Some cars just slap you in the face with their outstanding originality. There are details that most vehicles never come close to matching, which is why evaluating a car’s authenticity is so tricky. Sure, some details can be manufactured, while others can be enhanced or marketed as being selling points, such as patina that is simply the result of years of decay. This 1974 Porsche 911 Targa listed here on eBay checks all the necessary boxes to confirm it as a real-deal survivor with the kind of details you just can’t fake.
Bidding sits at just over $31,000 with no reserve, so there’s even a small chance someone could walk away with a deal. The cosmetics are awesome thanks to a respray in the original color of Salmon Metallic, which is a color you don’t see every day. The details with this car are just too numerous to list, but it has everything you could want if you’re an air-cooled collector. The original floor mats were just installed in the car for the first time after being put on the shelf shortly after the 911 was purchased, according to the listing. It comes with an original ski rack, which is the kind of thing that just doesn’t exist anymore. It even had a period-correct CB radio.
This is a 911 from the era when people bought these cars to actually use, not just sock away for future ROI. Mileage is listed as 99,000 and the engine is believed to be original to the car (it does bear the correct date codes.) The original tool kit, books, manuals, and the like are all included, and it comes with the rare sport steering wheel. When the first owner ordered this car, he not only chose a special color, but he grabbed all the accessories he could and then kept the papertrail in mint condition. This 911 is a preservationist’s dream come true.
Other details like this one, the authentic AOPA sticker from back in the day, just lend further strength to the car’s survivor story. There’s a lifestyle component here as well, which tracks with the long-term owner being a bit of an adventurer as well. The 911 is equipped with a 2.7L flat-six that’s good for a respectable 150 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque. The seller notes that it moves effortlessly through the gears, and that the Fuchs wheels retain their original finish (and they’re in stunning condition.) This 911 is the one to buy if you like survivors and special colors.
My father ordered a 911 Targa in this same “Salmon Metallic” color back in ’74. Unfortunately, it was accidentally dropped when removing it from the ship and was destroyed. I seem to remember that it was being unloaded using a crane and straps and it hit the pier pretty hard after a strap broke or slipped off. The Porsche dealer said that it would take several months to get another shipped in that color. My dad was offered a “Lime Green” 911S that was already in stock, so he reluctantly took that car instead. It was about the most shocking green ever, and really stood out in our small town! Out of all of his many cars, that green 911 is the one I remember most-