1968 PORSCHE 911L SOFT WINDOW TARGA

1968 PORSCHE 911L SOFT WINDOW TARGA
Bonhams Auction, Amelia Island, Florida 2015
Chassis no. 11860117
Engine no. 3080311
1,991cc SOHC Flat 6-Cylinder Engine
2 Weber Carburetors
130bhp at 6,100rpm
5-Speed Manual Transaxle
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Disc Brakes
*Immaculately restored Porsche
*Rare derivative with only 130 believed as imported to U.S.
*'S' specification trim
*One-year only model
THE PORSCHE 911
Introduced at the 1963 Frankfurt Auto Show, the 911 proved to be the most historically significant Porsche model of all, becoming the mainstay of Zuffenhausen production for more than 50 years, albeit constantly modified and uprated. With a broadly similar layout to the 356, the 911 had a steel platform chassis with springing by torsion bars, MacPherson front struts and rear trailing arms, and a flat-6 air-cooled engine and five-speed transmission first seen on the 904. Like the final 356C, the new 911 utilized disc brakes all round. Larger, more comfortable and quicker in every respect, the 911 proved a more than adequate replacement for the 356 and steadily evolved into the legendary supercar we know and love today.
The first of countless upgrades to Porsche's perennial 911 came in 1966 with the introduction of the 911S, which featured a better-equipped interior and a heavily revised engine producing 160bhp. By this time around half of all 911s produced were being exported to the USA, where increasingly stringent regulation demanded that changes be made to the original design, the most significant being the adoption of dual-circuit brakes. However, it took time for Porsche's engineers to get the newly introduced 'S' engine to meet emissions targets, so as an interim measure the 911L was introduced featuring the 911S's superior equipment level but retaining the original 130bhp engine, pending the arrival of the de-toxed US-specification 911S for 1969. The 911L was dropped at the same time, its place as Porsche's middle-of-the-range offering being taken by the 911E.
Around the same time, Porsche added an open-topped variant to the 911 model range for 1967 featuring a stainless steel-clad roll bar, removable roof panel and a detachable plastic rear window (a fixed glass window wasn't made available until the following year as an option). Commemorating Porsche's successive wins at the famous Sicilian road race, the new model was termed "Targa", a term coined by other manufacturers since to describe this body configuration. The new 911 Targa was as close as Porsche came to 'wind in the hair' 911 motoring until the introduction of a full Cabriolet in the early 1980s.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
As with so many collectible cars, the appeal, interest and value are related to a car's rarity, and sometimes over time fashions change. For the Porsche marque, it has long been the case that the rarer variants of models have held considerable intrigue. This has certainly been the case for the soft window cars and indeed also the 'L' model as offered here. These cars have both the benefit of a virtually open car and the luxurious appointments of the 'S' – what could be better? Most surprisingly is the fact that in the day only 130 were imported to the U.S. Therefore finding one is not easy, especially allowing for the few that wouldn't have survived.
This exceptional example has been totally restored to extremely high standards and is presented in one of the signature guises for this era of Signal Red, with a black top and black leather interior. Its well-appointed cabin benefits from the 'S' instrumentation and trim package and for today's driving enjoyment has the addition of a modern stereo system. Mechanically, its clutch and transmission have been rebuilt and the motor has the sensible addition of a chain tensioner upgrade. During its rebuild a new/old stock soft window was fitted, as were European style headlights.
Presented with records for the last two decades and reportedly 'on the button,' this is a very handsome, usable entry to the Porsche world.
Robert Myrick Photography