What is so significant about a window that it makes a car incredibly desirable? Well, in the case of the rare “soft window” Porsche 912 Targa, it’s because this concept of open air motoring was short-lived, but not because it wasn’t a hit with customers. The soft window was almost like a test run of the Targa model to gauge customer response before it was replaced with the traditional fixed window. This 1968 Porsche 912 soft window Targa listed here on eBay is desirable for a range of reasons beyond its rarity, and is offered for $114,911.
That price is the buy-it-now number; the current bids are just over $22,000 and obviously nowhere near where it needs to be to take it home. The 912 is a honey of a car, wearing desirable Irish Green paint, Fuchs alloy wheels, and a handsome black interior. The seller doesn’t confirm if it has been resprayed but it certainly seems likely given how pristine the finish is. The soft window Targa was produced for just two years, and rarely comes up for sale – especially in a desirable paint code like this.
The interior looks nicely preserved but not necessarily restored; this is fine by us, as the seats just look barely broke in. The Nardi steering wheel is overdone at this point, in my opinion – no disrespect intended to those of you with one in you car – but I just think there’s a variety of wheels that are more appealing at this point. The soft window design affords one key advantage over the traditional fixed window which is of a true open air experience should you want one; just fold down the back plastic window and Bob’s your uncle.
This is a matching numbers car that supposedly comes with a healthy book of documentation; what a shame we can’t actually see it! The fact that this is a 912 and not a 911 makes the soft window configuration all the more intriguing, and only 2,500 of the 4-cylinder variety were purportedly ever made. The 1.6L boxer engine came right from the 356, and was good for about 90 horsepower and just shy of 100 lb.-ft. of torque. While this isn’t the most desirable spec of a long-hood car, it is very unique – and that alone will likely push the bidding higher.
Leave A Comment