• Striking Oak Green Targa

 • Stacks of history

 • Re-trimmed

 • Amazing condition

With the original 911 storming its way up the sales charts after its launch in 1963, Porsche was receiving a lot of requests from its customers about a convertible model.

But with the screen surround and back of the roof being such an important part of the 911’s monocoque structure, a convertible was a major engineering feat that Porsche’s budget wouldn’t extend to in the early 1970s. 

Instead, the company developed a new concept. A car industry first that has been copied multiple times since, to include a removable central roof section whilst still keeping the integrity of both the front and rear screens. 

The new model was to be named after racing circuits where Porsche has been successful in the past and Porsche’s marketing people chose the Targa Florio as the influence for the new car’s name – albeit originally known as the 911 “Florio” until a last-minute change to call it the Targe. 

Launched in autumn 1966 the Targa supplemented the Coupé for the 911, 911 S and 912 with resounding success. From the late summer of 1967, the Targa models could also be optionally ordered with a fixed and heated rear window made of safety glass in place of the fold-down plastic rear window – standardised from 1971.

The Targa also remained a fixture of the product range for the second 911 generation, the G series models built from the late summer of 1973. For the first time, the 911 body was sustainably modified, now featuring new box-shaped bumpers with black bellows on the side, in line with new legislation in the United States. No changes were made to the technical Targa roof design. The visual appearance was modified, however, with the previous durable brushed stainless steel Targa roll bar now also available in black. 

This is one such car – a G-Series 911 in an absolutely wicked colour scheme. 

Registered in May 1978, BLU 673T has had two long-term owners, prior to the current ownership, one in Fife and another in Teesside; so both quite a long way from the South Coast where it now lives. Both maintained it diligently and kept records, though the car’s early history is less detailed. 

Included with the 911 are a large number of invoices from its past two owners including several from well-known specialists such as PorscheShop and Design 911, along with some more recent service and repair receipts from an independent garage in Hampshire. 

Also supplied is a Certificate of Authenticity from Porsche Cars GB, which confirms the Targa to be a UK-spec 911 SC Targa built in May 1978, and finished in Oak Green with Cork leather upholstery.

There are also some old V5s from its previous ownership and a number of old MOT certificates, plus a photocopy of a 1978 Porsche 911 brochure.

The car is both tax and MOT exempt. 

The first thing you notice about this car is the colour – it’s impossible not to! The Oak Green metallic is a bold and vibrant shade and it has recently been repainted in the original hue. It looks absolutely fantastic.

The Targa roof panel is in fine order, as are the chunky G-Series bumpers that are often prone to picking up knocks.

It is fitted with black Fuchs alloys that really set it off, while the overall condition of the panels and paint is excellent with no obvious damage or issues. 

A similar story unfolds inside – the ‘Cork’ leather seats are in fine order, as are all of the dials, controls and switches. New carpets have also been fitted. 

It’s an extremely cool place to sit, with the 911’s distinctive five-dial instrument binnacle directly ahead and a three-spoke padded steering wheel – a 1970s US safety requirement that was standardised on all 911s. 

In-car entertainment comes courtesy of a 2000s Pioneer CD player, but an older system could easily be retrofitted for the complete 1970s look. 

By 1978, the 911’s air-cooled Flat-Six had been bored out to 3.0-litres, giving it 201bhp and a 0-60 time of 6.2 seconds. This was a very quick car for its day and still feels rapid today. 

The car has been well-maintained and appears to run very well indeed. The vendor has been using it himself and reports that it’s a great car to drive, with strong performance, good brakes and amazing handling. 

It starts on the button, idles well and holds good oil pressure. 

Classic 911s are terrific things, whether you like the simplicity of the early models or the yuppie delights of Eighties excess. 

This one falls somewhere in the middle. It’s a great car from an era of transition for the 911 and is finished in one of the rarest, boldest and best of all 911 colours. It’s a stunner of a car, gloriously presented and with added open-air fun – just the thing for a usable, high performance summer classic. We love it!