A “mechanic’s special.” This used to be a fairly popular concept, with the local repair facility offering a car for sale that the even the on-duty mechanic was tired of dealing with. 30 years ago, you might even see an air-cooled Porsche occupying that space on the corner of the property. Those days are gone, as Porsches of nearly every vintage are snatched up long before they are offered for sale on the local classifieds as a project. The seller of this 1971 Porsche 911 Targa notes that his car fired up after years in a garage, but that it doesn’t stay running. Even as a so-called mechanic’s special, bidding is still quite strong.

The aftermarket exhaust is always a bit of a turn-off on a car that is more often than not fully restored these days, but it’s also a reminder that these were just cheap enthusiast cars at one point in time. The taillights and center reflector look newer than the paint and bodywork, so perhaps those were replaced prior to the 911 being laid up. The Targa for years was the throwaway model of the lineup, but that’s changed dramatically over the past decade as it has become the “attainable” air-cooled model. Throw in the “S” designation and it’s not as surprising as you might think to see the current bid amount.

However, there’s a curve ball: the engine currently installed is not the factory unit, which should limit the top end of the bidding activity to a fairly reasonable number. With the 2.2L “S” engine, this Targa would make a healthy 180 horsepower, more than enough to move the wind through your hair with the Targa top removed. However, the seller has decoded the engine numbers to confirm that this 911 has a replacement “E”-spec motor out back, which takes several thousand dollars off of the valuation. Still, in the world of air-cooled, long-hood 911s, there is almost certainly someone out there with a correct engine just waiting for the right car to drop it in.

The interior is in fair condition with no glaring flaws outside of normal use. The aftermarket floor mats and steering wheel are a bit of a turn-off, and I’d swap those out for the factory wheel and some CoCo mats. A S-specification model was capable of reaching 60 in just over 7 seconds while going on to a top speed of 144 miles per hour. Coupled with stopping power provided by 4-wheel disc brakes, it’s of little surprise that the S model air-cooled 911s are so sought after today. This car is a project but one that will likely be worth the cost of restoration over the long-term, especially if a correct S engine from approximately the same time period and production run can be sourced. Find the 911 S Targa here on eBay in Philadelphia.