People love convertibles. Back in the day, all manners of exotic cars, particularly the Ferrari Daytona, were potential candidates for an aftermarket convertible conversion. I don’t know that the end results were ever particularly refined, but the market certainly elevates some conversions to a higher status. The long-hood Porsche 911 was never offered in convertible form, so the seller of this 1969 model listed here on eBay created one out of his Targa model many years ago.
He claims the conversion work was done for his wife, and sadly, the original car prior to the roof chop and respray would likely be worth significantly more than this one. The paint job was resprayed in silver, the top was pulled from an ’81 911, and the rest is history. The kicker is he refers to the previous color as being “green,” which makes me wonder if this was an Irish Green 911 Targa before being modified into a silver convertible – a car that would be worth significantly more than this one.
Of course, it’s not right to play internet expert all these years later when long-hood air-cooled 911s have exploded value wise to the point that even Targas are quite expensive to buy. We all remember when they were borderline throw-away cars, at least as it related to sports cars with two or three owners under their belts. The 911’s interior is in very nice condition, with no offensive wear and tear or other cosmetic damage visible in the photos. The seller notes he retained all of the original parts needed to convert it back to a Targa-style configuration if desired.
Based on the description, it sounds like the seller knew what he was doing bodywork-wise when he undertook this build, as the listing indicates he saw to the work himself. It states, “…I took the car down to the tub, had it soda blasted and painted silver” along the way to lopping off the top. The engine was also refreshed with “….all new bearings, rings, seals, new clutch, pressure plate, and throw out bearing, the tank was sealed, and just in the last month (I) rebuilt the weber carbs new fuel sending unit.” This is an interesting proposition as a project car, as I would be sorely tempted to return it to its original configuration. What about you?
I would not support tearing this car apart to put it back to Targa form. Tons of these cars got modified in one way or another to satisfy their owners before they became “money in the bank”. Updating this car to the ’81 configuration and doing a nice clean job of it along with the color change may change it’s financial status some but if you can’t play with these cars then why have them at all. My first 914 was originally purple and the owner stripped it down and painted it the same color as this car. I would not have bought it if had been purple just as I would have repainted this car from the green.
A total nitpick on my part, but the top couldn’t have been, “pulled from an ‘81 911.” Porsche didn’t make a 911 convertible until 1983.
I’m done with Convertibles, easy pass.
I’d be concerned about body flex. If done properly could be a decent ride. I agree with Bob Hess at this point there is no point in returning it to a targe.
Good point. If I had the interior gutted to be soda sprayed to bare metal, I’m welding some box tubing frames around each side of the floorboards to which a rear roll bar gets welded behind the seats, and upright bracing anyplace else. I might even want a welded tube from that new roll bar to the top of the windshield frame between the seats overhead. Perhaps he added something underneath. But you’re correct: If he didn’t reinforce the chassis to accommodate for structural loss of roof and pillars, it’s not a good build. Maybe for $10k you take a gamble, if he has good title etc documentation. Then you leave some room to reinforce the chassis. Anything higher and I’d skip it no offense to the seller. Unless he can add explanation how he reinforced the chassis.
targa
Targas suck, this is better. Better yet put a hard top on it. Then ya got something.
Targa, targa, targa! John Belushi.
I can appreciate the Targa model but my first love is a coupe. In terms of the lines of the car the coupe wins and without a tail. A couple weeks ago I was at the local cars and coffee and a couple had brought their 73 911T with 24K miles. All original even down to the period reproduction Pirelli tires. Absolutely stunning. 73 was the last year for mechanical fuel injection and of course the last year of the f body 911.
Yer killin me! As a matter of necessity I sold my two owner ’70 911 T in 2016….sunroof coupe with dealer installed Coolaire! The T’s are not the fastest but gosh are they sweet.just the sound of the engine starting could put a baby to sleep, at least if I was a baby :)
I also had a ’67 Targa that might have been an S…much faster than my T. For my money there’s nothing like sitting in the cockpit of the ’66-’71 P 911’s
Just love them.
Interior is beautiful as well.
Doesn’t look awkward like some conversions.
I’d leave it as is and enjoy it..although I would be sorely tempted to take it a stage further and make it a Speedster!
On this one the key is not to overthink it! Put the top down and find a curvy road and jam the peddle on the right down.
I have an 87 944 NA that was made into a cabriolet in 91. Great job by a body guy for himself. Put 1” channels down each side. Door openings are still perfect. I’ve added 40k to the original, driven coast to coast and Otis still a wonderful car, especially on nice days. It has a/c for not nice days.
Oddly enough, some people own cars because they like them and not just as an investment.