No Reserve: 1979 Porsche 911 SC Targa

Downsizing can take many forms. For some, it’s forced, when money becomes tight or a sudden priority emerges. For others, it’s merely the seasons of life telling us now’s the time to move on from things that were once important. Whatever the motivation, there’s a certain clarity that comes from knowing you had the experience and no one can take that away from you, even if the object in question leaves. The seller of this 1979 Porsche 911 SC Targa claims to have restored this car back in the early 2000s and enjoyed driving it to local events; now, it’s for sale here on eBay with no reserve and bids sitting at $49,100.

That’s very real money for a late 70s/early 80s 911 that also sports a targa roof. The listing runs through all aspects of the seller’s restoration, which seemingly covered both the obvious (full engine rebuild) and the intricate (a claimed frame-off with every piece of hardware touched replaced),  and then the seller simply drove the car, racking up about 2,000 miles per year. For a second or third vehicle, 2,000 miles per year is a fair amount of driving, which hopefully explains why the seats show so much evidence of regular use and sun exposure. The seller mentions the carpets and dash were replaced, so it’s a bit curious as to why the seats weren’t done at the same time – but perhaps they didn’t show nearly as much evidence of cracking 20 years ago.

And honestly, it’s a very minor not to pick, as the rest of the 911 appears as good as he describes. The door panels and the rest of the interior do look very clean, and seats are among the easier items to replace (though certainly not the cheapest), and an upholstery shop worth its salt can redo the leather for $2,000 or less, in today’s market. The bodywork looks quite nice, and I would assume a “frame off”-style restoration means the body was resprayed in its original colors, but you’ll want to confirm with the seller or via a COA. If the 911 has been stored inside since then, the replacement rubbers and other trim items should still be in fine order.

The engine sounds like it was properly sorted at the time, with the seller noting a “…. tear down and a rebuild, including all new head studs, JE higher compression pitons and cams, performed by Fabson, located outside Milwaukee, WI.” Other improvements include “…Carrera tail, SSI stainless heat exchangers, Dansk muffler, H4 upgraded headlights,” and he also notes a recent servicing involving replacement of the oil return tubes, plugs and plug wires. Not only has it been extensively refreshed, but the seller has continued to maintain this 911 SC – always a good sign. With 180 horsepower (and possibly a little more, thanks to the engine build and exhaust upgrade), this Targa is likely a blast to drive and will serve its next caretaker well.