1980 Porsche 911 SC Targa

This 1980 Porsche 911 SC has the famed Targa top, giving fixed-head comfort levels when fitted, with the option of  wind in the hair motoring when the summer finally gets here. In many ways, it’s the perfect solution to the British climate, this side of moving to southern California.

With the 3-litre version of Porsche’s iconic air-cooled flat six, it sounds like no other car, and the like of it will sadly never be seen again. It’s been owned for the last 10 years by a lady who’s always dreamed of having one, but has seen so little use in recent years that she’s decided the time has come to part company with it.

This 911 looks superb with its wide, Carrera style bodywork. It’s not a concours car, but it is very clean, very straight, and the colour combination works particularly well thanks to the unique fabric used in the interior – more on that in a minute.

The paintwork itself looks great. There is some minor degradation of the black coating on the rear light surrounds, but this is nothing really – a couple of hours with some wet ‘n’ dry paper and a couple of rattle cans would soon put this right. 

Similarly minor is the slight cracking on the rubber seals betwixt exterior door handle and panel.

There are also some very tiny marks on the edges of the Fuchs alloy wheels, but from just a couple of feet away they look excellent, and they’re clad with a matching set of Continental tyres: 225/50/16 at the back, with 205 section rubber at the front.

The overall impression is gorgeous, and a timely reminder that before the modern era of Porsches that look like caricatures of supercars drawn by pre-pubescent boys when they should be practising their spellings, the German firm built cars for true enthusiasts.

Fabulous. Remember when car interiors were idiosyncratic, fun and cool all at the same time? No? Well, have a look at the Interior section pictures in this listing. Commonly known as the drunk chess board print fabric, this isn’t an interior that a modern manufacturer would come up with, and living proof that designers should design things, not focus groups or former girl band members.

It's in lovely condition generally too, although there is a very small split in the fabric on the driver’s seat squab, which you can see in the pictures. However, this is an amazingly original looking cabin, with even the original radio-cassette player still sitting in the dashboard.

911 cabins of this period have a wonderful simplicity about them. No cup holders, no flappy paddle nonsense, just the gauges you need to be reassured that everything is well in the engine department, some über-cool seats and a five speed gearbox controlled by, of all things, a gearstick. How quaint.

The vendor tells us the car has no known faults.

This 3-litre engine, we’re told, was rebuilt at a mileage of 116,000 just before the current owner bought the car, at a cost of £6500 (the invoice is in the file with he car). The car has only covered 4000 miles since this major work, so is basically now run in and waiting for the next owner to enjoy it.

The engine bay looks tidy, complete and original, with the large air-cooled fan housing dominating the view as you lift the engine cover. This engine is more sophisticated than earlier units, with Bosch K-Jetronic CIS fuel injection providing far more accurate and reliable fuelling than old fashioned carburettors.

This system is extremely reliable and removes the necessity to have the engine constantly retuned and the carbs balanced, making for far easier ownership.

The vendor bought the car in 2014 to fulfil a dream of owning one, and says it has been ‘used with love’. However, she also says it’s unfortunately not being used enough and she’d like it to go to a new home.

We’re told the rear seats were restored at R H Classics in Twyford, and that the firm also painted the front and rear bumpers, replaced the lower rubber valances, fitted a new roof seal, new boot catches, and rehung the driver’s door. This work amounted to £6000 and we’re told the invoice is in the file with the car.

The DVLA V5C shows 11 former keepers, and the car is, of course, exempt from needing an MoT test or paying any road tax. There’s a large file of documents with the car, including a selection of historic invoices, which we’d recommend any potential buyer to have a good look through.

A lovely looking 911 SC Targa with the right engine (3-litre) – and one that’s been professionally rebuilt, and covered very few miles since. Throw in the gorgeous interior, and you have a very desirable air-cooled 911 indeed.

Of course, the air-cooled 911 managed to survive for nearly 20 years after this one left Zuffenhausen, but each year brought more complexity, and a gradual dilution of the original design brief, meaning a 1980 car like this one could well be viewed as peak classic Porsche. We estimate that it will sell for £30,000-£35,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with the vendor in Oakham, Lincolnshire. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.