Owned 50 Years: 1970 Porsche 911T Targa

Originality still dominates the collector car field as the one quality that will always drive a strong price. These days, there tends to be less interest in highly original but otherwise overwhelming projects (unless you have deep pockets); most collectors want an original car that doesn’t require months’ worth of reconditioning effort. That’s why some of the strongest prices you see are for cars like this 1970 Porsche 911 listed here on eBay, which sports a desirable paint code, original floors, a matching numbers engine, and many other important details. Bidding sits at $55,000 with a $81,995 Buy-It-Now.

The seller is a recognized air-cooled Porsche specialist who routinely finds some of the best preserved examples of long-hood cars on the market. While this listing doesn’t specify if the desirable Irish Green paint is original, the car does not give off the vibe of being overly restored. This is another important details of buying preservation-grade vehicles: an older respray is not uncommon, especially if it’s simply done to freshen up a car that was already in excellent condition. Quick flip cars that get a new paint job are in a different (and less desirable) class altogether, and many seasoned collectors draw a fine line between a paint job that was done to quickly increase the curb appeal of an average example versus one that was done to improve upon an already special car.

In the case of this Targa, the listing’s mention of the fact that the most recent owner has cared for this 911 for the last 50 years is a tell-tale sign of how any level of refreshing was carried out. I can guarantee you it was done very intentionally and for a quick facelift. The seats look a little too good to be original, but it’s hard to say when you consider how rare it is for one owner to care for the same car for 5 decades. The original steering wheel, Blaupunkt radio, and door panels all present very well, and the selling dealer notes they did replace the carpeting, along with the body seals.

The 2.2L flat-six was rated at 123 horsepower and 130 lb.-ft. of torque. Work to prepare the Targa for sale included replacing the gas tank and fuel lines, a tell-tale sign of standing for several years with old gas in the tank. Other work carried out includes rebuilt carburetors, new brakes, and new tires. Overall, this is a survivor-grade 911 that has had only the most urgent/necessary work carried out to preserve the original driving experience. Seeing those original Fuchs with the fat sidewalls on period-correct tires just seals the deal for a Targa that looks correct in every regard. It’s hard to argue with the asking price for this degree of originality.