1967 Porsche 911 S Soft-Window Targa

Porsche presented its 911 Targa at the 1965 Frankfurt Motor Show, calling it the first “safety cabriolet” in the world to address American safety concerns. The production-bound concept featured a roll-over bar almost eight inches wide, along with a removable roof and rear mini soft top with a plastic window. This was followed shortly by the introduction of the panorama rear window with heatable glass. The name “Targa” was derived from the Targa Florio endurance race on the island of Sicily that Porsche had won four times up to that point. Not that it means much today, but the additional cost over the Coupé was 1,400 Deutschmarks, which brought the 1967 911 S Targa's base to DM 25,880. Meanwhile, Americans paid around $600 extra for the Targa.

For that kind of premium, Porsche gave customers an open-top sports car weighing 2,270 pounds, with a five-speed gearbox and a 2.0-litre flat-six producing 160 horsepower at 6,600 rpm. This was thanks in part to a pair of three-barrel downdraft Weber 40 carburetors, which also helped offer 132 pound-feet of torque with the Porsche's tachometer needle at 5,200. With this engine, the 911 S was a 140-mph affair.

This 1967 Porsche 911 S Targa was delivered on the 8th of May 1967 in Germany and is one of 483 soft-window 911 S Targas. It spent time in California and was owned by the CEO of Sony. After it was imported to Australia by Porsche Classic in 1999, a subsequent 7-year restoration from 2016 to 2023 by a Porsche specialist in Adelaide included repainting the bodywork in Yellow Bahama, reupholstering the interior in black leatherette, and rebuilding the 2.0-litre flat-six and dogleg five-speed manual transaxle. Equipment includes 15″ Fuchs wheels, a Webasto Heater, a wood-rimmed steering wheel, and a Becker radio.

This 911 S Soft-Window Targa is now offered with service and restoration records, owner’s manuals, a tool kit and jack, and accompanied by the all-important Porsche Certificate of Authenticity affirming its provenance.

This rare Soft Window Targa presents beautifully and offers its next Porsche enthusiast many more enjoyable miles of fast motoring, accompanied by the unmistakable soundtrack of that mechanically injected flat six.