild. You can do a one cheaper than that if you do it yourself, but if you have to replace any major components, it adds up quick.
Seems the (relatively) high buy-it-now price is turning away lower bids. Given all the unknowns I wouldn’t bid either.
Yeah 911s have been on a roll for quite awhile, but there are signs that the trajectory is leveling off and mellowing out. There’s a chance that rationality is slowly creeping in. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore them and think they are fantastic cars but there are gazillions of them and, except for the rare high performance versions, they are not exactly unobtainium. I feel about them like I do old houses – I want them to be priced so they are valued and cared for but not so high that they are purely horded as investments and not being enjoyed for their unique and wonderful driving qualities. I know, I know, that’s a sweet sentiment but unlikely to happen in this world of haves and have-nots.
Even if it is in California I’d like to see the underside before I put any bid in. As a kid I managed to get my mother’s car in the Pacific ocean at a beach party. Lot of that still going on out there. It was fun but we had to had clean and flush every square inch of that underside before we took it back home. Have agreed all along that the going in money for Porsche projects is way out of control.
The price has now been increased to $44,750.
Guess the seller really wants to keep it.