With presentation that is both close to perfect, and that belies its 49-year age, this 1970 Porsche 911 S Targa represents one of the great classic sports cars. Everywhere that you look on this car you find nothing but faultless presentation, and for anyone who is searching for a classic that will continue to appreciate in coming years, it really is hard to go past a 911. This particular one is located in Ventura, California, and is listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding on the Porsche has now reached $65,100, but the reserve hasn’t been met.

Finished in its original Signal Orange paint, it’s quite hard to find anything to fault on the Porsche. The original, clear-anodized Fuchs wheels look perfect, while the panels and paint look arrow straight and as smooth as silk. The Targa top appears to be in great condition, and even though I openly admit that I’m not a huge Porsche fan, I can certainly think of worse things than cruising around under the California sun in an open-top Porsche. The owner provides plenty of photos of every aspect of the 911, and the car really is not only as solid as a rock, but the underside is spotlessly clean. There are even photos of the trunk with the mat and spare tire removed, and it appears to be in as-new condition.

While a 911 is a special car in so many respects, it is what lies lurking under the hood which tends to make them such a special car. The fuel-injected 2.2-liter flat-six engine produces 180hp, which is sent to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission. If you’ve never seen a bare 911 body-shell from this era, you would be amazed at how solid and robust they are. However, Porsche engineers are nothing if not clever, and even though the engineering is solid, a 911 S Targa still only tips the scales at around 2,390lbs. Therein lies the secret of the car’s success. It might not possess huge reserves of power, but it is a car that carries little in the way of excess weight, and clever engineering allows the car to fully utilize the available power. The presentation under the hood of this Porsche is extremely clean, and a check of the underside reveals no sign of any issues with oil leaks. The numbers-matching engine has had some recent work on the fuel system and is said to start, run, and drive very nicely. In addition, a new clutch and pressure plate have been fitted, along with new mufflers.

When we dive inside the Porsche, we find that there are a few deviations from the car’s original specifications. It has been fitted with a period-correct Blaupunkt radio/cassette player. The most glaringly obvious change though is to the front seats. Gone are the original factory items, and in their place, we find a set of Scheel aftermarket seats, upholstered in black leather and hounds-tooth cloth. If you have never had the good fortune to sit in a Scheel seat, then you have no idea what you have been missing. In the comfort stakes, they really give the Recaro seats quite a run for their money. The rest of the interior appears to be original, and as with so much to do with the car, the condition is close to faultless.

As I said at the beginning of this story, I am not a huge fan of the Porsche 911. However, I do respect them enormously. Having had the good fortune to see one completely dismantled, I have been able to gain a full understanding of how beautifully and cleverly engineered these cars are. The fact that Porsche can extract such impressive performance figures out of a car with a relatively small and low-powered engine indicates just how meticulous the company had been in maximizing every aspect of the car’s design. These are not only a car that will richly reward an enthusiastic driver, but they also remain a solid long-term investment. However, I think that the bidding might have a fair way to go before the reserve is met on this one.